Arch Linux Is Switching To Systemd

[TheCycoONE]

Wow, so much FUD in this thread, just like all the threads in the arch-general mailing list.

A. You can still use rc.conf, some of the Arch devs have worked hard to make their systemd be able to read the DAEMONS array so no changes necessary, though they are recommended to match upstreadm.

B. The main selling point of systemd is not speed, though it is much faster. The reason the devs are all so eager to switch is because systemd service files are MUCH easier to write than initscripts. Not only are they much faster to write but they're portable so the hope is upstream will eventually be able to maintain their own service files and the devs jobs will be much easier. People do things that make their lives easier - surprise!

C. They didn't force you to install systemd, systemd-tools is a collection of small binaries which are useful to any init system - Arch's initscripts make heavy use of them. AFAIK they're still not forcing you, but it will be default and they probably will force you eventually.

[RealNC]

Another thing about systemd is that it uses the Linux kernel more. Other init systems usually only make use of POSIX calls. Linux-exclusive features are not used at all.

[Delgarde]

I stopped using my installation of Arch when upgrading offered NO OPTION but to install systemd.

My experience with other distros using systemd is: If it works you don't even know its there.
If it doesn't work YOU, the user have little control, or knowledge, of how to fix it.

Learn how to use it. It's not like you knew how to maintain the traditional bootscripts before you learned how they worked...

[RealNC]

Good thing he didn't begin his computing with CP/M. He would still be using it because the boot system of MS-DOS was a bit different.

[ninez]

Wow, so much FUD in this thread, just like all the threads in the arch-general mailing list.

A. You can still use rc.conf, some of the Arch devs have worked hard to make their systemd be able to read the DAEMONS array so no changes necessary, though they are recommended to match upstreadm.

B. The main selling point of systemd is not speed, though it is much faster. The reason the devs are all so eager to switch is because systemd service files are MUCH easier to write than initscripts. Not only are they much faster to write but they're portable so the hope is upstream will eventually be able to maintain their own service files and the devs jobs will be much easier. People do things that make their lives easier - surprise!

C. They didn't force you to install systemd, systemd-tools is a collection of small binaries which are useful to any init system - Arch's initscripts make heavy use of them. AFAIK they're still not forcing you, but it will be default and they probably will force you eventually.

+1 ...and very well said. I had also been following the threads on the list and was a little surprised by some of the comments.

I wasn't sure if i was going to like systemd, at first. but after switching over and familiarizing myself with it - i quite like it. My system boots faster (small benefit, no big deal) but the service files are easy to work with and fairly straight-forward.

I think it is a good move for Archlinux to switch now rather than somewhere down the line. I haven't switched my other Arch machine yet, but i think i will do that sometime over the next few days.

[n3wu53r]

I stopped using my installation of Arch when upgrading offered NO OPTION but to install systemd.

My experience with other distros using systemd is: If it works you don't even know its there.
If it doesn't work YOU, the user have little control, or knowledge, of how to fix it.

My view is that systemd is a complicated solution looking for a problem to fix.
I had NO PROBLEMS with booting, that I could not fix, until systemd came along.

If you just use the basic install a distro gives you, likely you won't care about systemd.
Assuming the distro developers can learn how to setup and use systemd.

If you are a tweaker, and like to change things, systemd has a LONG way to go before it is usable.
Perhaps in the future 3rd party developers will produce an interface for humans to control systemd.
Until that time I still have other options. Debian and slackware to name a couple.

NO option but to install systemd? You must be mistaken.
https://www.archlinux.org/news/syste...replaces-udev/

Switching to systemd is the topic of this article.

[n3wu53r]

What's the problem with Slackware ?!?
No matter it was one of the last distros that i tested several years ago, it end up to be my favorite...i'm using it right now

Very stable, very snappy, very configurable, very easy to install blobs, (re)compile kernels, etc...aaahhhh....yes....and the audio simply works out of the box with multimedia and games

ps:I have nothing against Systemd....then again never used it

I never used slackware but I have heard it doesn't have dependency resolution with the packages? I'm sure there are tools that provide that functionality but, really that sounds like a pain.

[AJSB]

It's written by the PulseAudio author. That alone makes it l33t.

Oh, and it also makes the system boot extremely fast. Not sure how important that is to people.

It's written by same guy of PA ?!? HELP !!!! End of the world is near !!!

That alone is a good excuse to hate it already w/o the need to test it



Boot real fast ?!? AHAHAH, LOOSERS !!!
I don't care !!! My PC is usually switched ON 24/7 !!! Boot fast is something needed for Windows not for Slackware

[AJSB]

I never used slackware but I have heard it doesn't have dependency resolution with the packages? I'm sure there are tools that provide that functionality but, really that sounds like a pain.

I use slapt-get utility and it works OK....besides that i also use my brain

It was much worse some years ago...

With time i kinda wrote my own handbook, it's a breeze to install and configure now any new Slackware release....can't wait for Slackware 14


There was a phrase "If you learn UBUNTU, you learn UBUNTU, if you learn FEDORA , you learn FEDORA but if you learn Slackware, you learn LINUX" ...so, true...the instalation process is something more intimidating than UBUNTU or Windows where you are carried by hand....i still remember my 1st time that installed it

I said to myself " Oh s**t, oh S**T !!! I must be nuts to try to install this alone !!!" after tested UBUNTU, Fedora, Mandriva , PCLinuxOS, XUBUNTU, KUBUNTU, Debian, etc, etc.

But ended up OK, and no matter i continue to test other distros , i end up coming back to Slackware...

[adler187]

I think you are missing the difference between 'standard' and 'a standard.'

FYI, I think the terms you're looking for are "de facto" and "de jure."