Lennart Poettering, the influential developer behind systemd, the controversial yet ubiquitous init system powering modern Linux distributions, has quietly departed Microsoft to launch Amutable, a Berlin-based startup dedicated to bolstering Linux’s trustworthiness through cryptographically verifiable integrity from build to runtime.
Poettering, who joined Microsoft in 2022 after a storied career at Red Hat where he spearheaded systemd’s development, announced his move on January 28, 2026, via a blog post, framing it as a mission to “prove Linux can be trusted” by addressing gaps in deterministic builds and runtime verification. At Amutable, he serves as Chief Engineer alongside CTO Christian Brauner, a Linux kernel maintainer known for LXC and LXD, and CEO Chris Kühl, formerly of the GNOME Foundation. The trio’s venture aims to create tools ensuring Linux systems are tamper-proof and reproducible, tackling issues like supply chain attacks that have plagued open-source ecosystems.
“Determinism and verifiable integrity are an urgent need,” Poettering wrote in his announcement, highlighting how current Linux distributions often produce non-identical binaries from the same source code due to build variations, making verification a nightmare. Amutable plans to develop open-source solutions for cryptographic signing, reproducible builds, and runtime checks, potentially integrating with existing tools like systemd to create “immutable” Linux environments resistant to tampering. The company, self-funded initially, is hiring and focusing on enterprise and cloud applications where security is paramount.
Also Read: Microsoft Ends ‘Send to Kindle’ Integration in Word Starting February 2026
Poettering’s exit from Microsoft, where he contributed to systemd’s integration with Windows Subsystem for Linux and Azure, has sparked speculation in open-source circles. Some see it as a return to Linux roots, while others on forums like Hacker News express wariness about potential ties to Microsoft’s ecosystem or broader “war on general computing.” Poettering, no stranger to controversy, systemd’s adoption in the 2010s sparked heated debates over Linux’s direction, addressed skeptics indirectly, emphasizing Amutable’s focus on open-source principles.
This move comes amid a surge in Linux security initiatives, following high-profile breaches like the XZ Utils backdoor in 2024.
Microsoft, which has deepened its Linux embrace since Poettering’s hire, wished him well but offered no further comment. In an era of rising cyber threats, Amutable’s focus on verifiable Linux could attract enterprises wary of open-source risks, but it also reignites debates over who controls the OS’s future, Big Tech alumni or the community at large.
