Rocky Linux, an open-source distribution of Enterprise Linux (EL) led by the community, remains resilient and capable as a reliable and free substitute for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), even in changing circumstances.



Red Hat recently announced that RHEL sources will no longer be available from git.centos.org, but the Rocky Linux team is unfazed by this development.

While Red Hat's move introduces a change in the building process of Rocky Linux, the team has quickly taken steps to address it. They have implemented a short-term solution and are concurrently working on a long-term strategy. Importantly, they assure that there will be no disruption or changes for Rocky Linux users, collaborators, or partners due to this shift.

Gregory Kurtzer, the founder of the Rocky Linux project and chair of the board of the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation (RESF), which oversees the project, strongly believes in the open-source ideology. He emphasizes that open-source software should always be freely accessible, stable, and not controlled by a single enterprise. While Red Hat's decision caused some inconvenience, the dynamic team of Rocky Linux ensures that users will not experience any disruptions. The project is becoming even more stable, supported, and secure moving forward.

The Rocky Linux community embodies the core principle of collaboration in the open-source world. Contributors to Rocky Linux have responsibly participated in the EL ecosystem by regularly contributing to CentOS Stream, Fedora, and other open-source initiatives, strengthening the overall EL community.

Despite the changing landscape, Rocky Linux remains committed to delivering a community-centric, accessible, and transparent EL operating system. They pledge to support the complete lifespan of Rocky 8 and 9 and continue producing future RHEL-compatible versions for as long as possible. This commitment ensures that organizations can maintain the adaptability, control, and freedom they rely on for their critical infrastructure, staying true to the open-source ethos.

Established in 2020 as a response to Red Hat's premature announcement of CentOS's end-of-life, Rocky Linux has quickly become a top-tier distribution of community-driven open-source Enterprise Linux. The project is hosted by the Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation (RESF), whose mission is to ensure the persistence, stewardship, and innovation of enterprise-grade open-source software while keeping it freely available.

Rocky Linux has established itself as a significant alternative for hosting providers, especially those seeking an alternative to CentOS. Red Hat's decision to end long-term support for CentOS prompted many businesses to explore alternatives, with Rocky Linux emerging as one of the more viable options.

Open-source ideology is at the core of Rocky Linux's stability. The philosophy behind open source encourages collaboration, transparency, and community-driven development. This means that anyone can view, modify, and distribute the source code of a project, allowing for continuous improvement and innovation.

Rocky Linux embraces this open-source ideology by building its operating system on the foundations of CentOS, which itself is an open-source distribution. CentOS, prior to its shift towards CentOS Stream, was known for providing a stable, reliable, and secure platform for businesses and organizations.

When CentOS announced its decision to shift focus towards CentOS Stream, many users were left searching for an alternative that would provide the same level of stability they had come to rely on. That's where Rocky Linux came into the picture.

With the goal of providing a free and open enterprise-grade operating system, Rocky Linux emerged as a community-driven effort to continue the legacy of CentOS. Led by Gregory Kurtzer, the founder of CentOS Stream's predecessor, CentOS Linux, Rocky Linux aims to create a stable and secure operating system that follows the principles of open-source collaboration.

By leveraging the collective efforts and expertise of a wide range of contributors, Rocky Linux aims to deliver a reliable platform that businesses and users can trust. This approach allows for widespread testing, bug fixing, and feature enhancements, ensuring that the final product meets the highest standards of stability.

Furthermore, Rocky Linux explicitly emphasizes long-term support, which contributes to its stability. By focusing on maintaining compatibility with upstream sources, Rocky Linux ensures that security updates, bug fixes, and software enhancements are delivered consistently over an extended period.

In addition to the open-source ideology, there are several factors that contribute to Rocky Linux's stability:

1. Community-driven: Rocky Linux embraces a community-driven approach, where contributors from various backgrounds collaborate on the development and enhancement of the operating system. This diverse community ensures that different perspectives are considered, leading to more robust and stable software.

2. Rigorous testing: The Rocky Linux project puts great emphasis on testing its releases thoroughly. By conducting extensive testing processes, including integration, functional, and regression testing, they can identify and resolve issues before the final release. This focus on quality assurance contributes to the overall stability of the operating system.

3. Security-focused: Rocky Linux prioritizes security by promptly addressing vulnerabilities and providing regular security updates. Following the best practices of the open-source community, security issues are quickly identified, reported, and fixed, ensuring a secure experience for users.

4. Long-term support: Rocky Linux offers long-term support, ensuring that users receive updates, bug fixes, and security patches for an extended period. This commitment to maintaining compatibility and stability ensures that organizations can rely on Rocky Linux as a stable platform for their critical systems.

5. Transparent development process: The development process of Rocky Linux is transparent, with all changes and updates being openly discussed and reviewed by the community. This transparency fosters accountability, allows for early identification of issues, and enables users and contributors to have a clear understanding of the ongoing development efforts.

By combining these factors, Rocky Linux strives to deliver a stable and reliable operating system that meets the needs of enterprise users who value stability, security, and long-term support.

The recent upheaval caused by Red Hat's decision highlights a critical vulnerability in the ecosystem. If Rocky Linux becomes overly reliant on its community for updates and support, it risks fragmentation.

While the project's commitment to transparency is commendable, I fear that without a solid backing, it could falter. The open-source community must rally around Rocky Linux, but can it sustain momentum in a landscape where enterprise control looms large?