[lmz]

> init was a stable, widely used, and well understood system that didn't need an update

If it didn't need an update why did various parties try and replace it e.g. OSX launchd, Solaris SMF, Ubuntu Upstart?

[gbromios]

I have no idea. Like I said, I was only a casual observer of the rally against systemd. I get the feeling that the opposition was more about ethos than any irrefutable technical argument.

[briffle]

Init also took a VERY long time to start, and had very, very rudimentary concepts of dependencies.

[petre]

Launchd is actually quite a hurdle to use. XML service files, inconsistent syntax for launchctl commands etc.

Apple probably designed it so .plist files would be editable with some GUI tool.