| systemd-boot | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developers | Kay Sievers,Harald Hoyer, Karel Zak |
| Initial release | June 28, 2012; 13 years ago (2012-06-28) |
| Repository | github |
| Written in | C |
| Type | Boot loader forUEFI systems |
| License | LGPL-2.1-or-later |
| Website | systemd |
systemd-boot is afree and open-sourceboot manager, previously known asgummiboot.
gummiboot was developed by theRed Hat employeesKay Sievers andHarald Hoyer and designed as a minimal alternative toGNU GRUB for systems using theUnified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). The boot loader automatically detected bootable images (includingoperating systems and other boot loaders), did not require a configuration file, provided a basic menu-based interface, and could also integrate with systemd to provide performance data.[1]
As aword play, the name "gummiboot" means "rubber (inflatable) boat" inGerman, the native language of its initial developers.[2][3] Despite being developed by two of its employees, Red Hat'sFedora Project did not use gummiboot for booting UEFI systems; instead, it used efilinux tochainload GRUB.[2][4]
gummiboot was licensed underLGPL-2.1-or-later, unlike GRUB which is licensed under theGPL-3.0-or-later. This distinction was intended to allow gummiboot to be suitable for use on UEFI systems implementingsecure boot,[2] due to concerns surrounding its requirement to distribute all authorization keys (digital certificates) needed to run GPL-v3-licensed software if hardware restrictions such as secure boot are in effect.[4]
In May 2015, gummiboot was merged intosystemd and renamed to "systemd-boot".[5][6][7][8]
