[nylug-talk] ubuntu looking to replace init

[Joseph M. Gaffney]

On Friday 08 September 2006 16:51, Matt Williams wrote:
> Peter C. Norton wrote:
> > It looks like the ubuntu team will be replacing init with a program
> > they're calling upstart.
> >
> > http://fridge.ubuntu.com/node/535
> >
> > This is a really great, idea. I've been working with sun's SMF for a
> > week or so now, and I think they've got some of the right ideas, but
> > some of the wrong ones, too. I'm going to be following this and
> > hopefuly the ubuntu folks will get this right.
> >
> > #1 thing they're doing right is making the system event-driven. This
> >  is something that is very wrong with the current init system.
>
> I haven't seen the details from Ubuntu yet, but is this anything like
> what Apple has done with launchd?
>
> launchd takes over functions of init, cron, etc...
>
> http://developer.apple.com/macosx/launchd.html

I'm pretty sure the difference is the same. launchd is more like init, cron, 
etc rolled into a single package with a single config file, while upstart 
reacts to events and initiates scripts. For example, upstart won't bother 
setting up your network connection unless a network card and a link are 
available.  More of a reactionary service, which, imho, may be especially 
invaluable to laptop users where hardware and how you use it may vary often.

-Joseph M. Gaffney aka CuCullin