OrbisOS: PS4 OS is a FreeBSD

[Acid_Snake]

The PS4 is a glorified PC. The Xbox one is a glorified PC.

this is one of the most dumb phrases I've seen in my whole life. By that logic, consoles have been glorified PCs since the time they became digital, which have been always. Consoles are different from PCs in that they are made specifically for games, but internally they have always used PC technology, or rather, both consoles and PCs have used digital technology, same applies to MP3 players, smartphones, flatscreens, and any other digital device. There is no such thing as a "glorofied PC", there's just devices that are either specific, or generic, but always using the same technology.

I highly doubt this will be on the console itself, it's probably just for devkits

If you can modify it somehow,doesn't matter.

I don't think you get the point

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[mlc]

The PS4 is a glorified PC. The Xbox one is a glorified PC.

this is one of the most dumb phrases I've seen in my whole life. By that logic, consoles have been glorified PCs since the time they became digital, which have been always. Consoles are different from PCs in that they are made specifically for games, but internally they have always used PC technology, or rather, both consoles and PCs have used digital technology, same applies to MP3 players, smartphones, flatscreens, and any other digital device. There is no such thing as a "glorofied PC", there's just devices that are either specific, or generic, but always using the same technology.

I highly doubt this will be on the console itself, it's probably just for devkits

If you can modify it somehow,doesn't matter.

I don't think you get the point

Except, of course, this console specifically is running a modified PC OS. That might make it easier to discover flaws since people will already know where to look, and will have source code available as a hint as to where flaws may have been made when modifying FreeBSD for this purpose.

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[m0skit0]

GRUB2 is open-source. Sony have to publish any modifications they make to it.

Nope, they don't have to publish any modifications if they don't distribute it to third parties (which they won't). I already contacted the FSF about Sony's modified GCC and they ruled it out without proof it was being distributed.

I highly doubt this will be on the console itself, it's probably just for devkits

I highly doubt so. What's the purpose of developing 2 different OSs for the same console? Companies do not throw money like that with no strong financial reasons. So no, it's most likely the same OS. Also if you compile for BSD, you will need to recompile for the retail console, which doesn't make any sense at all. Devkit should be closest possible to retail console to avoid things going wrong. 90% probability the retail console will have the same OS.

this is one of the most dumb phrases I've seen in my whole life. By that logic, consoles have been glorified PCs since the time they became digital, which have been always. Consoles are different from PCs in that they are made specifically for games, but internally they have always used PC technology, or rather, both consoles and PCs have used digital technology, same applies to MP3 players, smartphones, flatscreens, and any other digital device. There is no such thing as a "glorofied PC", there's just devices that are either specific, or generic, but always using the same technology.

When he says "PC" he means of course "PC architecture", or if you prefer, Intel architecture Let's discuss the interesting things instead

That might make it easier to discover flaws since people will already know where to look, and will have source code available as a hint as to where flaws may have been made when modifying FreeBSD for this purpose.

Just keep in mind FreeBSD is one of the most secure OS around.

[Xian Nox]

GRUB2 is open-source. Sony have to publish any modifications they make to it.

Nope, they don't have to publish any modifications if they don't distribute it to third parties (which they won't). I already contacted the FSF about Sony's modified GCC and they ruled it out without proof it was being distributed.

That is true, but I still don't see why they used GRUB2 in the devkits at all. As pointed out in one of the comments in the article in the OP, FreeBSD doesn't come with GRUB2 by default, but with BSD-licensed bootloaders. They could have easily used any of those. Only explanation that comes to mind is 'they just did because that's the first thing that came to the dev's mind'.
And speaking of the FSF, in what cases can they take action?

[Acid_Snake]

That is true, but I still don't see why they used GRUB2 in the devkits at all. As pointed out in one of the comments in the article in the OP, FreeBSD doesn't come with GRUB2 by default, but with BSD-licensed bootloaders. They could have easily used any of those. Only explanation that comes to mind is 'they just did because that's the first thing that came to the dev's mind'.
And speaking of the FSF, in what cases can they take action?

I don't know how good BSD-licensed bootloaders are, but GRUB is very flexible, super compatible and easily modifiable. If they want to have another OS other than BSD (or two different versions of Orbis OS), then they just have to install it and update grub.

[Xian Nox]

That is true, but I still don't see why they used GRUB2 in the devkits at all. As pointed out in one of the comments in the article in the OP, FreeBSD doesn't come with GRUB2 by default, but with BSD-licensed bootloaders. They could have easily used any of those. Only explanation that comes to mind is 'they just did because that's the first thing that came to the dev's mind'.
And speaking of the FSF, in what cases can they take action?

I don't know how good BSD-licensed bootloaders are, but GRUB is very flexible, super compatible and easily modifiable. If they want to have another OS other than BSD (or two different versions of Orbis OS), then they just have to install it and update grub.

You don't need any of these things on a console. Both boot0 and LILO (according to this the FreeBSD's bootloaders) can load a different OS.

[Acid_Snake]

You don't need any of these things on a console. Both boot0 and LILO (according to this the FreeBSD's bootloaders) can load a different OS.

but that's no console, that's a devkit, the end product will most likely have only one OS, with a different bootloader, but the devkit has more than once for research or whatever (maybe one OS is for unsigned code and early testing while the other resembles more the end product for later testing)

[JeoWay]

Correct me if I'm wrong.
- GRUB2 is open-source. Sony have to publish any modifications they make to it.
- GRUB2 is written on the hard drive (traditionally, at least).
- PS4 can have its hard drive replaced.
Best case scenario, you can take out the hdd and install any OS you wish on it, and configure grub2 to load it.
Probable case scenario, the entire hdd including grub is encrypted/signed, so you can't really do that.
Worst case scenario, the bootloader and firmware are written on a different partition which cannot be removed from the console.

Regardless, I'm not surprised they're using a *BSD as a base for their firmware, as they did that with the Vita. Will they bring back OtherOS? I highly doubt it. Will it allow faster hacking? Probably. I expect all the ps3 piracy stick companies to jump right up to the ps4, lift a ps4 repair stick or something, reverse it and start mass-producing their dongles.

To be honest, I can see it coming back (only with a custom kernel that is secure enough by Sony of course)
To be honest, I think that is a reason for the nice PC Architecture (other than the fact of giving developers a easier platform to develop for)

So overall, I think the chance is pretty dang high in that case. I guess we will have to wait til November

[Acid_Snake]

maybe they will make some sort of virtual PC box running bsd or linux for homebrews, they did mention self publishing for indie devs

[JeoWay]

maybe they will make some sort of virtual PC box running bsd or linux for homebrews, they did mention self publishing for indie devs

I did hear about that, I am also curious of what "self-development" means. I wonder if the PS4 can be used to make games and run them due to the pc architecture.