Sprout: Open-source bootloader built for speed and security
Sprout is an open-source bootloader that delivers sub-second boot times and uses a clean, data-driven configuration format that works across operating systems.
“We built Sprout because we were frustrated by how fragile and slow traditional bootloaders are,” said Alex Zenla, CTO at Edera.
Sprout is designed for modern infrastructure where every second counts. It can boot Linux in under 50 milliseconds, which is critical for autoscaling and deployment in cloud environments.
Security through simplicity and Rust
Bootloaders are a common target for deep system attacks. Sprout is designed to reduce that risk by being thin, modern, and memory-safe. It is written entirely in Rust, which eliminates entire categories of memory-related bugs, such as buffer overflows, that are common in older C-based loaders. This helps preserve the integrity of the boot process.
Sprout keeps its feature set small, limiting functionality to what is essential for a modern, standards-compliant boot. This narrow focus reduces its attack surface and the potential for exploitation. When used with UEFI systems such as Patina, Sprout helps create a memory-safe chain of trust that extends from firmware to the Linux kernel, protecting against bootkits and low-level compromise.
Configuration without the scripting pain
Older bootloaders rely on shell scripts and complex generators that are difficult to maintain. Sprout replaces that approach with a simple, data-centric configuration model that is easy for both humans and automation tools to work with.
Its manifest-style configuration format is readable and writable by both people and machines, removing the guesswork from managing boot entries. Sprout also follows the systemd Bootloader Specification, a community standard that reduces complexity and helps large organizations adopt it with minimal friction. An autoconfiguration feature detects and integrates existing setups, making the migration from GRUB straightforward.
Sprout is available for free on GitHub.
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