Benno Rice

https://2019.linux.conf.au/schedule/presentation/156/

systemd is, to put it mildly, controversial. As a FreeBSD developer I decided I wanted to know why.

I delved into the history of bootstrap systems, and even the history of UNIX and other contemporary operating systems, to try and work out why something like systemd was seem as necessary, if not desirable. I also tried to work out why so many people found it so upsetting, annoying, or otherwise rage-inducing.

Join me on a journey through the bootstrap process, the history of init, the reasons why change can be scary, and the discovery of a part of your OS you may not even know existed.

linux.conf.au is a conference about the Linux operating system, and all aspects of the thriving ecosystem of Free and Open Source Software that has grown up around it. Run since 1999, in a different Australian or New Zealand city each year, by a team of local volunteers, LCA invites more than 500 people to learn from the people who shape the future of Open Source. For more information on the conference see https://linux.conf.au/

#linux.conf.au #linux #foss #opensource

Lobsters is a community-driven platform for sharing and discussing links to articles, tutorials, and projects related to technology and programming. Readers can learn about a wide range of topics, from software development and system administration to cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. With user submissions, comments, and voting, Lobsters provides a platform for collaborative learning and knowledge sharing among technology enthusiasts.

Lobsters

Systemd is a system manager that has been both praised and criticized in the industry. It brings about a lot of changes and offers advantages such as improved service management, automation via API, and a service lifecycle. It also handles device naming and logging differently. While it is Linux-specific, it brings new ideas and possibilities to the table. The reaction to systemd has been hostile at times, which may discourage innovation in the industry. Embracing change and finding areas to learn from systemd can lead to improvements in other systems and applications.

The Tragedy of systemd

I embrace change, but what I don’t embrace are things that are unnecessarily complex, inefficient, and what’s worse, when I’m FORCED to use them, as in the case of the Debian project, which adopted systemd and left no alternatives at the time.
Today I use Gentoo with open-rc, and I’m very happy, as long as the Gentoo project doesn’t start forcing the use of systemd as well.
systemd is simply something that nobody asked for and they’re forcing everyone to use.