[Info-vax] systemd (was Re: openvms and xterm)

[Lawrence D'Oliveiro]

On Sat, 20 Apr 2024 20:46:54 -0400, Arne Vajhøj wrote:

> But my impression is that [systemd] missed on the main criteria: keeping
> things simple.

But it does. Service definitions (and “unit” definitions in general) are 
written in config files following the classic text-based .INI format. If 
you remember, Microsoft created this format back in the 1980s for Windows 
config files, then abandoned it in favour of that horror known as the 
Registry. Well, it lives on in the open-source world.

A service file consists of a series of directives, each of which is there 
for a purpose. Compare creating sysvinit scripts (I have done both), where 
you end up copying and pasting a whole lot of boilerplate from some 
existing script into the new one, maybe not really understanding why it’s 
needed.

> To illustrate the point and somewhat move back to VMS let me confess
> something: I really like SYS$MANAGER:SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM to manage what
> get started on VMS.

That’s the equivalent of the old /etc/rc.local, that some distros (and I 
think also BSDs) still support. OK for a small handful of services, but it 
doesn’t scale.

> A simple text file that after a little cleanup typical will be only
> 20-50 lines. Easy to understand. Easy to edit.

Not so easy to selectively add/remove, enable/disable or start/stop 
individual services.