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».

It is pity.

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lproven 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

This may help you.

« An introduction to OCI Containers on FreeBSD

October 31, 2025 »

https://freebsdfoundation.org/blog/oci-containers-on-freebsd...

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blacklion 3 days ago | parent [-]

Thank you, I've missed this one.

Problem is, these prepared images contain Linux binaries. Using Linux emulation in FreeBSD for OSS project doesn't feel ... right?

	▲	lproven 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		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.

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fractalf 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

You can pretty much study the Dockerfile of each docker image and you'll see how it's installed. It's all there, no magic