gnome on FreeBSD [procfs]...

[Josh Sled <jsled scam XCF Berkeley EDU>]

If you're considering running gnome on FreeBSD, don't expect the full gnome
experience... 

One of the cooler programs in the packages [I think it's been called the
"coolest gnome app"] is gtop... gtop uses /proc/stat and /proc/meminfo, which
don't exist in FreeBSD... not in 2.2.2, or 2.2.6 or 3.0-current, apparently...

cpuload [and wmload for windowmaker] uses /proc/stat [non-existant on
FreeBSD]

memusage uses /proc/stat

netload uses /proc/net

Many other Linux applications use special files in the procfs which do not
exist in FreeBSD's procfs... 

I, therefore, have four options:

0) go through and modify all the programs to work on FreeBSD [PAIN].
   This might not even be possible... I attempted to do this with wmload
   a couple of weeks ago, but can't find a way to get nice and free times
   with getrusage(...)
1) Modify FreeBSD's procfs code to support all the linux-like special
   services.  This might be a bit beyond my ability...
2) Encourage the FreeBSD people to do 1...
3) Swtich to a "real" flava' of Linux...

Later next week -- after finals end -- I'll start investigating these
possibilities...  I'm leaning toward 1), as it [or 2] is the best
solution...

Just wanted to let you all know... 

Take care,
...jsled