The new version of the initialization system systemd 256 was released with a 42% provocative increase, sticking to the Unix philosophy. Lead developer Lenart Poetering announced that this release introduces a 9-bit versioning system.
Systemd is a system of system services for Linux aimed at speeding up boot times and simplifying service management. It replaces older systems like System V and Upstart, offering more modern and efficient functionality. Systemd utilizes parallel process launching, resource control through CGROUPS, and its own mechanisms for managing task dependencies. The goal is to enhance system administration by providing a faster and more reliable system startup process.
As is customary, the new release comes with a range of new features while phasing out outdated functions. For instance, SystemD 256 no longer supports the initial version of the CGROUPS resource management mechanism unless the option is explicitly activated.
CGROUPS, a Linux kernel containerization technology contributed by Google in 2008, saw its second version integrated into the core in 2016. Therefore, the removal of the first version is seen as a natural progression. Additionally, System V system scripts and the UEFI SystemDoptions variable are now considered obsolete.
Among the new commands and parameters, there are both minor additions and significant innovations. For example, the SystemD-Vpick utility allows for automatic selection of the latest version of directories with versioned files. However, Linux still lacks support for versioning files and directories in the traditional sense. The new technology involves using the suffix “.v/” to indicate directory paths.
One notable addition is the new Run0 command, intended to replace the popular Sudo found in MacOS and Ubuntu. Poetering introduced this command on a Mastodon thread, suggesting that it may spark interest among users. Run0 eliminates the Setuid function, a fundamental Posix system call that Sudo relies on to execute commands as a super user. Poetering considers this approach a “bad idea” in the Unix spirit and advocates for an OS entirely devoid of Setuid tricks. Instead, Run0 simply passes the systemd daemon command through Systemd-Run.