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

Tue Dec 8 15:15:17 UTC 2020
Pete Biggs <pete at biggs.org.uk>

Forgive a bit of cynicism ...

On Tue, 2020-12-08 at 09:06 -0500, Rich Bowen wrote:
> 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.

"If you want to keep using RHEL for free, you will have to put up with
making sure that our paying customers get better quality releases"

> 
> 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

"If you really want to have a stable release for free, stick to 7"

> 
> 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. 

"CentOS will become the developer playground"

> And it removes confusion around what “CentOS” means in the Linux 
> distribution ecosystem.

Was there any confusion? If there is, then it's caused by the
introduction of things like "CentOS Stream".  There was never any
confusion when it was a straight rebuild.

> 
> 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.

"If you want a production environment, pay for it"

> 
> 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.

The FAQ generally says "if you want a RHEL environment, then pay for
it"

> 
> [See also: Red Hat's perspective on this. 
> https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/centos-stream-building-innovative-future-enterprise-linux]
> 
Red Hat's perspective is "CentOS is ours now; IBM have told us to make
sure it's pulling its weight or we aren't allowed to put any resources
into it"

So as far as I can see all the RHEL rebuilds are dead now - WhiteBox,
Scientific Linux, now CentOS. Are there any left?

P.