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

[Andreas Eder]

On So 21 Apr 2024 at 02:04, Lawrence D'Oliveiro <ldo at nz.invalid> wrote:

> 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.

But .INI format is not a classic unix file format and not as easy to
parse as the real, classic unix file formats. I think of it as an
abomination.

>> 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.

In fact it is easy to do all that if you know how to edit text filesm
either by hand or with tools like awk or sed.

'Andreas
-- 
ceterum censeo redmondinem esse delendam