DragonFly BSD

What hackers pick instead

• webOSPraised as ahead of its time and pleasant to use; critics say HP mismanaged it and security is weak.20recommend
• AsteroidOSFree, open source Linux-based operating system for supported smartwatches, praised for privacy, long-term maintenance and small overhead.19recommend
• MinixFree microkernel Unix-like system praised for isolated drivers and teaching OS design; critics call it a toy that lacks parts for a working system.15recommend
• Inferno operating systemFree operating system from the Plan 9 lineage, praised for its everything-is-a-file design and typed shell, but it was never fully completed and has bit-rotted.12recommend
• VisopsysA free hobby operating system built by a single developer since 1997, praised as an impressive passion project for learning how an OS works. Critics say it is not practical for everyday use.9recommend

Every quote

The 7 most detailed of 7 comments. Each links to the original.

1. DragonflyBSD is really cool if you want to look at some BSD that offers some advantages

   Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “Why use OpenBSD?”

2. And with the tiny team working on it, it has remarkable performance.

   Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “The Isolation Trap: Erlang”

3. DragonflyBSD was focused on parallel computing

   Recommends · Dec 2025 · in “A Love Letter to FreeBSD”

4. DragonflyBSD is a beautifully well done OS.

   Recommends · May 2026 · in “OpenBSD 7.9 Released”

5. Especially their SMP model.

   Recommends · May 2026 · in “OpenBSD 7.9 Released”

6. DragonFly supports multiple ways of full file system encryption, including truecrypt compatible one.

   Recommends · Aug 2026 · in “NetBSD 11.0 Released”

7. It has a really nice filesystem and Dillon does good work

   Recommends · May 2026 · in “OpenBSD 7.9 Released”