Post #2098649

2026-05-06 17:55 UTC

You’re right that the GNU toolchain is massive, but the distinction lies in “modularity versus integration". GNU tools are a collection of separate programs that happen to work together, you can swap bash for zsh or ls for busybox without breaking the whole system. systemd, however, is a tightly coupled suite where the init, logging, networking, and DNS are interdependent. The ‘idea of Linux’ isn’t just about running big software, it’s about the ability to compose a system from independent parts. When a single project dictates the entire stack and makes it nearly impossible to replace just one component without rewriting half the OS, that crosses the line from ‘toolchain’ to ‘platform lock-in,’ which is a fundamentally different threat to user freedom than a collection of large but separable GNU utilities.”

Replies (3)

@CorrenteAlternata@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2026-05-06 19:04

The idea of Linux isn’t just about running big software, it’s about the ability to compose a system from independent parts. This is just false. The idea of Linux is having a copyleft operating system, free as in beer and as in freedom. Full stop.

Open ##2103880
@atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 2026-05-06 19:56

you can swap bash for zsh or ls for busybox without breaking the whole system Is that so? rm -f /bin/bash and reboot. I’ll wait… Go ahead. You’ll be amazed at how many thing rely on bash. Or indeed sh which is why bash runs in bourne compatible mode when executed as /bin/sh. The idea of Linux isn’t just about running big software, it’s about the ability to compose a system from independent parts. This has never been true. The Linux kernel team themselves reject this silliness with a monolithic kernel that required a very specific toolchain to even build and run run. Linux has always had tight integration. We’ve had many competing implementations of some things (desktop environments come to mind) but that is not the same as “build a system out of Lego components” as a design goal. It’s what you get when you have no direction. It would be a very stupid design goal.

Open ##2105631
@Fizz@lemmy.nz 2026-05-06 20:36

System d is made to work with its own modules but it’s still modular and someone can make a replacement if they want. A lot of modules are abstractions ontop of the existing solution. If you were to update the existing solution it would be a drop in.

Open ##2106349