PSA: lpd/lpr will be removed from FreeBSD

astyle · 2026-03-12T00:01:52+0000

1984 all over again? Friggin' enough babysitting and nannying - until you discover just how many users don't know how to think critically, in their own best interests, and actually need somebody to step in and call the shots for them...

kpedersen · 2026-03-12T09:31:21+0000

astyle said:
1984 all over again? Friggin' enough babysitting and nannying - until you discover just how many users don't know how to think critically, in their own best interests, and actually need somebody to step in and call the shots for them...

Looking at the mailing list, I think they are deciding what "shot" is the correct one. So far two things:

Overly modularise and reduce things. Typical developer mindset which creates DIY Linux-like platforms rather than operating systems.
Maintain the status quo which accrues cruft and legacy

I lean towards the latter because find Linux an utter mess. However as people flee Linux, they do take the mindset with them which is why FreeBSD may just become a kernel in future if things keep getting stripped.

hruodr · 2026-03-12T10:04:13+0000

kpedersen said:
I lean towards the latter because find Linux an utter mess.

I lean toward the later because I am not developer, not distribution architect or such.

I just use the computer, I like UNIX with BSD flavor.

And if one wants, can also dismember FreeBSD and mix it with other software.

rcbsdpge · 2026-03-13T08:52:41+0000

Whoa the lpd/lpr discussions made it over to the forums from mailing list

I have to study for the semester what is the gist. The context is probably older than me is my guess

malco_2001 · 2026-03-13T15:14:10+0000

kpedersen said:
Looking at the mailing list, I think they are deciding what "shot" is the correct one. So far two things:

Overly modularise and reduce things. Typical developer mindset which creates DIY Linux-like platforms rather than operating systems.

Maintain the status quo which accrues cruft and legacy

I lean towards the latter because find Linux an utter mess. However as people flee Linux, they do take the mindset with them which is why FreeBSD may just become a kernel in future if things keep getting stripped.

Do you know which mailing list and month by chance? I checked hackers, and current for march and have not been able to find it so far.

kpedersen · 2026-03-13T17:41:18+0000

malco_2001 said:
Do you know which mailing list and month by chance? I checked hackers, and current for march and have not been able to find it so far.

Much of the relevant emails are linked to via the post here.

Jose · 2026-03-13T18:41:31+0000

kpedersen said:
As the response to that states, possibly its worth discussing with the OpenBSD guys why they themselves don't see it fit for removal in an OS focused on security. Hopefully he does and they have some good insight.

Hm, no one has addressed Lehey's question. Maybe they took the discussion to a private channel.

kpedersen · 2026-03-13T22:05:14+0000

Jose said:
Hm, no one has addressed Lehey's question. Maybe they took the discussion to a private channel.

Maybe. Though I doubt anything so vulnerable was found in a disabled by default binary that they need to be discreet. Its more likely they don't have a strong enough rationale to even present to the OpenBSD guys for open discussion.

"Old == Bad" isn't particularly insightful. I suspect they are just starting to pick at PkgBase, just as predicted and turning FreeBSD into a DIY/flatpack hobbyist platform.

The following mailing list message will appear within the next 6 months I rekon: "FreeBSD doesn't need 3+ text editors like ed, vi and ex, lets remove them and allow users to choose from ports". And lpd could well be used as a precident argument.

Jose · 2026-03-13T22:28:35+0000

kpedersen said:
"Old == Bad" isn't particularly insightful. I suspect they are just starting to pick at PkgBase, just as predicted and turning FreeBSD into a DIY/flatpack hobbyist platform.

I fear you are right

I'll be without a preferred OS again.