Runlevels vs OpenRC Runlevels

Developers should learn about runlevels when working with system administration, server management, or embedded systems on Unix-like platforms like Linux, as they are crucial for controlling system behavior during boot, shutdown, and maintenance meets developers should learn openrc runlevels when working on systems that use openrc, such as gentoo or alpine linux, to effectively configure and troubleshoot service dependencies and boot processes. Here's our take.

Runlevels

Nice Pick

Developers should learn about runlevels when working with system administration, server management, or embedded systems on Unix-like platforms like Linux, as they are crucial for controlling system behavior during boot, shutdown, and maintenance

Pros

• For example, use runlevels to troubleshoot issues in single-user mode, configure services to start automatically in multi-user mode, or ensure critical processes run only in specific states
• Related to: systemd, init-system

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

OpenRC Runlevels

Developers should learn OpenRC Runlevels when working on systems that use OpenRC, such as Gentoo or Alpine Linux, to effectively configure and troubleshoot service dependencies and boot processes

Pros

• It is essential for system administrators and DevOps engineers who need to customize startup sequences, manage daemons in different operational modes, or ensure services start in the correct order for stability and security
• Related to: openrc, init-system

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Runlevels is a concept while OpenRC Runlevels is a tool. We picked Runlevels based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Runlevels wins

Based on overall popularity. Runlevels is more widely used, but OpenRC Runlevels excels in its own space.