Devuan & Devuan based distro thread

Seems that there wasn't a thread until now.

What are your experiences so far?

I've installed MiyoLinux to a pendrive, a great minimal live/installable that basically just gives you internet access out of the box & then lets you choose which programs to install.

Uses Openbox window manager.

I've also installed Refracta8 to a laptop, this distro gives you the most commonly used programs as a live/installable, & you can also make your own version quite easily.

Uses XFCE desktop environment.


The Devuan Revolution has started.

I have used Devuan and it is a nice piece of work, but I must say I do not see a revolution in the works, for two reasons:

• They were a year behind the curve in getting a beta out and
• Most persons (aside from the sort of persons who hang out at places like this) don't really care what the init system is, as long as it inits, and the fact is that SystemD does work quite nicely.

I do rather hope that Devuan gets enough traction to grow and prosper, but I fear I am not optimistic.

Just joking about the 'revolution'.

Startups often get behind, but as long as 'we' catch up, Devuan should be OK & get a following, there are several distros based on it already, & it still hasn't reached release status, I agree, but I'm confident it will be a major 'player'.

I see systemd as a curse, like the MS Windows Registry is, & that is why I am in support of those that don't use it.

It's not the 'unix way', likewise, I prefer to use a window manager rather than a desktop environment, & I'm quite happy at the commandline, but that's just me.

If it did take over Linux, I'd use OpenBSD as my main system, so not a real problem for me personally.

Here is a booklet explaining a bit about why Devuan came about, & how it proposes to develop.

https://bxl.dyne.org/media/actions/3...m-your-way.pdf

I will say I wholly sympathize with the qualms persons have about SystemD. It works, but it does so by adding a layer of complexity to the init process.

I have a friend who sysadmins a thin client network that runs on RHEL; he has about 250 users. He will attest that the boot process in his environment is much smother with SystemD than with SysVinit. I think that it is in such environments, rather than in home usage and networks, that SystemD pays dividends.

My only real issue with systemd is that I cannot change it out for another init system.
Feel free to try and remove it on a normal Debian / recent Ubuntu install - it completely guts your system leaving you without a gui, networking + a lot of basic programs.
If it didn't do that I'd be fine with it. If you like it and want it, cool for you.

It'd suck if (for example) removing apache removed your gui, your (independent) php software, mariadb, certbot, load-balancers, etc.

For example, in my Linux Mint Cinnamon 18 install, if I removed systemd...

The following packages will be REMOVED:
  aptdaemon blueberry brasero caja caja-folder-color-switcher cinnamon colord
  gnome-bluetooth gnome-disk-utility gnome-settings-daemon gnome-system-log
  gnome-system-tools gufw gvfs:i386 gvfs gvfs-backends gvfs-daemons gvfs-fuse
  ia32-libs libcanberra-pulse libhal1-flash libpam-systemd mate-applets
  mate-control-center mate-indicator-applet mate-panel mate-polkit
  mate-power-manager mate-settings-daemon mint-meta-cinnamon mint-meta-codecs
  mint-meta-codecs-core mint-meta-core mint-meta-mate mintstick nemo
  nemo-emblems nemo-fileroller nemo-folder-color-switcher nemo-preview
  nemo-share network-manager network-manager-gnome nvidia-settings paprefs
  plasma-workspace policykit-1 policykit-1-gnome pulseaudio
  pulseaudio-module-bluetooth pulseaudio-module-gconf pulseaudio-module-x11
  pulseaudio-module-zeroconf rfkill screen-resolution-extra sessioninstaller
  systemd systemd-sysv ubuntu-system-service udisks2

Really?
And removing upstart on a (minimal) install)

The following packages will be REMOVED:
  upstart

So... once Devuan catches up a bit, I'll make a serious consideration for it.
At least till Debian changes that (I do like Debian )

Devuan except for systemd related, its just a Debian system without systemd. But Devuan its recomended for mid-to-advanced Debian users and server targets, have great performance. http://qgqlochekone.blogspot.com/201...-guide-to.html

Devuan track 90% of the Debian package, only change/touch those related to systemd, and added few newer like vdev and alternative to udev.. but its not the same case of other distros, due track almost all the packages except systemd related..

There's no great differences at the user level, due Devuan its just a Debian without systemd, all the rest of packages its a Debian copy/proxy and a different theme color (that does not have contrast).

Devuan Jessie tracks Debian Jessie, ascii is tracking stretch, and ceres will always track sid. While stretch has reached stable, ascii still requires some work. Right now, debian buster is in testing and devuan beowulf, which will track buster, does not yet exist.

Due Devuan tracks most of the packages from Debian, the same rules applies when experts users want to mix/use repositories:
Release cycle Debian Devuan Winbuntu Mint
2014/2015→2018 jessie jessie trusty/utopic Qiana/rebecca
2016/2017→2023 strech ascii xenial/yakkety Sarah
As you can understand, get Debian repositories (except for systemd depends) may will work as same; if you should need some software be packaged please consult the forums at Dev Galaxy forums.

There two main technical differences: the init system, that gives to Devuan more performance; and the release cycle modernity, always behind; the rest its just copy/proxy of the Debian packages.

In conclusion Devuan are most like Debian in old days.. you must know what youare doing. good for those that like performance.. but fails ijn support and make feel the counterpart that are solid as project.

I answered over here fatmac http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...an-4175600564/

I did not see yours till later.

Have upgraded from Devuan Jessie to Devuan ASCII and only problem so far is Libreoffice writer crashing when java is ticked under advanced settings, however this issue also happens in Debian Stretch. My journey so far with Devuan has been pretty good.