Introduction
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) has long been a preferred choice for businesses seeking a stable, secure, and feature-rich operating system. However, with recent changes in its commercial offerings and the introduction of CentOS Stream, alternatives like Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux have emerged to fill the void left by CentOS. In this blog post, we will delve into the process of obtaining source code from Red Hat, examine the promising future of these alternatives, and discuss the potential opportunities they bring to the table.
Obtaining the Source Code:
Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux, as RHEL-compatible distributions, aim to provide users with a similar experience and level of stability. To achieve this, they utilize the publicly available source code freely provided by Red Hat through the CentOS project. Their respective teams carefully examine and rebuild this source code, ensuring compatibility while adding enhancements and improvements.
Both projects benefit from the wealth of knowledge and expertise within the CentOS community. By leveraging their experience, these alternatives offer long-term support and the security that businesses rely on. It???s important to note that while they have access to the source code, the projects are independent and driven by their own communities.
The Future of Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux:
Rocky Linux, led by the creator of CentOS himself, Gregory Kurtzer, is attracting significant attention and enthusiasm within the open-source community. Building upon the trust and reputation established by CentOS, Rocky Linux is committed to providing a reliable and sustainable solution. It aims to offer a seamless transition for CentOS users, ensuring compatibility while maintaining excellent backward compatibility with RHEL.
AlmaLinux, on the other hand, is led by CloudLinux, a well-known name in the hosting industry. As a company specializing in Linux distribution for commercial hosting providers, AlmaLinux intends to provide long-term support, uninterrupted updates, and backward compatibility similar to CentOS’s traditional approach. By investing considerable resources, CloudLinux has demonstrated their commitment to AlmaLinux’s success.
Collaboration and Community Involvement:
Both Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux place great importance on fostering community involvement and collaboration. They actively seek contributions, feedback, and bug reports from users, encouraging the community to shape the future direction of their distributions. These projects build on the principles of open-source software, emphasizing transparency and cooperative development to ensure the long-term viability of their offerings.
Looking Ahead with Optimism:
The emergence of Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux marks a turning point for the community that relied on CentOS. While the future of CentOS Stream remains uncertain for many enterprise users, these alternatives provide solace and promising options. In addition to retaining the familiarity and compatibility with RHEL, they strive to further enhance the operating systems by incorporating community-driven improvements.
By building on the established foundations, leveraging the dedicated communities, and offering transparency throughout their development processes, Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux aim to become trusted and long-lasting alternatives for businesses seeking dependable RHEL-compatible distributions.
Conclusion:
The availability of Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux offers a bright outlook for enterprise users seeking reliable alternatives to CentOS. With strong community support, access to Red Hat’s source code, and dedication to transparency and collaboration, these distributions promise to fill the void left by CentOS and provide businesses with stable, secure, and future-proof operating systems. As the open-source community rallies behind these projects, the future looks bright for Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux as worthy successors in the RHEL-compatible landscape.
