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submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by Aatube@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/technology@lemmy.world

I draw the line at when a third party internet-connected service is doing validation of ID. Let’s be honest though, I strongly believe such a thing isn’t possible on a FOSS operating system environment unless they could control what was bootable on the device at a firmware level, enforce signatures to ensure that you couldn’t boot something unrestricted, remove the ability to be root, and block LD_PRELOAD so signals couldn’t be faked. There’s probably more ways to circumvent that.

What I’m trying to say is real ID verification on Linux would be awfully hard to implement, and I guarantee you, nobody would put up with it. They’d fork to a version that doesn’t have it immediately as a protest. Right now, we’re considering implementing something akin to the date pickers that were ubiquitous when signing up for internet services in the early 2000s where it’s just an honor system.

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[-] knobbysideup@sh.itjust.works 74 points 2 weeks ago

I think a birthday field in Pam or passwd would be fine. It'd be cool to have a happy birthday motd on login.

But it doesn't belong in what should be an init system. Much of the scope of systemd beyond an init system is the real issue. Resolved for example. Fuck poettering.

[-] Aatube@lemmy.dbzer0.com 37 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

The change was to systemd-userdb (and systemd-homed but that one most distros don't use) which is optional. You can use the init system without it. IIRC You only need it if some apps want to use user records beyond the default NSS ones.

See also https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/805105/can-systemd-be-used-only-as-an-init-system-without-its-other-components

[-] anyhow2503@lemmy.world 21 points 2 weeks ago

Don't like systemd-resolve? Fine. I get that plenty of implementation details are incomplete, suck or have caused friction with other software. On the other hand it's a really useful tool for dynamic split dns handling, which is why I like using it. You can disable it, I've done so on some workstations and servers, because of poor choices in internal domain names leading to mDNS issues, knock yourself out.

Don't think it should be part of an init system? It really isn't. I wouldn't call systemd just an init system to begin with, though that was the initial project goal. Most of its parts are reasonably well separated or at least highly configurable for a service layer. I genuinely think it's completely insane to have DNS resolution in libc, but people have gotten used to that. Systemd-resolved is completely inoffensive in comparison imho.

Don't like systemd as a whole? Use a distro without it. It really is that simple. Everything has been discussed - at length. Wars have been fought. At this point, change will only come if the complainers actually sit down, shut up and do some work towards their goals.

Sorry this turned into such a rant, most of this isn't even directed at you, this situation just annoys me. Especially this poor guy getting death threats on GitHub because someone riled up all the asshats in the community who have no idea how any of this works. Maybe they should focus their energy on the political forces pushing the California legislation that started this whole mess? I've been tired of this stupid debate for years now. I feel like it's mostly carried by people who have no idea what they are talking about these days.

[-] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 10 points 2 weeks ago

I wouldn't call systemd just an init system to begin with, though that was the initial project goal.

Scope creep. You're describing scope creep.

[-] anyhow2503@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

No, though parts of systemd have a scope creep issue, that's not what I'm describing. I'm talking about Poettering deciding to create a service layer for Linux after stealing some ideas from MacOS. Reducing that to "scope creep" is misleading at best and feeds into the "systemd is a monolithic application" concern trolling at worst.

[-] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

it is quite obviously not scope creep, as the systemd init system does not contain a DNS resolver.

the systemd family of tools does contain one, because the creators decided to create one with functionality not existing in alternatives. but the init system does not have a built in DNS resolver.

[-] knobbysideup@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

Which goes against the do one thing and do it well philosophy that helps to keep things stable and secure.

[-] nutsack@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 2 weeks ago

happy birthday motd

I would uninstall this immediately

[-] semperverus@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

We should push to switch to runit or something, and dnsmasq+Network Manager as the golden standards.

[-] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

resolved is not part of the init system.

[-] not_IO@lemmy.blahaj.zone 57 points 2 weeks ago

also, why shouldn't children have a computer?

[-] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 35 points 2 weeks ago

They might use it to get support when their abusive parents send them to conversion therapy /s

[-] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 weeks ago

I wouldn't even /s that

[-] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 11 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

How does systemd having an optional birthDate field prevent children from having a computer?

It also has fields for 'Real Name' and 'Location' (and has since the 1960s) without any problems. Most people don't even know that they exist because they're optional.

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[-] Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 36 points 2 weeks ago

Right now, we’re considering implementing something akin to the date pickers that were ubiquitous when signing up for internet services in the early 2000s where it’s just an honor system.

If you implement that, I switch to a fork that removes it.

[-] chirospasm@lemmy.ml 16 points 2 weeks ago
[-] fluffykittycat@slrpnk.net 9 points 2 weeks ago

I love this so much

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[-] bluGill@fedia.io 27 points 2 weeks ago

The only ID verification that works is when a legal entity that has liability for misuse verifies IDs. I want to live in a world where kids install linux on a pi and thus have root to set whatever settings they want. IF you need to verify ID for some reason, then you need to verify with something that the kids don't control - that everyone else can trust (good luck)

[-] RIotingPacifist@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

How about I'd there is no verification at all and it's just a local value?

[-] ParlimentOfDoom@piefed.zip 14 points 2 weeks ago

Stop letting the fascists frame the narrative.

We don't need local values at all. Computer should not be broadcasting personal identifiable info to every single website and cookie out there, regardless if it lets you lie or not. That's fucking idiotic.

If you want to do what these things claim to be for, and protect children, you make websites contain a flag for content rating and local devices do the filtering.

Not the other way around, which is only useful for tracking. Most websites aren't going to bother to follow through on it, anyway, why make it even more difficult and unlikely they do so?

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[-] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 12 points 2 weeks ago

Lmao, did that fucker really think he'd just get away with people saying "oh no~"?

[-] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, what an idiot. To expect people to not behave like an angry mob and target him for harassment.

Such a dummy.

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[-] trackball_fetish@lemmy.wtf 5 points 2 weeks ago

goes on to provide an entire way to implement it

Yeah no, this guy is an absolute asshole

[-] Aatube@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 week ago

an entire way? he didn’t do any of

control what was bootable on the device at a firmware level, enforce signatures to ensure that you couldn’t boot something unrestricted, remove the ability to be root, and block LD_PRELOAD so signals couldn’t be faked

[-] goatinspace@feddit.org 2 points 2 weeks ago
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this post was submitted on 01 Apr 2026
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