Init System
An init system is a daemon that initializes the operating system during boot, manages system services, and handles process supervision throughout runtime. It is the first process started by the kernel (PID 1) and is responsible for starting, stopping, and monitoring other processes and services. Common init systems include systemd, SysV init, and Upstart, which provide features like parallel startup, dependency management, and logging.
Developers should learn about init systems when working on Linux/Unix-based systems, especially for system administration, DevOps, or embedded development, as they are crucial for managing services and ensuring system stability. Use cases include configuring services to start on boot, handling service dependencies, and troubleshooting system startup issues in server environments or containerized applications.