OpenBSD and PostgreSQL:The (Better) Alternative

Development and Startup PlatformPresented by

Mr. Tito Mari Francis H. Escaño

System Solutions Architect

EDGEKIT Computer Systems

Presented for

The Philippine Software Freedom Day 2016

Thus was born…

Conventional Thinking• Linux or more politically correct GNU/Linux is THE best free and

open source operating system• MySQL is the best free and open source relational database

management system• When it comes to software development, just go with

GNU/Linux and MySQL and you’re on a secure and high performance system

My Journey With GNU/Linux• Slackware 1.1 and 3.5• Red Hat 6, 7.3, 8, and 9• Mandrake/Mandriva• Gentoo• Bayanihan 4 and 5• Debian 5 and 6.x• OpenSuse• CentOS 4, 5 and 6.x• Ubuntu 6.06, 8.04, 10.04, 12.04, 14.04, 16.04• Linux Mint• Linux From Scratch project

GNU/Linux Pros• Widest support for most hardware compared to other FOSS OS• Most popular OS alternative to Windows… and sometimes Mac• Usual platform of choice for free and open source development• Competitive performance and 25+ CPU platform support• Numerous online and printed references• Numerous distributions to avoid vendor lock-in• Numerous approaches to software package management and

systems administration

GNU/Linux Cons• Widest support for most hardware with compromised use of blackbox

binary objects a.k.a. BLOBS• Inconsistent hardware support even on distributions running same or

higher kernel version• Inconsistent software development practices, with varying support

libraries across various distributions• Performance is good, at the expense of security• Confusing and sometimes conflicting multiple online and printed

references• Virtual lock-in from each distribution’s custom bug fixes and patches

incompatible with other distributions• Skillset may not be transferrable from using one distribution to another

What is OpenBSD?

OpenBSD is a free and open source operating system composed of a unified kernel, support libraries, programs and utilities, designed and developed as a whole by a dedicated project team

OpenBSD Cons• Limited set of supported hardware• Compared to Linux running on 25+ CPU architectures,

OpenBSD runs on 13 actively supported CPU and 18 CPU with discontinued support

• Many free and open source packages are perceived working only with and documented to install only on GNU/Linux distros

• Performance is secondary to security• Limited server hosting, virtualization and cloud computing

options

OpenBSD Pros• Supported hardware run at maximum performance and stability without

BLOBS, contributing further to security• Project focus, output quality and file size make it most suitable platform for

security-conscious infrastructure and development• Many free and open source programs usually associated with GNU/Linux

build and work properly, sometimes better in OpenBSD• Securely sane default settings because system administrators can’t and

shouldn’t be security experts overnight, along with built-in cryptography• Comprehensive documentation included with the system• Will always be free and open source as per BSD license• Common skillset and tools with other BSD distributions

If GNU/Linux and OpenBSDwere automobiles

Simplicity scales, complexity fails

MySQL Pros• Most widely used free and open source RDBMS• Numerous online and print references were available• Many free and open source packages specify MySQL as

dependency

MySQL Cons• Does not fully comply with ANSI SQL• Multiple backend database engines• Lack proper database field data types• Lack advance features

PostgreSQL Cons• Very few online and printed references available• Does not have multiple specialized database engines

PostgreSQL Pros• Full ANSI SQL compliance• Very good security reputation• Single common database engines• Many packages needing enterprise capability prefer

PostgreSQL• Object relational DBMS feature

Why OpenBSD and PostgreSQL?

Startup Viewpoints• Define what relevant problem you will solve• Design and develop your own solution built on top of simple,

secure and functional infrastructure• Business, whether a startup or not, is all about providing value

that customers will pay for• Technology is second to the business model• To VC or not to VC? To bootstrap or not to bootstrap?• Business model is nothing without effective profit model

Happy Software Freedom DayThank you very much!Questions?