Dev1 Galaxy Forum / Why not use runit? Do you guys use runit?

Re: Why not use runit? Do you guys use runit?

dummy@example.com (Altoid) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:24:22 +0000

Hello:

@Blackhole: agree on all, good analysis.
Seems we are more or less on the same page.

Blackhole wrote:

... if you're just a desktop user ...
... except for perhaps slightly faster boot times.

Yes, perhaps is the right word.

And even then, just how much faster?
5 to 10s (!) less boot time?

Every morning, I switch on my box and go see if my moka pot has finished brewing my coffee.
I'm ready to log in when I sit down, mug in hand.

Best,

Re: Why not use runit? Do you guys use runit?

dummy@example.com (blackhole) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:14:25 +0000

I have never needed to use runit or any other alternatives such as OpenRC. Technically both look pretty well designed to me, but the need has never arisen. At home I have always stuck to sysvinit or BSD init. At work I have had to use systemd and write unit files for anything running as a daemon. (would be nice to use one of those there, but it's not worth the trouble).

Personally I think the increased adoption of runit and OpenRC was driven by systemd's anti sysvinit propaganda. Some willingly swallowed this with the added "...but systemd is not the answer" clause. Others utilised it as a means of distancing themselves from the critique being directed at sysvinit in order to undermine it and establish systemd as the de facto standard. Those people who jumped ship and dumped on sysvinit did a lot of the damage in my opinion - they did the devil's work, by word for word repeating sysvinit's supposed deficiencies. Apparently vindicating the systemd cabal in the process.

The harsh reality is that if you're just a desktop user, and not a server admin, you may see no benefits from something like runit, where the main focus is service supervision, except for perhaps slightly faster boot times.

Re: Why not use runit? Do you guys use runit?

dummy@example.com (Altoid) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:42:19 +0000

Hello:

Camtaf wrote:

... sysV for many years without any problems, so see no reason to change.

Indeed.

Like I wrote elsewhere:

Choosing anything other than the default Devuan [ext4] filesystem implies that you are absolutely sure that you have a use case that really justifies your doing so, a second implication being that you are sufficiently versed in the options being considered.
This (quite obviously) also applies to choosing any init package other than the default Devuan [sysvinit], something of a trend in the last few years.
From where I see it, keeping the default options is a basic part of the KISS principle.
ie: if it works as advertised / needed, is adequately supported and has not given you any grief, use the default.
In my case as a 100% Linux user for the last 14 years (the last 8 or so with Devuan), I have never (ever) had any isssues with [sysvinit] or [ext4].

Of course, 'choice' is a good thing to have.
For when it is needed and you absolutely know why you need it.

Not just for the sake of it.

Best,

Re: Why not use runit? Do you guys use runit?

dummy@example.com (Camtaf) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:47:27 +0000

Ditto, been using sysV for many years without any problems, so see no reason to change...

Re: Why not use runit? Do you guys use runit?

dummy@example.com (Altoid) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:25:55 +0000

Hello:

recklessswing wrote:

Runit seems fine.

Sure ...
Would not be in the repositories if that were not so.

Sysvinit also seems fine.
Being the default init package in Devuan since my first installation (jesse), it has always been what my systems used.
Other pre-systemd distributions I went through also had it as the default, again with no issues.

I never saw/noticed/came across any problem found to be related to sysvinit.

I cannot see a use case for any other init package.
ie: works as expected out of the box with no issues.

Best,

Why not use runit? Do you guys use runit?

dummy@example.com (recklessswing) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:30:00 +0000

Runit seems fine. I like it. Do you use it on your PC or home servers with Devuan?