mkosi-initrd: initrds built from system packages (asg2024)

Chaos Computer Club - recent audio-only feed

mkosi-initrd is a project to build initrds from normal system packages (rpms, debs). Initially separate, it now is part of mkosi — just another build stage. systemd uses mkosi for automated tests, and this now includes building an initrd and booting a VM with it, so such initrds are getting fairly wide testing, albeit in fairly narrow circumstances. The process of adoption of mkosi-initrd in distributions has been slow, but with an implementation natively in mkosi, the technical base is really good. What remains to be done to make this the default approach? Can Fedora 41 finally make this an option for users? Licensed to the public under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/de/ about this event: https://cfp.all-systems-go.io/all-systems-go-2024/talk/JTXJR7/