Linux is not an operating system
Linux is not an operating system. Its just a UNIX-like kernel. The guy doesn't speak English. Neither do I. Anyway, here you will find its source code:
Its useless by itself. There is no way to "run it".
When people say "Linux", they really mean a "Linux distribution", such as "Debian" (Ubuntu, Mint, Kali, etc), or Redhat, and others. A linux distribution is an operating system, that provides many components: linux kernel, userland (command-line utils), GUI, package manager, etc.
The GUI layer is a totally different set of project(s) unrelated to Linux Kernel: its composed of X Window (Xorg, or just "X"), or Wayland (modern Xorg replacement) with "Window Managers" running on top of it.
Other operating systems also use X, such as OpenBSD, NetBSD, Solaris, FreeBSD, etc. Some window managers became very sophisticated (as in bloated) .. such as KDE and GNOME. Those are now considered "Desktop Environments" (because they're more than just window managers).
There is no such thing as a "linux command": ls, mkdir, grep etc is a UNIX command. On linux distribution they're included in GNU Core Utilities, commonly referred to as "coreutils".
Unlike Linux (which is just a unix-like kernel), FreeBSD is a real UNIX, a complete operating system (with its own kernel, used by OS X and other OS'es). Conceptually, it is similar to what you'd call a "distribution" if you're coming from linux background.
In FreeBSD (and OpenBSD), there is no coreutils 3rd-party package. Those commands are a part of the base system. Its not a separate package. You can see (/bin) source code here: https://github.com/freebsd/freebsd-src/tree/main/bin
On package managers: every linux distribution has its own package manager. Debian (Kali, Mint, Ubuntu, etc) uses dpkg/apt, Redhat uses rpm. FreeBSD also has a package manager "pkg". And something unique: an (optional) ability to install a package from source code using ports. On Linux distros packages are always binary (as in mystery):
https://docs.freebsd.org/en/books/handbook/ports/ (Ports vs Packages)
FreeBSD handbook will teach you more about UNIX than any printed book you can buy (and this core knowledge transfers directly to running a linux distribution):
Part 2: https://www.garudax.id/pulse/linux-operating-system-part-2-dmitry-kalashnikov-9lpdc/ (Linux is not an operating system, part 2)
my other articles (related):
In the early 1990s, a landmark lawsuit saw Unix System Laboratories sue Berkeley Software Distribution, Inc. (BSDi) over Unix trademark and code usage. While the case was settled, allowing BSD to continue, the legal uncertainty gave Linux a crucial edge. Unburdened by similar disputes, Linux emerged as a leading open-source platform. How do you think historical legal battles like this shaped the open-source landscape?
I like both, but that is a true statement.
Could not have been stated better. 👍
I have been using the Ubuntu distro for several years now; I might have to try FreeBSD on a VM. I am a little hesitant to make it my primary machine out of concern for support for the software I run.