Devuan
Devuan is a Linux distribution forked from Debian that uses sysvinit instead of systemd for init. It avoids dependence on systemd and supports user choice of init systems.
Devuan: A systemd-free Linux distro with sysvinit
A Linux distribution forked from Debian, Devuan uses sysvinit instead of systemd for init, offering a systemd-free alternative and user choice of init systems.
What is Devuan?
Devuan is a Linux distribution forked from Debian in 2015. It was created by a group of Debian developers who opposed Debian's switch to using systemd as the default init system. Devuan continues to use the traditional sysvinit init system instead.
Some of the key features and characteristics of Devuan include:
- Forked from Debian so maintains compatibility with Debian packages and repositories
- Avoids dependence on systemd, allowing user choice of init systems like sysvinit, OpenRC, etc.
- Emphasizes stability, reliability, and freedom of choice for users
- Supported architectures include x86, x86-64, ARM, PowerPC, Sparc
- Available as a desktop, server, or minimal netinstall distribution
- Uses Debian's testing branch packages after quality assurance as a rolling release model
- Smaller community and number of packages compared to Debian
- Positioned as a lightweight, customizable alternative for admins/users who dislike systemd
Overall, Devuan meets the needs of Linux users who prefer to avoid systemd due to philosophical or technical reasons, while maintaining compatibility with Debian's large ecosystem.
Devuan Features
Features
- Uses sysvinit instead of systemd for init
- Forked from Debian Linux distribution
- Avoids dependence on systemd
- Supports user choice of init systems
Pricing
- Open Source
Pros
Lightweight and fast boot times without systemd
Greater flexibility in init system choice
Closer to traditional Unix-style init
Avoids forced dependence on controversial systemd
Cons
Smaller community than mainstream Debian
Less integration with newer Linux technologies
Fewer packages available than Debian
Lacks some features and conveniences of systemd
Official Links
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