SysV Runlevels vs Upstart

Developers should learn SysV Runlevels when working with legacy Unix systems, older Linux distributions (e meets developers should learn upstart when working on linux systems, particularly ubuntu versions prior to 15. Here's our take.

SysV Runlevels

Nice Pick

Developers should learn SysV Runlevels when working with legacy Unix systems, older Linux distributions (e

Pros

• g
• Related to: systemd, init-scripts

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Upstart

Developers should learn Upstart when working on Linux systems, particularly Ubuntu versions prior to 15

Pros

• 04, as it was the default init system
• Related to: linux-systemd, sysvinit

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

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

The Bottom Line

SysV Runlevels wins

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