Systemd Targets
Systemd targets are named synchronization points in the systemd init system that group units (services, sockets, etc.) to define system states or operational modes, such as booting, multi-user mode, or graphical interface. They replace traditional runlevels from SysVinit, providing a more flexible and dependency-based approach to system initialization and state management. Targets are used to start, stop, or transition between predefined system configurations during boot, shutdown, or runtime.
Developers should learn systemd targets when working on Linux systems that use systemd (common in modern distributions like Ubuntu, Fedora, and CentOS) to manage boot processes, service dependencies, and system states efficiently. This is crucial for system administration, DevOps tasks, and developing applications that require specific initialization sequences or runtime environments, such as setting up servers, containers, or embedded systems. Understanding targets helps in configuring custom startup behaviors, troubleshooting boot issues, and automating system management.