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  • [gentoo-user] 66, an alternative to openrc/systemd: Is it needed?

    From Pramod V U@21:1/5 to All on Mon Mar 17 14:10:01 2025
    I'd like to disclaim beforehand that THIS ISN'T A PRO-SYSTEMD/ANTI-SYSTEMD PROJECT; IT'S JUST ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE

    obarun is an arch-based distro, and it has an init system named 66.
    This init system is also available on Void linux.
    For questionable reasons it isn't on Artix and Devuan.

    It is just a "frontend" to s6, which is a minimal, and modular "build your skeleton we'll provide the bones" process supervision suite.

    s6 is already available on gentoo, as well as execline.
    But 66 isn't.

    A really old version of 66 is available in gentoo on some random overlay, but it doesn't even build correctly, and the commands have since long changed.

    DON'T CONFUSE WITH S6-RC, it is, by the s6 developer himself, something which uses s6 under the hood just like 66. But it is too complicated for average use.

    openrc *does* support using s6 under the hood, but again, it needs work... [Anyone willing might just want that, IDK]

    However, I feel that 66 is a good init system for gentoo, as an alternative to openrc or systemd for those who need it.

    Most of obarun's boot scripts work well on gentoo, and more underway.
    I am planning to soon re-package it for official gentoo repos... for usage.

    What is the opinion of systemd and openrc users of gentoo here? Would it be good?

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  • From Pramod V U@21:1/5 to All on Fri Mar 21 04:10:01 2025
    Soon, I will be back with an ebuild.

    Will also PR on github for inclusion into repo...

    But 2-4 days delay due to unforseen circumstances; sorry.

    Regards,
    Pramod

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  • From Pramod V U@21:1/5 to All on Fri Mar 21 08:10:01 2025
    * All of 66's dependencies will need to be packaged as well, if
    they're not already available.

    The only dependencies of 66 are a libc [musl or glibc whatever], s6 and execline.

    libc, obviously, is available.
    s6 and execline are also supported in gentoo, right in openrc...

    The included scripts need a few dependencies like iproute2, nftables, kmod and other things openrc and systemd anyway need... so it's also in gentoo.

    Pretty much 66 itself is the only thing not packaged.

    * Are you willing to become a proxy maintainer for 66 and any currently-unpackaged dependencies? https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Project:Proxy_Maintainers

    I s6 and/or execline get orphaned any time, I am ready to take them up...

    One reason a package might not get added to the main repo is not
    that no-one has created an ebuild, but that no-one is willing to
    commit to maintaining that ebuild, i.e. actively following
    upstream updates and issues. An ebuild added to a repository
    without anyone committing to maintaining it can create problems
    for (a) Gentoo devs, who end up being forced to take on extra
    volunteer work; and/or (b) users, who can't rely on that ebuild
    getting security and bug fixes etc.

    I am ready to commit to it and actively maintain it... for a long time...

    Depending on the situation, the package might more appropriately
    be added to the GURU repository:

    https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Project:GURU https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Project:GURU/Information_for_Contributors

    But I want 66 to be usable as an alternative to systemd and openrc, right out of the box... [i.e. stage3] [with all scripts etc... bundled...]
    So NOT GURU...
    But that's my last resort if the package gets rejected...

    * At any rate, be sure to run pkgcheck on your ebuild:

    https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Pkgcheck

    Thanks...

    Best Regards,
    Pramod

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