Devuan – Debian Without Systemd

The anti‑systemd crowd just found a new rally point: Devuan’s latest release, Excalibur 6, keeps the promise of no systemd, and the comments read like a victory parade with a few hecklers on the route. Long‑time users cheered that Devuan helps keep alternatives alive, with one fan praising how “all such distros have benefited” from Devuan’s work. New faces chimed in too—“never used this one but glad to see systemd free stuff”—while nostalgic vets said Devuan “matches the Linux I learned,” a nod to the old-school way computers start up their services.

But then came the philosophical smackdown. One commenter asked if skipping systemd clashes with “init freedom”—the idea that you can pick your startup manager. Cue debate: is freedom about having every option, or about protecting space for alternatives so they don’t get swallowed? Meanwhile, tech jokers dropped memes like “Tricycle – Car Without Engine,” poking fun at calling a Debian fork without systemd a car without an engine. Another hot take claimed systemd is actually too conservative and should go harder, name‑dropping “binder,” an Android tech for app messaging—translation: the systemd wars aren’t just about less integration; some want more. Devuan also follows Debian’s merged /usr layout to focus resources on its anti‑systemd mission, and the crowd, as usual, is split: choice vs consistency, nostalgia vs future‑proofing. Drama level: spicy.