# elogind

> software

**Wikidata**: [Q116695664](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116695664)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/elogind

## Summary
elogind is a software component derived from systemd that provides login session management for Linux systems without requiring the full systemd suite. It enables user session tracking, seat management, and integration with system services, particularly in environments that use alternative init systems like OpenRC.

## Key Facts
- Based on systemd's logind component, extracted to function independently.
- First releases date to mid-2017, with version 229.1 published on May 23, 2017.
- Multiple versions released rapidly in 2017, including 229.9 (September 22) and 231.3 (June 29).
- Maintained under an open-source license with source code hosted at https://github.com/elogind/elogind.
- Documented in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Hungarian, Russian, and Japanese on Gentoo Wiki.

## FAQs
### Q: What is elogind used for?
A: elogind manages user login sessions and integrates with system components such as PAM, D-Bus, and seat management tools. It allows non-systemd systems to access systemd-like session functionality.

### Q: Is elogind part of systemd?
A: No, elogind is a standalone fork of the systemd-logind component, designed to operate independently of the systemd init system.

### Q: Which distributions or systems use elogind?
A: elogind is commonly used in distributions or setups that avoid systemd, such as Gentoo with OpenRC, to provide session and seat management features otherwise tied to systemd.

## Why It Matters
elogind plays a critical role in enabling modern desktop Linux features—such as multi-seat support, session tracking, and power management—in environments that do not use systemd. As systemd became the dominant init system in many Linux distributions, some users and developers sought alternatives that preserved modularity and choice. elogind addresses this by extracting core session functionality into a reusable, independent package. This makes it possible for alternative init systems to maintain compatibility with contemporary desktop environments and system utilities that expect systemd-style login APIs. Its development reflects broader community efforts to preserve flexibility and interoperability within the Linux ecosystem.

## Notable For
- Being a standalone fork of systemd-logind, allowing session management outside of systemd-based systems.
- Rapid release cycle in 2017 with frequent minor updates improving stability and compatibility.
- Multilingual documentation across major global languages on Gentoo Wiki.
- Integration with non-systemd init systems like OpenRC, expanding their usability in desktop environments.

## Body
### Overview
elogind is a software utility that provides login session and seat management capabilities typically associated with systemd. It was developed to offer these features independently of the systemd init system, making them accessible to systems using alternative service managers.

### Development and Releases
The initial stable releases of elogind appeared in May 2017:
- Version **229.1** was released on **May 23, 2017**
- Subsequent patch versions followed quickly:
  - **229.2** – May 23, 2017
  - **229.3** – May 23, 2017
  - **229.4** – June 5, 2017
  - **229.5** – June 12, 2017
  - **229.6** – June 16, 2017
  - **229.7** – July 28, 2017
  - **229.8** – September 8, 2017
  - **229.9** – September 22, 2017
- A separate branch also saw active development with version **231.3** released on **June 29, 2017**

These releases indicate early-stage rapid iteration focused on stabilization and compatibility improvements.

### Technical Foundation
- Built upon the `systemd` project’s `logind` module.
- Designed to interface with:
  - **D-Bus**, for inter-process communication
  - **PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules)**, for authentication handling
  - **ConsoleKit**-style seat and session abstractions

This modular approach ensures broad compatibility with existing Linux desktop stacks while avoiding dependency on systemd itself.

### Documentation and Localization
elogind has dedicated articles on the Gentoo Wiki in several languages:
- English (`Elogind`)
- Spanish (`Elogind/es`)
- Hungarian (`Elogind/hu`)
- Russian (`Elogind/ru`)
- Japanese (`Elogind/ja`)

Each article includes localized content tailored to respective linguistic communities, enhancing accessibility and adoption.

### Source Availability
The official source repository is publicly hosted on GitHub:
- URL: [https://github.com/elogind/elogind](https://github.com/elogind/elogind)
- Licensed under free/open-source terms aligned with upstream systemd licensing

This openness supports community contributions and audits, ensuring transparency and collaborative improvement.

## References

1. [Release 229.1. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v229.1)
2. [Release 229.2. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v229.2)
3. [Release 229.3. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v229.3)
4. [Release 229.4. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v229.4)
5. [Release 229.5. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v229.5)
6. [Release 229.6. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v229.6)
7. [Release 229.7. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v229.7)
8. [Release 229.8. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v229.8)
9. [Release 229.9. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v229.9)
10. [Release 231.3. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v231.3)
11. [Release 231.4. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v231.4)
12. [Release 231.5. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v231.5)
13. [Release 231.6. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v231.6)
14. [Release 231.7. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v231.7)
15. [Release 232.3. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v232.3)
16. [Release 232.4. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v232.4)
17. [Release 232.5. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v232.5)
18. [Release 232.6. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v232.6)
19. [Release 233.4. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v233.4)
20. [Release 233.5. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v233.5)
21. [Release 233.6. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v233.6)
22. [Release 233.7. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v233.7)
23. [Release 234.2. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v234.2)
24. [Release 234.3. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v234.3)
25. [Release 234.4. 2017](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v234.4)
26. [Release 235.1. 2018](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v235.1)
27. [Release 235.2. 2018](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v235.2)
28. [Release 235.3. 2018](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v235.3)
29. [Release 235.4. 2018](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v235.4)
30. [Release 235.5. 2018](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v235.5)
31. [Release 236.1. 2018](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v236.1)
32. [Release 236.2. 2018](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v236.2)
33. [Release 236.3. 2018](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v236.3)
34. [Release 238.1. 2018](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v238.1)
35. [Release 238.2. 2018](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v238.2)
36. [Release 238.3. 2018](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v238.3)
37. [Release 238.4. 2019](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v238.4)
38. [Release 239.1. 2018](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v239.1)
39. [Release 239.2. 2018](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v239.2)
40. [Release 239.3. 2018](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v239.3)
41. [Release 239.4. 2019](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v239.4)
42. [Release 239.5. 2019](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v239.5)
43. [Release 241.1. 2019](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v241.1)
44. [Release 241.2. 2019](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v241.2)
45. [Release 241.3. 2019](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v241.3)
46. [Release 241.4. 2019](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v241.4)
47. [Release 243.4. 2020](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v243.4)
48. [Release 243.7. 2020](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v243.7)
49. [Release 246.9. 2020](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v246.9)
50. [Release 246.9.1. 2020](https://github.com/elogind/elogind/releases/tag/v246.9.1)