Ok, after some years, I decided yesterday that I should try a BSD desktop. I chose (wait for it....) GhostBSD based primarily on booting it up and what it looked like (superficially) in the live environment.
So...I have some questions that since I don't have any real BSD experience (been years since I was a Solaris admin etc), may be quite newbieish. Please forgive me, I do try to search first.
1) Desktop (of various flavors, tried enlightenment, XFCE, Mate, and Sway) seems to lag a bit. Especially noticeable in Firefox on FaceBook or a forum, when typing and watching the lag be real. Is this likely 'just the way it is, based on priorities'? or some tweak that I should apply. Of note, my graphic environment is AMD Radeon RX 560 (not a new card, but should be very much adequate for average desktop experience). Neither Windows 11 nor any Linux flavor has shown this sort of lag/frame skipping during videos (I assume this to be the same thing).
2) How does one find (or encourage) ports of software that are newer? Example: Enlightenment, running 24.2, and 25.3 is available. I know I could just compile it..but I would prefer to have my desktop software maintained.
On the positive side, I hadn't imagined *BSD to have advanced so much in installation and desktop. It was pretty primitive (or seemed) last time I looked (several years ago, 2-4 probably). I am what is known in the Linux circles as a 'distro hopper'. I tend to have about 7 OS flavors on the pc at a time, GhostBSD now being the newest one. I like learning new things and seeing different approaches.
BSD Newbie (Unix/Linux experienced)
Re: BSD Newbie (Unix/Linux experienced)
Do you use telegram at all? the telegram channel has more activity than here, if you do.<https://t.me/ghostbsd>
1. Official desktop is MATE.
how much memory does the computer have? I use MATE on facebook, and have no issues. Just curious. I only have experience on intel video chips
2. Ports. install them from the "Software Station". I forget just how @ericbsd changes the ports tree. But installing them via "Software Station" is the way to get them on the computer.
Hope this helps
1. Official desktop is MATE.
how much memory does the computer have? I use MATE on facebook, and have no issues. Just curious. I only have experience on intel video chips
2. Ports. install them from the "Software Station". I forget just how @ericbsd changes the ports tree. But installing them via "Software Station" is the way to get them on the computer.
Hope this helps
Re: BSD Newbie (Unix/Linux experienced)
I actually prefer forums over 'interactive' help. I'm sad with the current deterioration of most forums (not just PC oriented, but gardening,etc). That being said, I'll throw a plea out on Telegram.
I have 24 GB of memory on a fairly powerful desktop (8 core AMD of about 3 years of age) with both SSD and traditional HD (note the BSD is on the HD, but that isn't an issue for Linux distros in this manner).
I tried the different desktops to make sure it wasn't a particular compositor issue.
Yeah, I'm naturally a cmd line guy, but I've played by the rules (so far) and am using Software Station.
I have 24 GB of memory on a fairly powerful desktop (8 core AMD of about 3 years of age) with both SSD and traditional HD (note the BSD is on the HD, but that isn't an issue for Linux distros in this manner).
I tried the different desktops to make sure it wasn't a particular compositor issue.
Yeah, I'm naturally a cmd line guy, but I've played by the rules (so far) and am using Software Station.
Re: BSD Newbie (Unix/Linux experienced)
Neville on Telegram provided me something to try affecting the kernel scheduler.
In /etc/sysctl.conf add kern.scheduler.steal_thresh=1
It seems to have done the trick. Posting in case it will help anyone else.
In /etc/sysctl.conf add kern.scheduler.steal_thresh=1
It seems to have done the trick. Posting in case it will help anyone else.
Re: BSD Newbie (Unix/Linux experienced)
saw that. excellent
Re: BSD Newbie (Unix/Linux experienced)
@dbarron I have been testing a couple of options on Nvidia and Intel GPU, I will most likely add kern.scheduler.steal_thresh=1 by default.