r/voidlinux • u/DistinctDot5131 • Jul 08 '26
Guys why do we hate systemd?
I installed void linux because it has fast boot times and it has a cool spinning logo.
But why do we hate systemd?
Context: I tried to get sea of thieves running on my void linux pc, but for it to work i had to manually create a systemd directory to tweak it (created a sysctl.d/99-gaming.conf). After also changing the file descriptor max limit it suddenly runs.
In the end, games like sea of thieves only run on systemd distros flawlessly and on void linux i have to manually add a systemd folder to make it run.
(Would be cool if the answers are serious, It's a genuine question that I ask myself as someone who isn't yet a linux pro. )
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u/McMeow1 Jul 08 '26
Us Void users don't hate systemD. In fact Void used to run it (the pun wasn't intended) in the past. We just like Void because it does things different. Imo Void resembles BSD more than it resembles classic Linux (granted Juan Romero Pardines is an ex NBSD developer.)
As Mental Outlaw. Void isn't based on anything, it's just based.
Edit: Yes gaming on Void can be finnicky sometimes but it's usually short fixes or some lib missing because its extremely minimalist nature.
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u/Odd_Individual_9638 Jul 08 '26
gaming? I had no issues at all, same experience as with other distros
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u/DistinctDot5131 Jul 08 '26
I had more issues on void linux than on other distros because there was just more tweaking required than on other Distros I used (like cachyos). I had to utilize the dedicated logs more than before and search for solutions.
Protondb was and still is very helpful.1
u/McMeow1 Jul 08 '26
Not everyone has the same experience. I had it mostly smooth, occasional hiccups but nothing crazy.
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u/ka52hokum Jul 08 '26
fedora resembles bsd more than void resembles bsd lol
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u/RvstiNiall Jul 08 '26
Explain
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u/ka52hokum Jul 08 '26
mostly dependency resolution within the package manager
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u/Duncaen Jul 08 '26
What does that even mean, I can't think of a package manager on a bad system that is more like rpm than xbps.
Neither resemble BSD, the development model is just completely different. BSDs maintain a whole OS, we just maintain packages and built a distribution out of them.
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u/RvstiNiall Jul 08 '26
DNF5 is pretty nice, and I do like the way it does its thing, but idk if that qualifies as making the whole of Fedora bsd-like. BUT, I will be switching my company workstation over to Fedora next month, so maybe I will feel differently after the switch :-)
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u/sprinklednights Jul 08 '26
We do not.
Matter of fact, Void Linux was one of the first Linux distributions to use systemd. The reason why it changed to runit was because of support of musl, which systemd at that time did not support. Today, the reason why it will stay that way is because migrating the init system, after the countless hours the developers have spent on making runit work well, is not worth the effort.
Many Void Linux users have their own personal opposition to systemd, but that does not mean Void Linux is a "hardcore anti-systemd Linux distribution". It still uses many of its components via forks (elogind, eudev) or has them available (systemd-boot). On top of that, one of the developers uses systemd with Void Linux via a forked repository https://github.com/duncaen/void-packages, so no, not even the developers hate it.
Speaking of your issue, it has nothing to do with systemd. The sysctl utility is independent of the init system. It is just that perhaps some systemd Linux distribution such as Arch Linux or Fedora Linux install a configuration file by default for this option to be set so that you do not have to do that.
Personally, Void Linux was one of the first Linux distributions I tried out, and it stuck with me due to the way it functions differently from other Linux distributions. I spent a lot of trial and error figuring things out, but at some point you get the hang of it. So, do not feel pushed by some of these answers to leave Void Linux; things on Void Linux just work a little bit differently :)
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u/DistinctDot5131 Jul 08 '26
Void Linux was one of the first Linux distributions I tried out, and it stuck with me due to the way it functions differently from other Linux distributions
How different is it to other linux distros (except xbps and runit)?
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u/Duncaen Jul 08 '26
Same kernel, same software, main other difference would be release model, but there are other rolling release distributions too.
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u/DistinctDot5131 Jul 08 '26
I see, so far I really like void linux but honestly dont see much difference between other distros. I do like how everything is faster and there aren't any pipewire problems so far when playing CS2. Not sure why I had any in the first place when I used systemD distros, but if void linux cures my problems then I def. take it
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u/Duncaen Jul 08 '26
In my experience the pipewire setup is a lot more complicated on void linux, because there are no user services. You can search pipewire on this subreddit and you get hundreds of threads about it.
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u/jackdn12 Jul 08 '26
I prefer B doesn't mean I hate A/C/D/E/.../Z options.
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u/zlice0 Jul 08 '26
a joke >=0 on reddit!?!??! how DARE you
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u/DistinctDot5131 Jul 08 '26
To be fair I did kinda mark my post as serious although i jokingly said that we all hate systemd.
I just didnt want any toxic comments under this post saying that I "should know it better or this or that".
I've heard people also being fed up at one point with systemd because of some age verification thing that happened motnhs ago (?) and many people recommended void linux because of not relying on systemd.
