Debian TC Overrules systemd Maintainers on /var/lock Permissions
2 days ago
- #Debian
- #systemd
- #FHS
- The Debian Technical Committee intervened in a dispute between Debian developers and systemd maintainers over the /var/lock directory permissions.
- Systemd version 258 made /var/lock writable only by root, breaking compatibility with some Debian software.
- The Technical Committee ruled that /var/lock must have relaxed permissions to comply with the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS).
- Debian packages must continue to support /var/lock for system-wide locks until affected software migrates to modern alternatives like flock.
- The decision followed bug reports and discussions, with systemd maintainers refusing to restore FHS compliance.
- The TC invoked its constitutional authority to overrule systemd maintainers, requiring writable /var/lock permissions.
- This arrangement will stay until all affected packages migrate to flock or another locking mechanism, and Debian Policy is updated.
- The article criticizes systemd and suggests using Linux versions with other init systems or BSD-based OSes like Devuan, Gentoo, Artix, NetBSD, and OpenBSD.