Hacker News Reader

> It's obvious that Sony picked FreeBSD over Linux because they don't have to publish their additions to FreeBSD, and can continue to integrate new and improved code from upstream with no obligations whatsoever.

It's obvious that FreeBSD contributors picked FreeBSD over Linux because they wanted to publish their software for people to use with no obligations whatsoever.

If Sony is heavily modifying the FreeBSD code, eventually they'll start contributing back, because maintaining a substantial fork is more effort than upstreaming code. Either that, or they'll end up with a largely frozen code base like Apple's copy of the FreeBSD userland, which is probably OK on a console.

> Either that, or they'll end up with a largely frozen code base like Apple's copy of the FreeBSD userland, which is probably OK on a console.

I think this is what they've settled on and are quite happy with.

For PS5 they'll likely do another from-scratch adaptation of whatever the then-current FreeBSD is.

> What really makes me sad is that the BSD license allows corporate leeches like Sony to create incredibly successful and valuable products like the PS4 without ever having to give back to the project that produced the software they rely on.

You should not be, because this is what BSD license is for; otherwise the developers would've chosen GPL.

I agree that's what it's for, I just don't think that's a good thing.

What could be the reason Sony dont contribute back. Surely it is a tiny amount of money. May be there are problems they have in minds we are not aware of? Just wondering.