A concise comparison of operating systems.
Some focus on root-on-ZFS, and on Plasma.
Not intended to be comprehensive.

Describing availability is not necessarily a recommendation to install what's available.

# The systems

* [FreeBSD](https://www.freebsd.org/)
* [GhostBSD](https://www.ghostbsd.org/)
* [NomadBSD](https://nomadbsd.org/)
* [Ubuntu Desktop](https://ubuntu.com/desktop) 25.04

## UX (user experience): first run, after installation

### FreeBSD

[Whatever you chose to install](https://gist.github.com/grahamperrin/a65f5d819a6a8c54aff6079f63db33f6?permalink_comment_id=5580686#gistcomment-5580686), using `pkg`, before exiting the installer. 

### GhostBSD

Firefox is available.

[Approved](https://gist.github.com/grahamperrin/a65f5d819a6a8c54aff6079f63db33f6?permalink_comment_id=5580665#gistcomment-5580665): 

* remove Firefox
* have ungoogled-chromium alone.

### NomadBSD

Firefox ESR is in the dock (Plank Reloaded).

### Ubuntu

Firefox is uppermost in the dock.

## Dual boot

### Ubuntu

The installer includes a GUI to resize partitions.

## Installation to removable media

### GhostBSD

Boot of the installed system is likely to fail. [A known issue](https://gist.github.com/grahamperrin/a65f5d819a6a8c54aff6079f63db33f6?permalink_comment_id=5573852#gistcomment-5573852).

## Root-on-ZFS

### FreeBSD

The default.

### GhostBSD

The default, no other option.

### NomadBSD and Ubuntu

Optional.

## Device and file system encryption

### FreeBSD

During installation: 

* GELI is optional for OS and swap partitions
* OpenZFS encryption is optional for home directories.

For an encrypted home to work with SDDM, additional configuration may be required.

### GhostBSD

Not possible during installation. [A known issue](https://gist.github.com/grahamperrin/a65f5d819a6a8c54aff6079f63db33f6?permalink_comment_id=5573844#gistcomment-5573844).

### NomadBSD

GELI is optional for the home partition.

### Ubuntu

LUKS is optional during installation.

## Desktop environments and display managers

### FreeBSD

A commitment to KDE with Wayland. 

[Packages can be installed](https://gist.github.com/grahamperrin/a65f5d819a6a8c54aff6079f63db33f6?permalink_comment_id=5573994#gistcomment-5573994) whilst using the installer for the OS. 

The largest of the operating system installer images includes packages for SDDM, KDE, Sway, and X.Org.
The FreeBSD Project builds these images for RELEASE, but not for CURRENT.

### GhostBSD

The official installer image boots to MATE, and will install MATE.

Plasma and other desktop environments are available.

A non-official image will install Xfce.

### NomadBSD

Xfce by default.
Alternatives are available.

### Ubuntu

GNOME and GDM by default. 

Switch to Kubuntu (for KDE, SDDM, and so on): 

- `sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop`

Alternatives that are installable with tasksel: 

- Cinnamon
- GNOME Flashback
- KDE Plasma (less comprehensive than the `apt` approach above)
- LXDE
- LXQt
- MATE
- Xfce.

## Software installation and updates

### FreeBSD

Available applications include: 

- Discover
- OctoPkg
- [Software Station](https://gist.github.com/grahamperrin/a65f5d819a6a8c54aff6079f63db33f6?permalink_comment_id=5573932#gistcomment-5573932)
- [Update Station](https://gist.github.com/grahamperrin/a65f5d819a6a8c54aff6079f63db33f6?permalink_comment_id=5573932#gistcomment-5573932).

The installer for FreeBSD-CURRENT can use packages to install the OS.

[ports-mgmt/pkg](https://www.freshports.org/ports-mgmt/pkg/) version 2.1.2 is the norm.

### GhostBSD

Installation of the OS includes Software Station and Update Station. 

[pkg 1.21.3 is the norm](https://gist.github.com/grahamperrin/a65f5d819a6a8c54aff6079f63db33f6?permalink_comment_id=5573748#gistcomment-5573748). 

2.1.2 is: 

- installable
- not recommended for use with Update Station.

### Ubuntu

[Discover](https://apps.kde.org/en-gb/discover/) is available.

Synaptic may be recommended.

## Management of ZFS boot environments

### FreeBSD and NomadBSD

[bectl(8)](https://man.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=bectl&sektion=8&manpath=freebsd-current) is integral.

Also available: 

- [Backup Station](https://gist.github.com/grahamperrin/a65f5d819a6a8c54aff6079f63db33f6?permalink_comment_id=5573932#gistcomment-5573932)
- [beadm](https://www.freshports.org/sysutils/beadm/)
- [bemgr](https://github.com/jmdavis/bemgr).

### GhostBSD

Installation of the OS includes Backup Station and bectl. 

Also available: 

- beadm
- bemgr.

### Ubuntu

Available: 

- bemgr
- [zectl](https://github.com/johnramsden/zectl)
- [ZFSBootMenu](https://zfsbootmenu.org/).

## Architectures, platforms

### FreeBSD

Multiplatform. Tier-1: 

- `amd64` – 64-bit x86
- `aarch64` – 64-bit ARMv8.

### NomadBSD and Ubuntu

Multiplatform.

### GhostBSD

AMD64.

## Recommended proprietary software

### Ubuntu

Optional during installation: 

- third party software for graphics and Wi-Fi hardware, including but not limited to NVIDIA drivers and similar
- support for additional media formats, including but not limited to MP3, MP4, MOV and similar.

## Credit

Adapted from parts of <https://forums.ghostbsd.org/d/327>.