On Thu, Dec 05, 2019 at 11:55:59PM +0100, Kurt Roeckx wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Here is a new draft ballot:
Here is a new one:
Voting period starts 2019-12-07 00:00:00 UTC
Votes must be received by 2019-12-27 23:59:59 UTC
The following ballot is for voting on init systems and systemd
This vote is being conducted as required by the Debian Constitution.
You may see the constitution at https://www.debian.org/devel/constitution.
For voting questions or problems contact secret...@debian.org.
The details of the general resolution can be found at:
https://www.debian.org/vote/2019/vote_002
Also, note that you can get a fresh ballot any time before the end of
the vote by sending a signed mail to
bal...@vote.debian.org
with the subject "gr_initsystems".
To vote you need to be a Debian Developer.
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'-=-=-=-=-=-'. Do not erase anything between those lines, and do not
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VOTING FORM
- - -=-=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
7b77e0f2-4ff9-4adb-85e4-af249191f27a
[ ] Choice 1: F: Focus on systemd
[ ] Choice 2: B: Systemd but we support exploring alternatives
[ ] Choice 3: A: Support for multiple init systems is Important
[ ] Choice 4: D: Support non-systemd systems, without blocking progress
[ ] Choice 5: H: Support portability, without blocking progress
[ ] Choice 6: E: Support for multiple init systems is Required
[ ] Choice 7: G: Support portability and multiple implementations
[ ] Choice 8: Further Discussion
- - -=-=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
----------------------------------------------------------------------
BALLOT OPTIONS
Choice 1: F: Focus on systemd
==========================
This resolution is a position statement under section 4.1 (5) of the Debian
constitution:
Cross-distribution standards and cooperation are important factors in the
choice of core Debian technologies. It is important to recognize that the
Linux ecosystem has widely adopted systemd and that the level of
integration of systemd technologies in Linux systems will increase with
time.
Debian is proud to support and integrate many different technologies. With
everything we do, the costs and benefits need to be considered, both for
users and in terms of the effects on our development community. An init
system is not an isolated component, but is deeply integrated in the core
layer of the system and affects many packages. We believe that the
benefits of supporting multiple init systems do not outweigh the costs.
Debian can continue to provide and explore other init systems, but systemd
is the only officially supported init system. Wishlist bug reports with
patches can be submitted, which package maintainers should review like
other bug reports with patches. As with systemd, work should be done
upstream and in cooperation with other Linux and FOSS distributions where
possible. The priority is on standardization without the reliance on
complicated compatibility layers.
Integrating systemd more deeply into Debian will lead to a more integrated
and tested system, improve standardization of Linux systems, and bring
many new technologies to our users. Packages can rely upon, and are
encouraged to make full use of, functionality provided by systemd.
Solutions based on systemd technologies will allow for more
cross-distribution cooperation. The project will work on proposals and
coordinate transitions from Debian-specific solutions where appropriate.
Choice 2: B: Systemd but we support exploring alternatives
=======================================================
Using its power under Constitution section 4.1 (5), the project issues the
following statement describing our current position on Init systems,
multiple init systems, and the use of systemd facilities. This statement
describes the position of the project at the time it is adopted. That
position may evolve as time passes without the need to resort to future
general resolutions. The GR process remains available if the project needs
a decision and cannot come to a consensus.
The Debian project recognizes that systemd service units are the preferred
configuration for describing how to start a daemon/service. However,
Debian remains an environment where developers and users can explore and
develop alternate init systems and alternatives to systemd features. Those
interested in exploring such alternatives need to provide the necessary
development and packaging resources to do that work. Technologies such as
elogind that facilitate exploring alternatives while running software that
depends on some systemd interfaces remain important to Debian. It is
important that the project support the efforts of developers working on
such technologies where there is overlap between these technologies and
the rest of the project, for example by reviewing patches and
participating in discussions in a timely manner.
Packages should include service units or init scripts to start daemons
and services. Packages may use any systemd facility at the package
maintainer's discretion, provided that this is consistent with other
Policy requirements and the normal expectation that packages shouldn't
depend on experimental or unsupported (in Debian) features of other
packages. Packages may include support for alternate init systems besides
systemd and may include alternatives for any systemd-specific interfaces
they use. Maintainers use their normal procedures for deciding which
patches to include.
