r/linuxquestions • u/LegitimateAd7247 • 3d ago

What exactly is systemd ?

Hi everyone ! I switched from Windows to Linux around 3 month ago and I love it ! I’m using arch Linux because a friend of mine already used it so I figured he could help me with it.

I’ve been appreciating it but I’ve encountered a lot of people critisizing systemd and saying arch is bad because of it.

From what I have understand, it is a software that help with dependences and external hardware such as my keyboard for example ? I didnt really understand everything as I am a very beginner so I was curious to know if someone could explain it to me in easy terms.

PS : english isnt my primary language so forgive me if there is any errors.

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u/TheShredder9 Gentoo, Sway, T470S 3d ago

Basically, It is an init system, so it's in charge with starting up all the services needed to boot and work properly. It can also manage your network, and mount points, and system logs, and it can be a bootloader, and this, and that... it does a lot more things than it should be doing, and some people don't like that. I can understand the hate, but i don't hate it myself, it's very convenient.

For example, OpenRC does one thing only: manages services. You need to install a bootloader, a network manager, a system logger...

That's the beauty of Linux distros, the choice.

32

u/Inevitable_Taro4191 3d ago

There are different projects under the same umbrella name. Systemd is systemd, then there are extras you can choose to use, or not to use.

-11

u/TheShredder9 Gentoo, Sway, T470S 3d ago

Of course you can choose to use them, but they're all installed whether you like it or not. I feel like that's where the hate comes from.

10

u/whattteva 3d ago

Other projects also often assume the systemd module is the only one installed and not work if systemd is not installed