Bug#747535: systemd-fsck?

[Bas Wijnen]

On Mon, May 12, 2014 at 11:54:43AM +0200, Josselin Mouette wrote:
> Systemd is the default init system for jessie, and it should be listed
> as the first alternative.

Can you please explain what is wrong with my reasoning?

A default is only relevant at the time the functionality is first installed.
After that, whatever was installed should stay until the user requests to
change it (or there is a technical reason that it can no longer be installed).
In the case of an init system, installation happens in d-i.

Also, this dependency isn't about an init system.  That's not the functionality
you're depending on.  If it would be, sysv init and upstart should be in the
list of alternatives as well, and the whole dependency could be dropped (since
an init system is Essential).

Instead, you're depending on a very limited part of systemd, and say "I want
people to switch as soon as possible, so I don't have to care about bug
reports.  Therefore I sneak systemd on their system when they're not watching
and if they complain, I tell them 'you clicked the I Agree button, so it's your
own fault.'  Or that's what you seem to say anyway.  But I sincerely hope this
is not your attitude, and I welcome you to correct any misunderstanding.

> The fact that an alternative codepath exists for users with specific needs is
> nice for them, but it is not what we should focus our efforts on.

That is reasonable, but forcing anyone who doesn't carefully watch their system
to convert is not the sort of behaviour I expect or want from Debian.  One of
the reasons I like Debian so much is that I believe we, as developers, are
dedicated to allowing our users to do what they want, without forcing things on
them unless there's no other way.  Your responses put a big dent in that
belief.

> As far as GDM is concerned, any bug reported with systemd-shim installed will
> be ignored. The bug script should probably be updated to that effect, BTW.

Please don't do that.  If your priorities are elsewhere, that is obviously
acceptable.  But then tell this to the reporter.  Ignoring bugs is never a good
idea.

Thanks,
Bas