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Compatibility layers can also introduce security bugs. One of the reasons why it was removed from OpenBSD.

BSD is more for purists anyway. Virtualization seems to be a better option than compatibility layers for the odd program that doesn't work natively.

Maybe that it's different for Windows API's on Linux, because by virtualizing Windows, you're still dealing with an unfree OS.


Theo de Raadt, 2010, on the removal of emulation: “we no longer focus on binary compatibility for executables from other operating systems. we live in a source code world.”

(Since then, OpenBSD has gained support for virtualization for some operating systems including Linux, through the vmm(4) hypervisor.)


> Linux: Win32 is the only stable Linux ABI :(

> OpenBSD: Whatever the C compiler produced last is the only OpenBSD ABI :D


Technically any software abstraction layer can have bugs (security or otherwise.) That doesn't mean we should abandon higher level abstractions.

If the bsd posix equivalent is the highest layer your willing to use, you'll miss out on some great software.


FreeBSD used to have compat libraries for old FreeBSD releases itself. With NetBSD it used to be the same.

OpenBSD, well, by policy running old, insecure binaries it's basically a no-no.


Imagine my surprise when I removed these in the kernel-conf, and then the 3C905 didn't work anymore, because it relied on these!

I've had issues with Wayland, even in 2025, but never with X11. X11 may be old, but it's stable. Mint is for normal people, not us. I do have it on my travel laptop though, because well, it never has any issues.


Yeah, sorry, I’m a normal person I guess.


Using it because you're practically forced to use it, is not the same as not rejecting it intellectually. While that's probably still a minority, it definitely seems larger than just a rounding error to me.

I've seen, though rare, other people with dumbphones, for example. And more people who would like to have one.


I think that people often say they want things they dont actually want. Like living in the woods and we can only look at their actions to judge their actual desire. We know people dont want to live in the woods because when they have the money and freedom to choose ot live in the woods they buy an apartment.

Its even easier with dropping social media because the cost is actually so low and yet people still dont even attempt to.


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