How does BSD differ from Linux?

I know that Linux and BSD are both offshoots of Unix, but how similar are BSD and Linux? I just found out that a potential employer's product is based on a customized version of Free BSD and wondered how similar Free BSD would be to Linux. Are we mainly talking syntax when issuing command in terminal mode, or is it a completely different kettle of fish?

Any idea what sorts of things would be better done in BSD than in Linux? Any reason for choosing Free BSD over Linux, or is it likely that the developer just happened to know BSD when he designed the product?

Thanks.

That's a good question. I think BSD is a UNIX. Though 'freeBSD' is not, it's a unix-clone. There's actually some official governing body that determines what is and what isn't a UNIX. Like apple has submited OSX to be officially a UNIX, since it is BSD-based.

The difference is most likely just the kernel. Though I'd be interested to know more!

If i remember right, BSD is under a different license than GPL that allows the code to not only be modified, but used for commercial purposes i.e. OSX. By basing his product on BSD, the license allows him to "close it up" and re-sell it as his own product.

moving to the BSD forum

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I wish I had the ability to reword the LGPL as succinctly, so I could just pop it into the beginning of a source file.

BSD is a completely different kernel. The low-level userland tools (the shell, compiler, etc.) are different as well. Beyond that, you get pretty much the same user experience, minus Flash and some other proprietary things. Binary compatibility with Linux is really good, or so I'm told.

When you refer to Linux in essence it refers to the Kernel only, linux is just the kernel. BSD on the other hand is the entire os as whole including the kernel and is developed as such.