KaOS 2026.06 has completed its transition to Dinit as its core init system, mostly replacing systemd. This update also introduces Niri and Noctalia as the default desktop environment, replacing KDE Plasma, and adopts Linux 7.0.13 kernel as it base.
Systemd was never popular, Lennart even got death threats during the mainstream transition. Now with age verification someone built a module for it which is trying to ignite the fight again.
Personally I like systemd I’ve been using it since Arch switched but I’m disappointed by hard dependencies on it for the big DEs. I’m pleased that people are building alternatives without the curmudgeon dialog like you get with Slackware/Deuvan.
This is an interesting change to a quality small distro, I wonder if other small distros will go this way (no systemd and no traditional DE)
I’ve been missing out on the entire discussion. Why are people not happy with systemd?
Systemd was never popular, Lennart even got death threats during the mainstream transition. Now with age verification someone built a module for it which is trying to ignite the fight again.
Personally I like systemd I’ve been using it since Arch switched but I’m disappointed by hard dependencies on it for the big DEs. I’m pleased that people are building alternatives without the curmudgeon dialog like you get with Slackware/Deuvan.