Future of FreeBSD based EISY?

[elvisimprsntr]

BACKGROUND

There are some major projects that actively contribute to FreeBSD, which are moving from FreeBSD to Linux.  

1. iXsystems is already recommending TrueNAS SCALE for new deployments, as new features will likely only be developed for SCALE.  

https://www.truenas.com/compare/

2. Netgate posted a blog about the future of pfSense.  Initial reactions were this was an Aprils Fools joke, but turns out they are serious.  

https://www.netgate.com/blog/pfsense-software-embraces-change-a-strategic-migration-to-the-linux-kernel

There also seems to be a decline in large doners.

https://freebsdfoundation.org/our-donors/donors/?donationYear=2024

QUESTION

With the rapid industry shift away from FreeBSD, and likely less contributions to FreeBSD, what are the long term prospects of a FreeBSD based EISY?

 

 

 

Edited April 2 by elvisimprsntr

[lilyoyo1]

1 hour ago, elvisimprsntr said:

BACKGROUND

There are some major projects that actively contribute to FreeBSD, which are moving from FreeBSD to Linux.  

1. iXsystems is already recommending TrueNAS SCALE for new deployments, as new features will likely only be developed for SCALE.  

https://www.truenas.com/compare/

2. Netgate posted a blog about the future of pfSense.  Initial reactions were this was an Aprils Fools joke, but turns out they are serious.  

https://www.netgate.com/blog/pfsense-software-embraces-change-a-strategic-migration-to-the-linux-kernel

There also seems to be a decline in large doners.

https://freebsdfoundation.org/our-donors/donors/?donationYear=2024

QUESTION

With the rapid industry shift away from FreeBSD, and likely less contributions to FreeBSD, what are the long term prospects of a FreeBSD based EISY?

 

 

 

I think a new system would be released once FreeBSD is no longer a viable option just like  the EISY was released once Polisy was no longer viable.

It's not like these changes will happen overnight so UDI will offer updates for a while alongside the new system while they can. Those with current EISY systems will continue to be able to do so until they decide to try something different. 

[bpwwer]

First, I don't agree with your assumption that there's "rapid industry shift away from FreeBSD".   FreeBSD has been around for a long time and while it may be that the number of FreeBSD installations vs. Linux is significantly less, and has been and continues to decrease of time.  It's not a "rapid" shift.

Second, the eisy (or really the IoX software stack) is not tied so intimately with FreeBSD that it can't be moved to Linux if/when the time comes that FreeBSD is no longer a viable solution. 

It's not obvious, but the wireless network stack on the eisy is running on a Linux VM.   

UDI chose FreeBSD over Linux for a few reasons.  Michel would be able to enumerate those but one of the main ones is that FreeBSD tends to be more stable over time than Linux (at least mainstream Linux distributions like Fedora and Ubuntu). 

[PatPend]

Apologies if I'm speaking out of turn, and I would go one step further and ask what is the future of hardware-based EISY?  Technology is advancing faster than ever, so it makes less & less sense to target development to one very specific box that may or may not be available next year.  Or in view of technological progress, even desirable next year.  I'd be first to purchase an EISY software product - container or VM - that customers can run on hardware of their choosing.  Another benefit is the headache of UDI dealing with other VMs (HASSIO for example) and PG3(x) etc. running in the EISY MeLE box goes away, so they can focus on the core product and not try to be all things to all people.  My $0.02.

[lilyoyo1]

10 hours ago, PatPend said:

Apologies if I'm speaking out of turn, and I would go one step further and ask what is the future of hardware-based EISY?  Technology is advancing faster than ever, so it makes less & less sense to target development to one very specific box that may or may not be available next year.  Or in view of technological progress, even desirable next year.  I'd be first to purchase an EISY software product - container or VM - that customers can run on hardware of their choosing.  Another benefit is the headache of UDI dealing with other VMs (HASSIO for example) and PG3(x) etc. running in the EISY MeLE box goes away, so they can focus on the core product and not try to be all things to all people.  My $0.02.

After all the help posts with PG2 and the fact that HA even came out with their own box- I'd be surprised if UDI went the open software route. 

While things change quickly in development, they change slowly in the real world. Look at smartphones, wifi protocols, zwave series, HDMI cables, Ethernet cables etc. The list goes on.

Wifi 6 and 6e barely got out the door before wifi 7 was announced. There are limited WiFi 7 devices but they're already talking about WiFi 8. 

The point I'm getting at is technology changes faster then hardware can keep up but that doesn't mean the hardware itself is worthless. Look at the 994. That came out 12 years ago and people are still using it. Polisy will still be usable for years. At some point, eisy will be obsolete but that doesn't mean it will suddenly stop working for those who have it.

At the end of the day it's a computer. Just like new chips and technologies are introduced and new computers are released with them, the same will apply to EISY. 

[brians]

On 4/2/2024 at 3:05 AM, elvisimprsntr said:

BACKGROUND

There are some major projects that actively contribute to FreeBSD, which are moving from FreeBSD to Linux.  

1. iXsystems is already recommending TrueNAS SCALE for new deployments, as new features will likely only be developed for SCALE.  

https://www.truenas.com/compare/

2. Netgate posted a blog about the future of pfSense.  Initial reactions were this was an Aprils Fools joke, but turns out they are serious.  

https://www.netgate.com/blog/pfsense-software-embraces-change-a-strategic-migration-to-the-linux-kernel

There also seems to be a decline in large doners.

https://freebsdfoundation.org/our-donors/donors/?donationYear=2024

QUESTION

With the rapid industry shift away from FreeBSD, and likely less contributions to FreeBSD, what are the long term prospects of a FreeBSD based EISY?

 

 

 

I believe that the Netgate blog post was an April Fools joke.

 

[larryllix]

I remember when Microsoft stated publicly the mouse interface was strictly Mickey Mouse and would never make it as a useful interface.

I also remember Bill Gates stating the Internet was not the 'Information Super Highway' and some MS system would be coming to be just that.

With that said I would be sure this Unix style operating system would never survive more than 10 years...

....well 20 years

...well 30 years

......well 40 years

...well 50 years?

....well... you know what I mean...1969 was just a few years ago.

Sent from my SM-G781W using Tapatalk

[paulbates]

Another way to look at it:

1. UDI is an integrator and manufacturer that provides a solution for Home Automation. They provide products which they design for the long term as they define it and see fit.
    
2. To me, capability, functionality and performance matter more in a product than OS, technical standards, platform, architecture, containers, or other technical criteria, . There could be one or more gerbils in wheels powering the eisy from my perspective.

[elvisimprsntr]

On 4/3/2024 at 7:12 PM, brians said:

I believe that the Netgate blog post was an April Fools joke.

 

The jury is still out, but from everything I read it is legit.  

[PatPend]

Sadly I don't think it is.

https://forum.netgate.com/topic/187100/serious/4?_=1712143039222