element-hq · sandhose · Mar 9, 2026 · Feb 20, 2026 · Feb 20, 2026 · Feb 20, 2026
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Remove the optional `systemd-python` dependency and the `systemd` extra on the `synapse` package.
@@ -16,3 +16,9 @@ appropriate locations of your installation.
 5. Start Synapse: `sudo systemctl start matrix-synapse`
 6. Verify Synapse is running: `sudo systemctl status matrix-synapse`
 7. *optional* Enable Synapse to start at system boot: `sudo systemctl enable matrix-synapse`
+
+## Logging
+
+If you use `contrib/systemd/log_config.yaml`, install `systemd-python` in the
+same Python environment as Synapse. The config uses
+`systemd.journal.JournalHandler`, which requires that package.
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 version: 1
 
+# Requires the `systemd-python` package in Synapse's runtime environment.
 # In systemd's journal, loglevel is implicitly stored, so let's omit it
 # from the message text.
 formatters:

@@ -39,8 +39,10 @@ pip install poetry==2.1.1 poetry-plugin-export==1.9.0
 poetry export \
     --extras all \
     --extras test \
-    --extras systemd \
     -o exported_requirements.txt
+# Keep journald logging support in the packaged virtualenv when using
+# systemd.journal.JournalHandler in /etc/matrix-synapse/log.yaml.
+echo "systemd-python==235 --hash=sha256:4e57f39797fd5d9e2d22b8806a252d7c0106c936039d1e71c8c6b8008e695c0a" >> exported_requirements.txt
 deactivate
 rm -rf "$TEMP_VENV"
 
@@ -57,7 +59,7 @@ dh_virtualenv \
     --extra-pip-arg="--no-deps" \
     --extra-pip-arg="--no-cache-dir" \
     --extra-pip-arg="--compile" \
-    --extras="all,systemd,test" \
+    --extras="all,test" \
     --requirements="exported_requirements.txt"
 
 PACKAGE_BUILD_DIR="$(pwd)/debian/matrix-synapse-py3"

@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+matrix-synapse-py3 (1.149.0~rc1+nmu1) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
+
+  * Change how the systemd journald integration is installed.
+
+ -- Quentin Gliech <packages@matrix.org>  Fri, 20 Feb 2026 19:19:51 +0100
+
 matrix-synapse-py3 (1.149.0~rc1) stable; urgency=medium
 
   * New synapse release 1.149.0rc1.

@@ -229,6 +229,11 @@ pip install --upgrade setuptools
 pip install matrix-synapse
 ```
 
+If you want to use a logging configuration that references
+`systemd.journal.JournalHandler` (for example `contrib/systemd/log_config.yaml`),
+you must install `systemd-python` separately in the same environment.
+Synapse no longer provides a `matrix-synapse[systemd]` extra.
+
 This will download Synapse from [PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/matrix-synapse)
 and install it, along with the python libraries it uses, into a virtual environment
 under `~/synapse/env`.  Feel free to pick a different directory if you

@@ -117,6 +117,22 @@ each upgrade are complete before moving on to the next upgrade, to avoid
 stacking them up. You can monitor the currently running background updates with
 [the Admin API](usage/administration/admin_api/background_updates.html#status).
 
+# Upgrading to v1.150.0
+
+## Removal of the `systemd` pip extra
+
+The `matrix-synapse[systemd]` pip extra has been removed.
+If you use `systemd.journal.JournalHandler` in your logging configuration
+(e.g. `contrib/systemd/log_config.yaml`), you must now install
+`systemd-python` manually in Synapse's runtime environment:
+
+```bash
+pip install systemd-python
+```
+
+No action is needed if you do not use journal logging, or if you installed
+Synapse from the Debian packages (which handle this automatically).
+
 # Upgrading to v1.146.0
 
 ## Drop support for Ubuntu 25.04 Plucky Puffin, and add support for 25.10 Questing Quokka

@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ It should be named `<SERVERNAME>.log.config` by default.
 Hint: If you're looking for a guide on what each of the fields in the "Processed request" log lines mean,
 see [Request log format](../administration/request_log.md).
 
+If you use `systemd.journal.JournalHandler` in your own logging config, ensure
+`systemd-python` is installed in Synapse's runtime environment.
+
 ```yaml
 {{#include ../../sample_log_config.yaml}}
 ```
@@ -135,10 +135,6 @@ saml2 = [
     "pytz>=2018.3",  # via pysaml2
 ]
 oidc = ["authlib>=0.15.1"]
-# systemd-python is necessary for logging to the systemd journal via
-# `systemd.journal.JournalHandler`, as is documented in
-# `contrib/systemd/log_config.yaml`.
-systemd = ["systemd-python>=231"]
 url-preview = ["lxml>=4.6.3"]
 sentry = ["sentry-sdk>=0.7.2"]
 opentracing = [
@@ -194,7 +190,6 @@ all = [
     "pympler>=1.0",
     # omitted:
     #   - test: it's useful to have this separate from dev deps in the olddeps job
-    #   - systemd: this is a system-based requirement
 
     # Transitive dependencies
     # These dependencies aren't directly required by Synapse.
Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
		@@ -0,0 +1 @@
		Remove the optional `systemd-python` dependency and the `systemd` extra on the `synapse` package.
Copy link Copy Markdown Member erikjohnston Feb 23, 2026 Choose a reason for hiding this comment The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more. This needs to be added to upgrade.md Copy link Copy Markdown Member Author sandhose Mar 3, 2026 Choose a reason for hiding this comment The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more. Have done that