BSD alternatives, administration level

Many programs are ported to GNU/Linux, before they are ported to FreeBSD, so here is an inconclusive list of BSD style equivalents of GNU programs. GPL (GNU) licensed programs are generally allowed to be used in pkg and ports, but BSD and compatible licensed programs will be listed. Not always can a BSD dependency be a drop-in replacement for a GNU or other style of dependency without patches. Alternative programs are not always immediately compatible either, and it may have to be tested for compatibility. The subject may include other non-proprietary, including MIT, Apache and GPL, licensed programs. Alternative programs may not have the full range of functionality or capability.

Compilers

• Clang is the BSD alternative to GNU's GCC - not all programs will build by both compilers. Newer versions of GCC are not compatible with FreeBSD's base system. Installing it through ports or packages is perfectly compatible.

Hardware

• DEVD, which is native to FreeBSD, is not an exact replacement for HAL. The two programs are fundamentally or functionally different. DEVD cannot simply drop in and replace HAL, unless the source code or a patch accommodates it.

Dependencies

Network security

• GNUTLS (GPL, LGPL); OPENSSL (Apache); NSS (Mozilla); POLARSSL (GPL); WOLFSSL (GPL); LibreSSL (BSD)

Closing

The license version may not always be mentioned here. Newer versions of a license are not always compatible with BSD the way an older version of a license is.