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MidnightBSD is a FreeBSD 6 fork aimed at providing an easy-to-use desktop experience. It aims to provide a GNUstep desktop with a solid BSD core. MidnightBSD contains both BSD and GPL licensed code. License: BSD License (revised) Changes This version focuses on adding hardware for newer devices including ATI, Nvidia, and Intel SATA controllers. A great deal of work was put into creating packages, with over 2000 packages available via FTP. There are 2 CDs of packages plus X11 on disc 1. Software update includes

• gcc 3.4.6
• BIND 9.4.2-p1
• Sendmail, bzip2 and OpenSSH 5.0p1.

The pcc compiler has been added (i386). GNU cpio has been replaced with the BSD licensed version. cpdup and mksh have been added. There are IPv6 fixes.

Lucas Holt, main developer of MidnightBSD said

Users who install kde from the ISOs will be able to enable graphical login on bootup. A script now runs on the first boot asking to enable bsdstats and ‘graphical desktop environment’. If the script finds kdm, it will enable it automatically. If you select yes without KDE, it will install and enable slim login manager. I would greatly appreciate users installing bsdstats so that we can get a better idea on usage.

List of features you will get in MidnightBSD 0.2.1 GCC 3.4.6 Bind 9.4.2-p1 Sendmail Bzip2 OpenSSH 5.0p1 PPC compiler added (i386) Removal of gnu cpio for BSD licensed version cpdup added IPv6 fixes mksh added

Five major points of MidnightBSD are:

1. Setup a binary update system. Therefore, users do not need to compile patches or new releases to get security updates or bug fixes.
2. Integrate GNUstep into the system, but maintain BSD licensing on its own code whenever possible. The kernel and most userland software must be BSD licensed.
3. Create an easy to use BSD-powered desktop environment, with basic functionality and a full graphical administration interface.
4. Incorporate new technologies from other BSD projects that may interest desktop users, such as OpenBSD’s OpenNNTP, OpenSSH, and wireless drivers.
5. Create its own ports system, based on the popular FreeBSD ports.

Source : MidnightBSD 0.2.1-RELEASE

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While reading an IEEE computer society paper I find out some really good points regarding the Operating system security and reliability. Why our TV sets, DVD Players, Mobile phones and other electronic devices are reliable and secure but not our computer system and mostly our operating system. What computer and operating system makers say about this: Computers are flexible, users can change the software and there are some other excuses also, but people using the computers are mostly from the non technical background.

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