Obarun is a Linux distribution from Switzerland without the process ID 1 Systemd, which is based on Arch Linux and addresses particularly experienced users. Thanks to its status as a rolling release and access to the Arch repositories and the Arch User Repository (AUR), the free operating system is particularly up-to-date.
S6 init as alternative process ID 1
Instead of the init process Systemd, which is often discussed in the Linux community, Obarun, which has just received fresh system images with the status “2021-07-26”, relies on S6 init, the alternative for the vacant position of the process started first and is used to start, monitor and end other processes.
Even if all large and full-fledged desktop environments are of course available in the latest form, such as KDE Plasma 5.22.3 and Gnome 40.3 or Xfce 4.16, Obarun welcomes the user after a text-based installation with the light Joe's Window Manager (JWM).
Eric Vidal, the leading head and chief developer of the Swiss operating system, explains the principles and principles as well as the basic thoughts behind Obarun on the official website such as follows.
The goal of Obarun is to provide an alternative for people looking for more simplicity and transparency in maintaining their systems.
Obarun is not designed with beginners to Linux in mind, but Obarun & apos ; s community is dedicated in helping anyone with the will to try it.
Obarun is based on Archlinux, but incorporates several changes, modifications, additions, in its effort to run reliably, without systemd and its intrusive byproducts.
Obarun separates the init and service management from the rest of the system that should be chosen & quot; freely & quot; by the user/sys-admin.
Eric Vidal, Obarun
Experienced users receive support with the administration of their system from a so-called “System Maintainer Helper”, who in the case of Obarun is called Pacops. With the help of the central package manager Pacman, administrators can quickly install the latest software packages.
The developers behind Obarun see their operating system as the basis for other projects that Arch Linux want to use as the system basis, but reject the controversial init manager Systemd.
More transparency for professionals
In the opinion of the Obarun developers, the S6 Supervision Suite is more efficient, more stable, more transparent and more open than the complex Systemd and is therefore more based on the traditional principles of Unix, GNU and Linux as well as free software.
The 1.3 GB system image of Obarun 21-07-26 (ISO) is optimized for x86_64 and is not suitable for beginners or productive use in private or business environments or systems with sensitive data.
The integrated window manager JWM enables those interested in experimenting to combine a deep insight into the conception of Arch Linux with an alternative process management.
Further information can be found on the official website and the project page on the GitHub developer platform. Help is provided by the forum and the documentation for the distribution. A video demonstrates the installation of Obarun on the project's official YouTube channel.