Debian is committed to working with derivatives that make different
choices about init systems. As with all our interactions with downstreams,
the relevant maintainers will work with the downstreams to figure out
which changes it makes sense to fold into Debian and which changes remain
purely in the derivative.
Choice 3: A: Support for multiple init systems is Important
========================================================
The project issues the following statement describing our current position
on Init systems, multiple init systems, and the use of systemd facilities.
This statement describes the position of the project at the time it is
adopted. That position may evolve as time passes without the need to
resort to future general resolutions. The GR process remains available if
the project needs a decision and cannot come to a consensus.
Being able to run Debian systems with init systems other than systemd
continues to be something that the project values. Every package should
work with pid1 != systemd, unless it was designed by upstream to work
exclusively with systemd and no support for running without systemd is
available. It is an important bug (although not a serious one) when
packages should work without systemd but they do not. According to the NMU
guidelines, developers may perform non-maintainer uploads to fix these
bugs.
Software is not to be considered to be designed by upstream to work
exclusively with systemd merely because upstream does not provide, and/or
will not accept, an init script.
Modification of Policy to adopt systemd facilities instead of existing
approaches is discouraged unless an equivalent implementation of that
facility is available for other init systems.
Choice 4: D: Support non-systemd systems, without blocking progress
================================================================
PRINCIPLES
1. We wish to continue to support multiple init systems for the
foreseeable future. And we want to improve our systemd support.
2. It is primarily for the communities in each software ecosystem to
maintain and develop their respective software - but with the active
support of other maintainers and gatekeepers where needed.
SYSTEMD DEPENDENCIES
3. Ideally, packages should be fully functional with all init systems.
This means (for example) that daemons should ship traditional init
scripts, or use other mechanisms to ensure that they are started without
systemd. It also means that desktop software should be installable, and
ideally fully functional, without systemd.
4. So failing to support non-systemd systems, where no such support is
available, is a bug. But it is not a release-critical bug. Whether the
requirement for systemd is recorded as a formal bug in the Debian bug
system, when no patches are available, is up to the maintainer.
5. When a package has reduced functionality without systemd, this should
not generally be documented as a (direct or indirect) Depends or
Recommends on systemd-sysv. This is because with such dependencies,
installing such a package can attempt to switch the init system, which is
not what the user wanted. For example, a daemon with only a systemd unit
file script should still be installable on a non-systemd system, since it
could be started manually.
One consequence of this is that on non-systemd systems it may be possible
to install software which will not work, or not work properly, because of
an undeclared dependency on systemd. This is unfortunate but trying to
switch the user's init system is worse. We hope that better technical
approaches can be developed to address this.
6. We recognise that some maintainers find init scripts a burden and we
hope that the community is able to find ways to make it easier to add
support for non-default init systems. Discussions about the design of such
systems should be friendly and cooperative, and if suitable arrangements
are developed they should be supported in the usual ways within Debian.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF NON-SYSTEMD SUPPORT WILL BE ACCEPTED
7. Failing to support non-systemd systems when such support is available,
or offered in the form of patches (or packages), should be treated as a
release critical bug. For example: init scripts must not be deleted merely
because a systemd unit is provided instead; patches which contribute
support for other init systems (with no substantial effect on systemd
installations) should be filed as bugs with severity “serious”.
This is intended to provide a lightweight but effective path to ensuring
that reasonable support can be provided to Debian users, even where the
maintainer's priorities lie elsewhere. (Invoking the Technical Committee
about individual patches is not sensible.)
If the patches are themselves RC-buggy (in the opinion of, initially, the
maintainer, and ultimately the Release Team) then of course the bug report
should be downgraded or closed.
8. Maintainers of systemd components, or other gatekeepers (including
other maintainers and the release team) sometimes have to evaluate
technical contributions intended to support non-systemd users. The
acceptability to users of non-default init systems, of quality risks of
such contributions, is a matter for the maintainers of non-default init
systems and the surrounding community. But such contributions should not
impose nontrivial risks on users of the default configuration (systemd
with Recommends installed).
NON-INIT-RELATED DECLARATIVE SYSTEMD FACILITIES
9. systemd provides a variety of facilities besides daemon startup. For
example, creating system users or temporary directories. Current Debian
approaches are often based on debhelper scripts.
