gummiboot

gummiboot was a small, simple UEFI boot manager designed to provide a minimal alternative to more feature-rich bootloaders. It emphasized a clean codebase and straightforward configuration, making it suitable for modern UEFI-based systems where only a basic menu and direct kernel loading were required.

Originally developed as a lightweight project alongside the systemd ecosystem, gummiboot read plain-text configuration files from the EFI system partition and presented a compact boot menu. Boot entries were defined in small files that pointed to kernel and initramfs images, along with optional kernel command-line parameters. The project avoided a complex scripting language or elaborate GUI, focusing instead on predictable, easy-to-understand behavior.

Key features included automatic detection of kernel images, a minimal interactive menu, and a simple configuration format compatible with EFI conventions. Because gummiboot targeted UEFI firmware, it did not support legacy BIOS booting. Integration with Secure Boot depended on platform-specific chains such as shim; gummiboot itself did not add its own signature management.

gummiboot was later merged into the systemd project and continued under the name systemd-boot, preserving the minimalist design and configuration approach while receiving maintenance and integration with the broader systemd toolset. Its design influenced other minimal boot solutions and remains relevant for users seeking a lightweight, UEFI-native boot manager.