An alternative to systemd
Command Line – runit
© Lead Image © Sergey Nivens, 123RF.com
If you find systemd needlessly complicated, runit offers an easy-to-use, minimal init alternative.
On Unix-like systems like Linux, init is the first process to run during bootup, and the one that controls all other processes. For years, most distributions have used SysVinit, an init inspired by the one used in Unix System V. However, in 2012-15, the majority of distributions switched to systemd, which not only provides init services, but an administrative overlay of the entire operating system. Since then, a variety of simpler inits have been written by those who find systemd needlessly complicated. One of the best-known of these alternative inits is Gerrit Pape's runit [1], a collection of utilities designed to be a minimal and easy-to-use init system.
Runit boots and shuts down a system in three stages. Like SysVinit, runit uses runlevels, but, by default, it only uses two: default, which runs all the services linked in /var/service, and single, which is used for rescue and recovery. Other runlevels can be added if desired [2].
Runit's structure offers several advantages:
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
openSUSE Joins End of 10
openSUSE has decided to not only join the End of 10 movement but it also will no longer support the Deepin Desktop Environment.
-
New Version of Flatpak Released
Flatpak 1.16.1 is now available as the latest, stable version with various improvements.
-
IBM Announces Powerhouse Linux Server
IBM has unleashed a seriously powerful Linux server with the LinuxONE Emperor 5.
-
Plasma Ends LTS Releases
The KDE Plasma development team is doing away with the LTS releases for a good reason.
-
Arch Linux Available for Windows Subsystem for Linux
If you've ever wanted to use a rolling release distribution with WSL, now's your chance.
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.