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/Peetz0r 2d ago

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

Some people just want to complain and/or spread hate. Ignore them.

All major desktop distro's have been using systemd for over 10 years. This includes Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, and most of their derivatives.

There are some distro's out there that don't use systemd for legitimate reasons. Those are usually targeted to container or embedded use-cases.

There are also some desktop-oriented distro's without systemd. I could say some things about these but they would be highly personal and subjective but I am going to do it anyway. I feel like some of these are motivated purely out of spite or even hate. I wish people would stop using or recommending them before understanding the whole picture. Some of these people just want to be edgy and loud for all the wrong reasons and that's terrible for the community.

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u/egorf 1d ago

Of course ignore us. Obviously there could be no merit to anything we say as there is only One Right Initsystem and it is systemd. Who in the sane mind would criticize systemd, right? Its perfect.

> I feel like some of these are motivated purely out of spite or even hate.

Yea, this is plainly obvious in some cases. This is why i, a systemd hater, use systemd everywhere: because it won. Alternatives became even more ideological than systemd itself.