In general more declarative approaches are better. Where
* systemd provides such facility
* a specification of the facility (or suitable subset) exists
* the facility is better than the other approaches available in
* Debian, for example by being more declarative
* it is reasonable to expect developers of non-systemd systems
* including non-Linux systems to implement it
* including consideration of the amount of work involved
the facility should be documented in Debian Policy (by textual
incorporation, not by reference to an external document). The transition
should be smooth for all users. The non-systemd community should be given
at least 6 months, preferably at least 12 months, to develop their
implementation. (The same goes for any future enhancements.)
If policy consensus cannot be reached on such a facility, the Technical
Committee should decide based on the project's wishes as expressed in this
GR.
BEING EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER
10. In general, maintainers of competing software, including maintainers
of the various competing init systems, should be accommodating to each
others' needs. This includes the needs and convenience of users of
reasonable non-default configurations.
11. Negative general comments about software and their communities,
including both about systemd itself and about non-systemd init systems,
are strongly discouraged. Neither messages expressing general dislike of
systemd, nor predictions of the demise of non-systemd systems, are
appropriate for Debian communication fora; likewise references to bugs
which are not relevant to the topic at hand.
Communications on Debian fora on these matters should all be encouraging
and pleasant, even when discussing technical problems. We ask that
communication fora owners strictly enforce this.
12. We respectfully ask all Debian contributors including maintainers,
Policy Editors, the Release Team, the Technical Committee, and the Project
Leader, to pursue these goals and principles in their work, and embed them
into documents etc. as appropriate.
(This resolution is a position statement under s4.1(5).)
Choice 5: H: Support portability, without blocking progress
========================================================
PRINCIPLES
1. The Debian project reaffirms its commitment to be the glue that binds
and integrates different software that provides similar or equivalent
functionality, with their various users, be them humans or other software,
which is one of the core defining traits of a distribution.
2. We consider portability to different hardware platforms and software
stacks an important aspect of the work we do as a distribution, which
makes software architecturally better, more robust and more future-proof.
3. We acknowledge that different upstream projects have different views on
software development, use cases, portability and technology in general.
And that users of these projects weight tradeoffs differently, and have at
the same time different and valid requirements and/or needs fulfilled by
these diverse views.
4. Following our historic tradition, we will welcome the integration of
these diverse technologies which might sometimes have conflicting
world-views, to allow them to coexist in harmony within our distribution,
by reconciling these conflicts via technical means, as long as there are
people willing to put in the effort.
5. This enables us to keep serving a wide range of usages of our
distribution (some of which might be even unforeseen by us). From servers,
to desktops or deeply embedded; from general purpose to very specifically
tailored usages. Be those projects hardware related or software based,
libraries, daemons, entire desktop environments, or other parts of the
software stack.
SYSTEMD DEPENDENCIES
6. Ideally, packages should be fully functional with all init systems.
This means (for example) that daemons should ship traditional init
scripts, or use other mechanisms to ensure that they are started without
systemd. It also means that desktop software should be installable, and
ideally fully functional, without systemd.
7. So failing to support non-systemd systems, where no such support is
available, is a bug. But it is not a release-critical bug. Whether the
requirement for systemd is recorded as a formal bug in the Debian bug
system, when no patches are available, is up to the maintainer.
8. When a package has reduced functionality without systemd, this should
not generally be documented as a (direct or indirect) Depends or
Recommends on systemd-sysv. This is because with such dependencies,
installing such a package can attempt to switch the init system, which is
not what the user wanted. For example, a daemon with only a systemd unit
file script should still be installable on a non-systemd system, since it
could be started manually.
One consequence of this is that on non-systemd systems it may be possible
to install software which will not work, or not work properly, because of
an undeclared dependency on systemd. This is unfortunate but trying to
switch the user's init system is worse. We hope that better technical
approaches can be developed to address this.
9. We recognise that some maintainers find init scripts a burden and we
hope that the community is able to find ways to make it easier to add
support for non-default init systems. Discussions about the design of such
systems should be friendly and cooperative, and if suitable arrangements
are developed they should be supported in the usual ways within Debian.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF NON-SYSTEMD SUPPORT WILL BE ACCEPTED
10. Failing to support non-systemd systems when such support is available,
or offered in the form of patches (or packages), should be treated as a
release critical bug. For example: init scripts must not be deleted merely
because a systemd unit is provided instead; patches which contribute
support for other init systems (with no substantial effect on systemd
installations) should be filed as bugs with severity “serious”.
