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PC-BSD Logo PC-BSD is a desktop-oriented operating system based on FreeBSD (PC-BSD is pure FreeBSD, not a fork) and has been designed with the "casual" computer user / Windows user in mind. PC-BSD is very easy to install by using a graphical installation program, and hardware such as video, sound, network and other devices are auto-detected and available at the first system startup. Home users will immediately feel comfortable with PC-BSD’s KDE desktop interface.

What sets PC-BSD apart from other UNIX-like operating sytems is its different approach to package management and software installation. Instead of utilising FreeBSD’s ports or packages system (although these are still available), PC-BSD uses an additional package management: PBI, the Push Button Installer.

A PBI is a self-contained and self-installing package that is reminiscent of .exe files, but the PBI gets installed/extracted in its own directory under /Programs, decreasing confusion about where the binary programs reside and reducing the possibility of breaking a package if system libraries are upgraded or changed. Regardless if any of the required libraries are installed on the base system or not, each PBI contains everything it needs to run. The PC-BSD package manager also takes care of creating links in the KDE menu and on the KDE desktop. One of the main websites hosting PBIs is pbidir.com.

 

PC-BSD Desktop
Screenshot: PC-BSD Desktop

 

PC-BSD vs FreeBSD

PC-BSD is based on FreeBSD, so what are the differences and similarities? The main difference between PC-BSD and FreeBSD is that PC-BSD is geared towards desktop use and FreeBSD has been created with server use in mind.

  • PC-BSD is based on FreeBSD Stable and KDE.
  • PC-BSD is installed by a graphical installer, rather than FreeBSD’s text based /sbin/sysinstall installation.
  • PC-BSD installs a bunch of pre-selected applications, whereas during a FreeBSD installation the to-be-installed packages have to be manually selected.
  • PC-BSD supports all the major package management systems that FreeBSD comes with (ports and packages) but has additionally the PBI package installer.
  • PC-BSD’s kernel has been recompiled with some configuration tweaks to make it better for desktop use.
  • PC-BSD comes pre-configured with a number of automatic scripts (i.e. to mount a digital cameral or USB memory stick, etc) that only work on KDE.

So, in summary, there is no real difference between PC-BSD and FreeBSD: PC-BSD has FreeBSD under the hood and has added to that a graphical installer, the PBI package management, pre-selected packages, some kernel tweaks and a couple of handy (GUI) utilities to make PC-BSD suitable for desktop use. This means that desktop users don't have to worry about configuring their system from scratch, but rather concentrate on working and/or playing.