On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 09:50:19 +0200
Jeroen Massar <jeroen@unfix.org> wrote:

> On Wed, 2006-07-12 at 10:12 +0530, Siju George wrote:
>
> "Teaching", with quotes because that ain't teaching but forcing, only
> a single OS to students is the most zealottish thing one can do.
>

Sure. It is *obviously* easier to teach an operating system class when
all students are using different systems ...


> The 'irrational' part is that apparently both the "Linux Junkies" and
> you as apparently a "BSD Zaelot" want to force their own thing down
> the throats of the students. Clearly you also have no real answer why
> your "BSD is much better than that Linux junk". Ever thought of the
> fact that that depends completely on the application where one is
> using something? Don't use a spoon (that might not even exist to
> eat your french^Wliberty fries and don't use a fork to eat your
> soup...
>
> Every OS design has it's specific strong and weak points, students
> should learn all of them so they can pick themselves what is the best
> combination available.
>

This does not make sense. OS classes are about the concepts and ideas
behind the design of an OS, not about the specific use of a system in
a particular application. Most of these concepts apply to BSD as well
as Linux and the choice of a BSD system is, in my opinion, preferable
due to the high quality and readability of the sources. And this does
not mean that concepts specific to other systems aren't explained, it
just means that there is ONE COMMON reference for everyone to look at
and try to understand. Imagine what happens when the teacher explains
a particular struct and everyone is reading a different source.

It is like when you were asked to read a book at school, the teachers
impose a book that you have to read, it does not mean that it is your
favorite one, it does not mean you should not read others, but it has
to be this one for the consistency of the class.

-- veins