National FreeBSD Day: Celebrating Open Source Excellence
FreeBSD Day is an annual celebration honoring the FreeBSD operating system, a free and open-source Unix-like platform that has significantly influenced modern technology. This day recognizes the pioneering legacy and continuing impact of the FreeBSD Project on the tech world.
Quick Facts
When is it?: June 19th annually
Tagged as: Technology Holiday
What’s the hashtag?: #FreeBSDDay
When was it founded?: 2017
Who founded it?: FreeBSD Foundation
History
FreeBSD emerged from the University of California, Berkeley, as a free and open-source operating system in 1993. The name “FreeBSD” was officially chosen on June 19, 1993, which later became the basis for celebrating this day. Today, FreeBSD powers many essential services we use daily, including Netflix streaming, WhatsApp messaging, and even the PlayStation 4 gaming console.
Timeline
- 1993: Official naming of FreeBSD (June 19)
- 1993: First FreeBSD release (November)
- 2005: Becomes most popular open-source BSD system
- 2017: First official National FreeBSD Day celebration
Upcoming Dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 19 | Thursday |
| 2026 | June 19 | Friday |
| 2027 | June 19 | Saturday |
| 2028 | June 19 | Monday |
| 2029 | June 19 | Tuesday |
How It’s Observed
People celebrate by learning about FreeBSD, sharing their experiences with the operating system, contributing to the project, or making donations to the FreeBSD Foundation.
Fun Facts About FreeBSD
- It’s completely free and includes source code
- Apple’s macOS is based on BSD
- Powers Netflix’s streaming servers
- Used in PlayStation gaming consoles
- Maintained by volunteers worldwide
Quiz
- What year was FreeBSD named?
- Which major streaming service uses FreeBSD?
- Is FreeBSD free to use?
-(Answers: 1993, Netflix, Yes)
FAQs
Q: What makes FreeBSD different from Linux?
A: FreeBSD is a complete operating system, while Linux is just a kernel requiring additional software.
Q: Can anyone use FreeBSD?
A: Yes, it’s freely available to everyone.
Importance of FreeBSD Day
This celebration recognizes the vital role of open-source software in modern technology and honors the dedicated community of developers who maintain and improve FreeBSD.
Related
- Unix Day
- System Administrator Appreciation Day
- Open Source Day
- Computer Security Day
- Software Freedom Day