systemd is a popular init system adopted by most major Linux distributions and supported by dozens of developers and companies.
In case you’re curious, the init system is the first process after the Linux kernel takes action in the boot process to initialize various device management, logging, and network services. You may also know them as demons.
Technically, systemd solved numerous problems that made Linux distributions more reliable for use on desktop and massive server configurations.
So it’s safe to say that many believe it’s purpose is to make the boot process reliable and fast, with the ability to initialize things in parallel.
However, there are other users who absolutely hate the inclusion in modern Linux distributions. Hence demanding systemd-free Linux distributions.
But why is it like that?
Also, what options do you have if you don’t want systemd on your Linux system?
This article briefly explains why some users prefer system-free distros and some of the best options available.
Why systemd-free alternatives?
First and foremost, systemd is considered a bloated implementation compared to the classic init systems like SysVinit (or System V init).
It’s also believed to go against the UNIX philosophy, where the goal should have been to keep things simple and focus on getting a single thing done efficiently.
In addition, systemd is a complex implementation with various modules, potentially increasing the attack surface compared to SysVinit.
In addition to some of these reasons, desktop environments like GNOME and KDE are known to depend on systemd components. However, some argue that other tools/services shouldn’t depend entirely on systemd and take away a user’s liberty to use a different init system.
11 Systemd Free Linux Distribution Options
However, the list of distros without systemd includes some options that use praise and some systemd parts.
These are some of the options that will help you run distros without systemd while still fulfilling some of the systemd dependencies.
Don’t fret, the list also includes options that are completely systemd-free without elogind and other systemd parts. The list mentions the use of the same wherever necessary.
The list is in no particular order of precedence.
1. Devuan
Devuan is a Debian fork with no systemd. It is usually based on the latest available stable Debian release.
The goal of the project is to give users the ability to control the choice of init system. You can choose to use sysVinit, runit and openRC.
With Devuan you have access to all desktop environments available in Debian. It works with the systemd free configurations. Compared to some other systemd-free distros, Devuan can be a simpler option with respectable accessibility improvements and a smooth installation process.
At the time of release, you can try Devuan on 32-bit and 64-bit systems.
, which is also one of the best options for 32-bit systems.</p><p>Considering that it supports both 64-bit and 32-bit systems and uses the IceWM window manager, it’s also one of the lightest options.</p><p>You also have the option to use Fluxbox and some other window managers according to your needs.</p><p>When it comes to the init system, you can choose to download the runit edition or the sysvinit version. Various editions are available to get you started.</p><div class=)
.</p><p>It uses elogind as the user login manager to try and make the switch to a systemd-free distribution seamless. However, if you don’t like its presence, you can try running it without it.</p><p>Compared to some other options, Artix is only for experienced Arch users who can configure their setup.</p><div class=)
 by modern operating system standards.</p><p>Because it’s modular, you can fully customize your configuration without systemd or use elogind. You can quickly install a variety of desktop environments and window managers to get started.</p><p>For obvious reasons, it can run fine on older computers.</p><div class=)
