[CentOS] https://blog.centos.org/2020/12/future-is-centos-stream/

Tue Dec 8 14:06:44 UTC 2020
Rich Bowen <rbowen at redhat.com>

The future of the CentOS Project is CentOS Stream, and over the next 
year we’ll be shifting focus from CentOS Linux, the rebuild of Red Hat 
Enterprise Linux (RHEL), to CentOS Stream, which tracks just ahead of a 
current RHEL release. CentOS Linux 8, as a rebuild of RHEL 8, will end 
at the end of 2021. CentOS Stream continues after that date, serving as 
the upstream (development) branch of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Meanwhile, we understand many of you are deeply invested in CentOS Linux 
7, and we’ll continue to produce that version through the remainder of 
the RHEL 7 life cycle. 
https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata/#Life_Cycle_Dates

CentOS Stream will also be the centerpiece of a major shift in 
collaboration among the CentOS Special Interest Groups (SIGs). This 
ensures SIGs are developing and testing against what becomes the next 
version of RHEL. This also provides SIGs a clear single goal, rather 
than having to build and test for two releases. It gives the CentOS 
contributor community a great deal of influence in the future of RHEL. 
And it removes confusion around what “CentOS” means in the Linux 
distribution ecosystem.

When CentOS Linux 8 (the rebuild of RHEL8) ends, your best option will 
be to migrate to CentOS Stream 8, which is a small delta from CentOS 
Linux 8, and has regular updates like traditional CentOS Linux releases. 
If you are using CentOS Linux 8 in a production environment, and are 
concerned that CentOS Stream will not meet your needs, we encourage you 
to contact Red Hat about options.

We have an FAQ - https://centos.org/distro-faq/ - to help with your 
information and planning needs, as you figure out how this shift of 
project focus might affect you.

[See also: Red Hat's perspective on this. 
https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/centos-stream-building-innovative-future-enterprise-linux]