[TUHS] Version 256 of systemd boasts '42% less Unix philosophy' • The Register

[Alan D. Salewski]

On Thu, Jun 13, 2024, at 14:39, segaloco via TUHS wrote:
[...]
> Are there any known attempts in the modern age to roll Linux with 
> something resembling research/BSD init?  That would be a nice counter 
> to the proliferation of systemd.  Even if it doesn't make a dent in the 
> actual uptake, at least it'd feel cathartic to have an alternative in 
> the opposite direction.
>
> - Matt G.

I'm interested in hearing about other options in this space,
too. The ones that I'm aware of include:

    1. Slackware
       http://www.slackware.com/

    2. Debian, with sysvinit-core or some other init
       https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-faq/customizing.en.html#sysvinit
       https://wiki.debian.org/Init

    3. Devuan (for a Debian derived system w/o systemd)
       https://www.devuan.org/

The most no-fuss, just-works-out-of-the-box-without-systemd approach
would probably be to use Slackware.

Debian can be easily customized to run without systemd, once you
know the formulas[0].

I did not include Alpine Linux[1] in the above list because it
includes lots of tools in a single executable (possibly "init").[2]
It does not use systemd by default, though.

I mention Devuan only because I'm aware of it -- I've never used it
in anger.

-Al


[0] Even on a systemd-infected host, it isn't much more complicated
    than:
        * install the 'sysvinit-core' package (and friends)
        * pin the 'systemd-sysv' package to '-1' (never install)
        * reboot
        * purge most (or all) packages with 'systemd' in their name

[1] https://www.alpinelinux.org/about/

[2] It's great in certain circumstances, though -- it's my go-to
    distro base for most of my small-footprint-scenarios work with
    Linux containers.