Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

systemd VS Upstart

Compare systemd VS Upstart and see what are their differences

systemd logo systemd

systemd is a replacement for the init daemon for Linux (either System V or BSD-style).

Upstart logo Upstart

Upstart is an event-based replacement for the /sbin/init daemon which handles starting of tasks and...
  • systemd Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-03-24
  • Upstart Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-26

systemd features and specs

  • Fast Boot Times
    systemd can significantly reduce boot times compared to traditional init systems due to its parallelization capabilities, dependency-based booting, and services starting only when needed.
  • Unified Management
    It provides a unified framework for service management across various Linux distributions, simplifying the administration tasks as most commands and configurations remain consistent.
  • Socket Activation
    Services can be started on-demand using socket activation, which can save resources by only starting services when actually needed.
  • Logging and Monitoring
    systemd integrates with journald for logging, providing a centralized and structured logging mechanism that makes it easier to track system events and diagnose problems.
  • Service Dependency Management
    By managing service dependencies, systemd ensures that services start in the correct order and can restart services that fail or get stopped unexpectedly.

Possible disadvantages of systemd

  • Complexity
    systemd is more complex than traditional init systems, which can make it more challenging to learn and troubleshoot, especially for newcomers or those accustomed to simpler systems.
  • Monolithic Design
    Critics argue that systemd attempts to do too much, integrating multiple components and functionalities under one umbrella, which goes against the UNIX philosophy of 'doing one thing and doing it well.'
  • Compatibility Issues
    Older scripts and software that rely on traditional init systems might face compatibility issues or require modifications to work with systemd.
  • Performance Overhead
    Although generally optimized for performance, the additional features and logging can lead to performance overhead compared to simpler init systems.
  • Community Division
    The adoption of systemd has been controversial, leading to divisions in some open-source communities, with some users and developers preferring alternatives like OpenRC or runit.

Upstart features and specs

  • Event-based Architecture
    Upstart uses events for starting and stopping services, enabling services to be more responsive to system events and changes.
  • Parallel Execution
    It allows for parallel starting of system services, which can lead to faster boot times.
  • Dynamic Services Management
    Services can be started or stopped based on dependencies like hardware availability, making it flexible for dynamic environments.
  • Backward Compatibility
    Upstart is designed to be backward compatible with existing sysvinit scripts, easing the transition for users and administrators.

Possible disadvantages of Upstart

  • Complexity
    The event-driven model can be more complex to configure and troubleshoot, especially for those unfamiliar with it.
  • Limited Adoption
    Upstart has been largely replaced by systemd in many Linux distributions, leading to less community support and updates.
  • Documentation
    Some users find the documentation to be less comprehensive compared to other init systems, making it harder to master.
  • Legacy System
    As many systems transition to systemd, Upstart is increasingly considered a legacy system, reducing its long-term viability.

systemd videos

Demystifying systemd

More videos:

  • Review - Archbang (systemd) Install & Review
  • Review - Review Devuan Linux - Un Debian Sin Systemd

Upstart videos

Upstart Personal Loan Review: Is It The Right Loan For You?

More videos:

  • Review - Upstart Loans Personal Review & Info - 850 Club Credit Consultation
  • Review - Good Credit News | Upstart Loan Review My Pre-Approval Offer

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to systemd and Upstart)
Monitoring Tools
69 69%
31% 31
Fintech
45 45%
55% 55
Log Management
72 72%
28% 28
Finance
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using systemd and Upstart. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Upstart seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

systemd mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of systemd yet. Tracking of systemd recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Upstart mentions (1)

  • X12
    The problem is that systemd vs sysv-init is a false dichotomy. Systemd took over a ton of important non-init functionality, like DNS, logging, and interactive sessions. That could be fine if systemd did so in a nice and rock-solid way, but it was unpleasantly bug-ridden for years after being thrust on mainstream distros via a hard Gnome dependency. SysV-init sucks in many ways, it's well known, and I can... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing systemd and Upstart, you can also consider the following products

runit - runit is a cross-platform Unix init scheme with service supervision, a replacement for sysvinit...

s6 - s6 is a small suite of programs for UNIX, designed for process supervision. It can be used as an init system, or as separate supervision components.

sysvinit - Savannah is a central point for development, distribution and maintenance of free software, both GNU and non-GNU.

Supervisor - Supervisor is a client/server system that allows its users to monitor and control a number of...

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