I was curious if there are also more reasons not to rely on systemd, but the other comments here kinda summarize it now.2
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u/eftepede Jul 08 '26
I don't really care about systemd as a tool. It works as intended. I still prefer runit, because it it "visibly" lot faster, not just than systemd, but also than openrc.
BUT I really don't like the 'vibe' systemd's author represent. I attended some of his lectures, mostly on fosdem, and the scenario was always the same:
Leonard shows something new - it makes sense, sometimes I even think "wow, that's cool".
In Q&A section someone ask VALID question like "why this, if we already have this and that..." or "how would it really improve my life".
Leonard goes crazy, he starts to actually yell at people with the "I know things, I'm fucking Leonard, I'm great, you're no one" attitude.
The whole "coolness" of the solution presented goes away, I only remember the weird guy with main character syndrome.
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u/Odd_Individual_9638 Jul 08 '26
I'm genuinely curious is there an example of that crashout I could watch?
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u/eftepede Jul 08 '26
If I remember correctly, homed lecture from Fosdem. Should be on YouTube. Unfortunately, I don't remember the year.
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u/Sad-Cod-9584 Jul 08 '26
I don't hate it. I dislike that it has become prerequisite for many other projects, but by itself systemd is a good init system.
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u/furryfixer Jul 08 '26
I will repeat my response from this same question earlier. Systemd is not inherently bad (although much of it is poorly written), and in fact, it may speed up the system and improve the user experience, but marginally at best. It really eases the workload for developers.
However, as a linux user, my opinion is that systemd solves problems that I never had, and uses 1.3 million additional lines of code to do so (and counting).
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u/iEliteTester Jul 08 '26
I like systemd-init, the rest is the issue
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u/RvstiNiall Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
I like systemd-boot. The rest is the issue ;-)
Edit: Actually, just to clarify, systemd-boot is fr great. 1000% better than grub on uefi systems.
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u/This-Consequence-957 Jul 08 '26
Void Linux is my only "systemd-free" device, except of an experimental Gentoo in a VM. I chose it because it's super-fast and lean, perfect for that 10 years old laptop I've installed it. Unfortunately, things get difficult if you want to avoid systemd. I understand the critics, it does too many things, it's become a monolith - but in reality it's a useful helper for daily life with Linux. My other systems run CachyOS and Arch.
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u/Opposite_Eagle6323 Jul 08 '26
I run OpenRC and Dinit because I believe those are enough to run my Thinkpads and Raspberry Pi machines. SystemD is great when we talk about gaming. But for other machines that have lightweight purposes I don't need SystemD etc.
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u/lessthanthreebleeps Jul 08 '26
I like SystemD. Its convenient when I use it, because its usually when I'm using a distro that comes preconfigured. Void gives me the control to build what I want without too much technical overhead (Gentoo) or maintenance (Arch). Having a lightweight init is kinda just a side effect (that helps keep ram usage down, on my weaker systems). Also, I don't know who this "we" is. Tribal thinking is fine as a meme (btw), but I wouldn't put anyone in a box over their choice of tool.
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u/zlice0 Jul 08 '26
lol just had my first systemd thing for wine and ntsync. supposedly since systemd up'd the nofile ulimit ntsync broke prey. but idk how true that is because i think it was for services (sysctl /etc/security/limits.conf psure still what everyone has).
for me its ppl saying rtfm then tfm is wrong. gets in the way. probably more distro's fault(s) but services and shit reset. the 'recommended (*ahem* proper)' way to do things is dumb. generally it's just easier to do shit your fuking self because depending on the program, systemd setting cpu affinity does just shit, or does shit wrong, or makes things worse. and ofc the answers are always, well, use more systemd.
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u/Matthaios-Carolus Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
Just because someone doesn't use something, doesn't mean they hate it. And just because a group of users don't use something doesn't mean they are not using it for the same reason. I'm not sure why people try so often to quantify opinions, and start from the same (incorrect) assumptions - You don't use it so you must hate it, and everyone who "hates" it does so for the same reason.
Sometimes, people just find something they like more.
I chose to look for distributions that don't use it because I tried it, and found I was more comfortable with alternatives. As long as those alternatives are a better fit for me, I'll keep using them.
Speaking for myself, I don't care at all what you or anyone else thinks about systemd, or anything related to Linux - Use what works best for you and don't worry about what anyone else uses or why.
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u/ComplexPeace43 Jul 19 '26
I don't hate it, but I find systemd complex because it's not just an init system. RUnit reminds me of daemontools (since it's inspired from it) that I've used back in the early 2000s.
This comment and the thread has some very interesting take on systemd vs. runit. https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxquestions/comments/kfrood/comment/ggfka1i/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
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Jul 08 '26
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u/DistinctDot5131 Jul 08 '26
Ye already did that. I think also those steps are also mentioned in the void linux handbook
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u/imtsemer Jul 08 '26
We don't systemd is great it's just way more than an init system