[hn_throw2025]

Ironic choice of example…

Before systemd presented a generalised interface, there were significant differences in the init and service management systems between the popular Red Hat and Debian families of distros.

[rockskon]

Not what I meant. Systemd has been replacing a bunch of commands too. Not just the init system.

[jcgl]

Those additional programs can be freely chosen by distros and/or users. So each of them has to stand on their merit. Though of course they do get some built-in credibility by coming from the systemd project. But for the most part, I think systemd software just tends to have competitive offerings with nice interfaces.