This is intended to provide a lightweight but effective path to ensuring
that reasonable support can be provided to Debian users, even where the
maintainer's priorities lie elsewhere. (Invoking the Technical Committee
about individual patches is not sensible.)
If the patches are themselves RC-buggy (in the opinion of, initially, the
maintainer, and ultimately the Release Team) then of course the bug report
should be downgraded or closed.
11. Maintainers of systemd components, or other gatekeepers (including
other maintainers and the release team) sometimes have to evaluate
technical contributions intended to support non-systemd users. The
acceptability to users of non-default init systems, of quality risks of
such contributions, is a matter for the maintainers of non-default init
systems and the surrounding community. But such contributions should not
impose nontrivial risks on users of the default configuration (systemd
with Recommends installed).
NON-INIT-RELATED DECLARATIVE SYSTEMD FACILITIES
12. systemd provides a variety of facilities besides daemon startup. For
example, creating system users or temporary directories. Current Debian
approaches are often based on debhelper scripts.
In general more declarative approaches are better. Where
* systemd provides such facility
* a specification of the facility (or suitable subset) exists
* the facility is better than the other approaches available in
* Debian, for example by being more declarative
* it is reasonable to expect developers of non-systemd systems
* including non-Linux systems to implement it
* including consideration of the amount of work involved
the facility should be documented in Debian Policy (by textual
incorporation, not by reference to an external document). The transition
should be smooth for all users. The non-systemd community should be given
at least 6 months, preferably at least 12 months, to develop their
implementation. (The same goes for any future enhancements.)
If policy consensus cannot be reached on such a facility, the Technical
Committee should decide based on the project's wishes as expressed in this
GR.
BEING EXCELLENT TO EACH OTHER
13. In general, maintainers of competing software, including maintainers
of the various competing init systems, should be accommodating to each
others' needs. This includes the needs and convenience of users of
reasonable non-default configurations.
14. Negative general comments about software and their communities,
including both about systemd itself and about non-systemd init systems,
are strongly discouraged. Neither messages expressing general dislike of
systemd, nor predictions of the demise of non-systemd systems, are
appropriate for Debian communication fora; likewise references to bugs
which are not relevant to the topic at hand.
Communications on Debian fora on these matters should all be encouraging
and pleasant, even when discussing technical problems. We ask that
communication fora owners strictly enforce this.
15. We respectfully ask all Debian contributors including maintainers,
Policy Editors, the Release Team, the Technical Committee, and the Project
Leader, to pursue these goals and principles in their work, and embed them
into documents etc. as appropriate.
(This resolution is a position statement under s4.1(5).)
Choice 6: E: Support for multiple init systems is Required
=======================================================
Being able to run Debian systems with init systems other than systemd
continues to be of value to the project. Every package MUST work with pid1
!= systemd, unless it was designed by upstream to work exclusively with
systemd and no support for running without systemd is available.
Software is not to be considered to be designed by upstream to work
exclusively with systemd merely because upstream does not provide, and/or
will not accept, an init script.
Choice 7: G: Support portability and multiple implementations
==========================================================
The Debian project reaffirms its commitment to be the glue that binds and
integrates different software that provides similar or equivalent
functionality, with their various users, be them humans or other software,
which is one of the core defining traits of a distribution.
We consider portability to different hardware platforms and software
stacks an important aspect of the work we do as a distribution, which
makes software architecturally better, more robust and more future-proof.
We acknowledge that different upstream projects have different views on
software development, use cases, portability and technology in general.
And that users of these projects weight tradeoffs differently, and have at
the same time different and valid requirements and/or needs fulfilled by
these diverse views.
Following our historic tradition, we will welcome the integration of these
diverse technologies which might sometimes have conflicting world-views,
to allow them to coexist in harmony within our distribution, by
reconciling these conflicts via technical means, as long as there are
people willing to put in the effort.
This enables us to keep serving a wide range of usages of our distribution
(some of which might be even unforeseen by us). From servers, to desktops
or deeply embedded; from general purpose to very specifically tailored
usages. Be those projects hardware related or software based, libraries,
daemons, entire desktop environments, or other parts of the software
stack.
Choice 8: Further Discussion
============================
This is the default option. Rank this option higher than the unacceptable
choices.
VOTE RESULTS
The responses to a valid vote shall be signed by the vote key created
for this vote. The public key for the vote, signed by the Project
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