this post was submitted on 22 Mar 2026
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Surge in Systemd forks after the latest changes (github.com)
submitted 5 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) by pglpm@lemmy.ca to c/linux@programming.dev
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The latest changes implemented in the Systemd repo, related to or prompted by age-verification laws, have made many people unhappy (I suppose links about this aren't necessary). This has led to a surge in Systemd forks during the last days ("surge" because there have always been plenty of forks). Here are some forks that explicitly mention those changes as their reason for forking (rough time ordering taken from the fork page):

Hopefully the energy of this reaction won't be scattered among too many alternatives, although some amount of scattering is always good.

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[–] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 5 points 54 minutes ago* (last edited 52 minutes ago) (2 children)

As someone who has used Linux for over a decade, I have no idea how I would even go about replacing Systemd on my computer; even if I wanted to.

Ageless Linux, now that's something I can get behind: a script that I don't understand, to accomplish something I think I might need, or just think is neat.

Unfortunately, I don't use a Debian based distro, so I'm SOL on that front as well.

[–] PumpkinEscobar@lemmy.world 3 points 33 minutes ago (1 children)

For arch... generally if there's a core/extra official package, there can be alternatives in the AUR that list the system package as a "provides" alias.

From a quick AUR search, the systemd-liberated-git package is already up there. To replace systemd you'd install the AUR package which would tell you it conflicts with the official/core systemd package and ask if you wanted to replace it. If the package maintainer has everything right, it should just work.

Personally I'll wait to see if a viably stable and well-maintained fork of systemd without age stuff shows up and switch once it sounds problem-free(ish).

[–] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 1 points 28 minutes ago

I use Fedora, and honestly, I'm not even going to look for alternatives or work arounds unless and until my system actually tries to verify my age.

But that's good to know, thank you. I imagine that if I do have to dump Fedora, I will probably go to an Arch based system purely for the AUR.

[–] morkyporky@suppo.fi 1 points 48 minutes ago

Use a distro without systemd?

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 1 points 36 minutes ago

This is so incredibly dump

[–] mech@feddit.org 9 points 2 hours ago (2 children)

Systemd still has no age verification, so all those forks are absolutely pointless.
If and when Systemd adds age verification, I'll move away from it.
But the recent change adds literally nothing. Just leave the field blank, like you always did with those for your home address and full name.
The age field is malicious compliance. It satisfies the letter of the law while being completely and deliberately useless for its purpose.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 2 points 36 minutes ago

Systemd isn't going to add age verification

[–] fierysparrow89@lemmy.world 5 points 1 hour ago

I think there is an intention to convey a clear message. I will be warching the distro's. Red Hat, being an IBM company, will probably back this age verification farce. I'm not so sure about the community distro's like Debian or Arch. Maybe even Ubuntu will stop short.

Despite being a minor technical feature, I think this will have a disproportionate response from people.

[–] hodgepodgin@lemmy.zip 45 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Nothing more dramatic than Linux users angry-forking a repository

[–] zero_spelled_with_an_ecks@programming.dev 13 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

As somebody that uses valkey, I'm happy there's drama.

[–] EmK@lemmy.ca 12 points 2 hours ago

Yup, and MariaDB, and LibreOffice, and Nextcloud...

[–] mereo@piefed.ca 25 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

Let's be realistic. All these forks will get us nowhere because systemd has become a platform on which major components of the Linux system depend. KDE's new login depends on systemd, as does Gnome.

These forks are just a reaction to the latest addition. They will fizzle out.

[–] DarkMetatron@feddit.org 3 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

KDE can be used absolutely fine with any other login manager, I personally use Ly https://codeberg.org/fairyglade/ly to login Info kde on wayland.

[–] PumpkinEscobar@lemmy.world 1 points 28 minutes ago

I liked ly, they changed at some point to not allow me to type in any username, had to select from list of valid users and it didn't list AD users. No amount of futzing could get it working so I switched to lemurs. Just mentioning it as another good console-based-login option

[–] teft@piefed.social 19 points 4 hours ago (13 children)

That the Linux system depends on? No.

That your chosen distro depends on? Sure.

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[–] randamumaki@lemmy.blahaj.zone 39 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

It's almost like the latest changes are unpopular or something... /s

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[–] confusedpuppy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 21 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

I use Linux Mint DE for steam games which I barely play anymore so this whole Systemd/age-verification mess has next to no effect on me. It's still really interesting to see everything play out in real time.

Speaking strictly as an outsider looking in, I still can't help but feel uncomfortable and slightly worried about what has happened already. People who seek authoritarian powers over others will always start small, even if it's "just a joke." Always pushing boundaries and normalizing new boundaries that are further away from freedom. It's never ending.

Fighting back against people who's only source of creativity or identity is labeling and categorizing other people is fucking exhausting. And they don't even make an effort for their one creative outlet either...

[–] warm@kbin.earth 14 points 3 hours ago

It's hard to fight back because of all the people who down play everything as insignificance, "it doesn't affect me", "it's optional" or others.

It's happening in this very comment section too and every comment section where anything attacking our rights is mentioned. Our freedoms will be slowly eroded away, then these people will be affected and they will suddenly be surprised: "how could this have happened?"

[–] Rekall_Incorporated@piefed.social 11 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

This is a stupid reason to fork systemd, this is an optional features. I can think of totally reasonable use cases/situations where such an optional makes a lot of sense.

Mind you, while I don't have children, I have no intent to restrict their usage of the internet. Teaching them critical thinking and providing them a broad cultural exposure seems like a much more productive approach.

[–] OrganicMustard@lemmy.world 1 points 19 minutes ago* (last edited 19 minutes ago)

Merging something so conflictive and blocking the revert make it look suspicious, more after knowing Meta have invested billions on gettinh age verification everywhere.

Systemd has now vibed code and reviews, in the most critical process on most Linux machines. I see red flags.

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