Let's see if this gains Pat any new subscriptions. And let's hope those people understand how Slackware's philosophy is different from Debian's and most likely won't change for them.

I remember Ubuntu gaining users during 2006-2008 due to people being disappointed with Windows Vista. Most of them didn't stay long.

Vista was bad, but after things got ironed out, it wasn't all that bad at times. 7 however was a good system out-of-the-box.

While it certainly isn't there yet, if systemd keeps the momentum it has, it will end up becoming a required dependency at some point (we can only hope this doesn't happen). If it does happen, there is still no need to switch to it or something similar, just as there was no reason to switch from XFree86 to X.Org... but if nothing else becomes available, and those dependencies are still there, we'll be left with a severely out of date OS that can't run anything modern.

I'm not sure "what ifs" are really the way to discuss it, but Patrick was aware of systemd and wayland in an interview he did 2ish years ago. Ignoring the possibilities of the "what ifs" can have repercussions if things actually go that way.

Yup. It isn't there yet. I am hopeful that it does not become a required dependency.

As long as the Linux kernel doesn't become a required dependency, I see no reason why systemd should.

That's true but be aware the likelihood it would become a reality is higher when everybody jumps on the same bandwagon. I'm very reluctant to believe upstream devs of XOrg, KDE, Xfce and other desktop software would cut off existing support and portability for non-systemd Linux distributions and BSD systems at least for the sake of current hype.

systemd tried to psyche my mind with http://kohei.us/2014/11/03/seattle-librefest/

Thanks!

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Weston and Wayland can both be built and ran without systemd as it is. Only a few handful of Freedesktop projects actually try to force the issue like upower, but that's due to GNOME trying to be important. To be honest, that rest of the software world is catching up, and projects like Xfce actually see the importance of the broad spectrum of UNIX being kept useable.

Sanity is slowly creeping back, and there is a willingness to still say no to the systemd like a drug.

Glad to see Slackware being mentioned as such as it keeps hope of more sanity alive.

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I must confess. I hit the "Other" button before reading.
Ah, well... Pat knows what he is doing.

edit: What I'm saying is: no change

Other wasn't specific, but the consensus could be other means keep it as is.

I would be very surprised if Mr. Volkerding changed the init system for 14.2. It won't happen.

Ah well, it's been said already. If systemd becomes the standard and requires contortions and modifications to remove or avoid, then it would be consistent with the Slackware philosophy to use it, and illogical to go with one of the other relatively obscure/less popular choices. Slackware has always been about delivering upstream Linux as unmodified and stable as possible.

Upstream Linux is often taken with a grain of salt on Slackware also. GNOME is a prime example of what is NOT used by Slackware even though it is a mainstream upstream desktop. Just because upstream has package-XYZ flowing down, doesn't mean it will be used, if ever.

You have to weigh the balance between administrative ease, end-user ease of usage, performance, and stability, as well as compatibility. It's a delicate balance for a distribution to balance each effectively, but more-so correctly.

Just because a package is there does not mean it must be used.

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One of the best parts of slackware is if you want to use something else it usually can be added. The way slackware is set up it's very flexiable. Try adding a piece of software in some of the other distros when its not in the respository, It can be a nightmare.

Assuming that Slackware will have to switch to a newer init system in the future, I want the next Slackware init system to be the next/newer version of what it already has.