Seriously, though, read the article. The 1.2M lines includes removed lines from refactoring. So, it is not completely made up, as implied in that comment. https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=systemd-...
https://twitter.com/pid_eins/status/1214268577509003266
https://www.phoronix.com/misc/systemd-eoy2019/files.html
Including the number of lines in static tables and documentation hardly seems like a meaningful comparison.
I suppose that the end goal of the systemd project is an ability to deploy a production Linux system with just systemd and busybox, and run all software from containers.
Not that it's a bad thing to strive for. But it's not going to be Unix as we know it.
To be more specific is it a replacement of more and more Linux userland that nobody asked. I would be ok if systemd would be a process management system that replaces init with a standardised way of managing services (it would be amazing if it was written a safe language, if it was respecting configuration files, if it did not take over managing system limits, etc. etc.).
Unfortunately it is trying to do too much.
(I'm still able to run Void Linux as my primary desktop without systemd.)
Right, that's Plan9.
(Yes, I do regret that Linux was a hyper-succesful project that replicated Unix, not Plan9. But Plan9 is more complex, maybe it was just infeasible.)
I think it was a ZFS dev who complained he had to update 150 files to port ZFS to systemd. Simples?
And you have to love all them binary log files, with their dynamic and spontaneus api. Yes, everything is always new and exciting with systemD.
I use devuan. A debian fork with a choice of init systems (well, everything but systemD. ;) It took the dev/devs 2 years just to swap out/revert the init system.
Also, just learned devuan's website is JS and cookie free. https://www.devuan.org/
Edit: I will concede that systemD is great for a lot of people. I honestly wish them success. The work that goes in to building, maintaining, and using it, is substantial. It must be a boon for the economy and job creation.