Linux comes from Linus Benedict Torvalds who attended University of Helsinki and made the first

Linux kernel for his Masters Thesis, based upon the minix system of the time, for i386 PC. in 1990. It
was originally free and open source and has stayed that way.
Berkeley Software Distribution came about from academic group projects with Unix and VAX at
Berkely, California starting in 1978. It has at times been free, proprietary, limited , closed, and open
sourced.
Linux has always been a home brew affair and was not really a networked operating system, whereas
BSD is where the internet was invented. It just comes from deeper academic American Roots.
The BSD kernel is monolithic, it does not regularly pull in plug-ins or drivers or additional modules by
default, whereas the Linux kernel is very modular and flexible by default. This makes the BSD kernel
able to deal with much more tightly-coupled internal functions and to rely less on the OS to handle all
things kernel. The delineation between kernel space and user space is absolute in the BSD kernel, while
Linux can take advantage of all sorts of dynamism that simplifies interaction between user and kernel
space code.
Both the GNU and BSD licenses are mostly wide open (BSD is more permissive) they have freely
shared code for many years, and the two systems have grown much closer to having most of the same
basic programs. Much of the Unix ecosystem is now the same on both Operating systems, though
individual significant differences still exist.
Often the BSD version of the same program on Linux will have different minor features, perhaps more,
perhaps less options, and its own set of documentation.
BSD is at least in flavor still more like old Unix and less like CPM than Linux.
Because they use the same compilers and for the most part the same user code and shells and so on, they
are used pretty much the same.
All Linux distros run the same, all have the same capabilities and basic setup.

The BSDs are not the same —

each branch has specialized to a niche corner of the unix market —
FreeBSD — The FreeBSD Project
FreeBSD covers all bases from PC to Supercomputers, and stresses ease of use.
FreeBSD concentrates on Intel and AMD processors and running highly reliable and efficient servers. It
is used by nearly all the big server players when reliability and long-term availability is needed.
FreeBSD usually gets a BSD port of software from the Linux/GNU world before the other BSDs and
has the largest available software base.
FreeBSD provides binary compatibility with Linux, allowing users to install and run most Linux
binaries on a FreeBSD system without having to first modify the binary. It has even been reported that,
in some situations, Linux binaries perform better on FreeBSD than they do on Linux (?really?).
Note: Support for 64-bit binary compatibility with Linux® was added in FreeBSD 10.3.
JunOS is Juniper Networks FreeBSD-based proprietary OS that is used in Juniper's routing, switching
and security devices. As of 2016, Juniper maintains a market share in Ethernet Switching of 16.9% and
a market share in Enterprise Routing of 16.1%. Juniper generated a $2,353 million revenue in Routing,
$858 million in Switching, and $318 million in Security during 2016.
NetBSD

“Of course it runs NetBSD”

NetBSD (I have no idea what they are really up to now) historically was designed to build and run on
the maximum number of different types of computers. If you have an old MAC or an Alpha or some
strange Japanese rig, it will probably run NetBSD.
NetBSD apparently does innovative research into some interesting topics.
Research carried out using NetBSD
OpenBSD — http://www.openbsd.org

OpenBSD centers on security and code correctness and review and making systems more secure.

TrueOS is FreeBSD that concentrates on a luxurious user experience, and making installation and use
for beginners easy. It is as far as I can tell exclusively X86_64
centered.
TrueOS | FreeBSD Desktop Operating System with ZFS - TrueOS

Dragonfly BSD DragonFlyBSD: DragonFly BSD

DragonFlyBSD is an experimental Kernel that combines micro-kernel techniques and advanced
multiprocessing technologies to leverage performance on X86_64 machines exclusively.
GhostBSD A simple, elegant desktop BSD Operating System
“GhostBSD provides all the benefits of the FreeBSD operating system combined with a focus on
simplicity for newcomers. GhostBSD ships with a simple installer, including MATE or XFCE desktop
environments, pre-installed, with a graphical application to easily install software and update your
system, codecs to play multimedia files is also pre-installed. GhostBSD is suitable for newcomers to
BSD as well as experienced users. With modest hardware requirements, GhostBSD is ideal for modern
workstations, and single board computers 64-bit hardware.”

Both BSD and Linux offer source packages and binary packages, but the BSDs have developed the
PORTS system as a system and software building facility that allows users to create their own compiled
programs optimized for their use.
It is “a thing” that BSD operators want to do much more than Linux users generally, so it becomes an
integral part of the BSD world.
Linux is easier for the beginner, works with more new hardware and has a much larger user base, BSD
is easier to maintain and rely on and has uptimes of years.