I'm using FreeBSD for self-hosting, home NAS and router from version 2.2.0. As it is my hobby projects, I don't want to migrate to Linux which is, IMHO, over-represented.
But it become harder and harder in recent years.
Reason? Docker.
Many current «server-side» products doesn't have good instructions how to install them «by hands» and is not very suitable for system-side packaging (creating port), as they have build systems designed to be used in CI with online access in build time (especially node.js-based and go-based ones, but rust goes same way).
Installation instructions, well-defined dependencies, good versioning, immutable source distribution files? Nah. «Take this Docker file and run it».
I am absolutely not pressuring anyone to do anything that doesn't feel right.
But FreeBSD can run Linux binaries without needing a VM or anything, using the built-in "linuxulator", and in recent releases this means it can directly execute Linux OCI containers.
Which is pretty close to running those same containers on top of a Linux kernel, when you're still bypassing much of the OS.
But it become harder and harder in recent years.
Reason? Docker.
Many current «server-side» products doesn't have good instructions how to install them «by hands» and is not very suitable for system-side packaging (creating port), as they have build systems designed to be used in CI with online access in build time (especially node.js-based and go-based ones, but rust goes same way).
Installation instructions, well-defined dependencies, good versioning, immutable source distribution files? Nah. «Take this Docker file and run it».
It is pity.