[Arm-netbook] systemd and kernel: 3.4, mainline [was: Re: Logging and journaling]

[Eric Duhamel]

On March 7, 2017 5:20:50 PM PST, Hendrik Boom <hendrik at topoi.pooq.com> wrote:
>On Sat, 11 Feb 2017 12:39:46 +0000, Luke Kenneth Casson Leighton wrote:
>
>>
>> just go with the image that i have been working with and testing over
>> the past two years.  it's using xfce4 (gnome is too heavy).  i know
>it
>> works, and i simply don't have the time - or importantly the energy -
>to
>> create a new image, *especially* based on people's comments and
>> reactions that they'd be deeply unhappy with it not being a "stock
>> image", even if all i did was make it boot sysvinit instead by
>default. 
>> those comments *alone* immediately terminate all and any possibility
>> that i can provide debian/jessie in a 100% ethical way.
>
>Do the same you did with Debian, only use Devuan aand the Devuan 
>installer.  It will likely just work, and you won;t need to expunge 
>systemd.
>
>Sell it as a Devuan system.
>
>You can still make a stock Debian available if your customers demand
>it.
>But by providing Devuan you won't be pushing systemd on those that
>don't 
>want it.  Your conscience can be somewhat clearer.
>

I agree with this approach. Trying to single-handedly remove systemd from an otherwise maintained distro is targeting a symptom without mitigating the cause, and could break things that people expect to work. Devuan is a *great* solution for anyone wanting to get Debian without systemd, and there's no need to duplicate effort.

However, it is IMO too late to pivot to this solution as the cards have been tested on a specific image and changing that would invalidate years of costly testing. Plus, the bigger problem we have is that these cards can't be updated to current Debian *at all* because of a kernel bug.

That is why this is a somewhat limited run AFAIK and it's worth it to note Luke doesn't and can't have customers according to what he says. I find it likely the eventual distributor of mass-market cards will simply sell Debian as-is.



--
Eric Duhamel
http://www.noxbanners.net/
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