this post was submitted on 24 Jun 2023
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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Which hand was feeding them and how are they biting it?
Idc about IBM but the saying makes little sense to me here. It's not like Ubuntu annoying Debian which at one point was their upstream. They find upstream up to fedora and beyond.
If anything, Distros like Alma and Rocky bite the hand that feeds them by offering paid support contracts. Nothing is illegal about that. But I think the saying fits the reverse better.
The hand feeding them is the cross-pollination of community clones to paid subscriptions. RedHat would have never grown as big as it has if it didn’t have the backing of people who learned how to use it, and enterprises who built things to run on it. We use Rocky because it allows us to rapidly test ideas without having to deal with licensing issues. When we are ready to deploy, we use RHEL so we can leverage the paid support. I myself only learned RedHat systems because CentOS was free and had a vibrant community. They have killed off CentOS and are now playing games with community distros, removing that onramp for learners and potential paying customers.
Moving distros is an issue primarily due to the differences between them for configuration and compliance, but it is a cost that comes once. If they continue to squeeze customers, those who can move will.
Ok I'll bite.
What's wrong with CentOS Stream specifically when you're just talking about POC before buying RHEL?
It's literally RHEL in the form of the next/unreleased point release. If your configs/software breaks between RHEL 8.6->8.7 or 8.7->8.8... Then sure, CentOS Stream won't work for you.
If like MOST users of RHEL you build out a config on RHEL 7.x or RHEL 8.x and dnf update from there between the point releases: I don't see the difference.
You make a good point. I imagine RedHat is doing this less because of Rocky/Alma, and more so because of Oracle.
Oracle might be another one, though I guess that as weird as that sounds, at least they add value by providing their "unbreakable enterprise kernel".
I guess Oracle will be hit the least as they do have the manpower to make sure their distribution stays RHEL compatible, but at a higher cost.
Debian has always been Ubuntu's upstream and still is.
Interesting, I was under the impression that Ubuntu by now was a completely independent distribution and only relying on Debian for specific tools like apt.
But I've left the ecosystem about 15 years ago so my knowledge of the current state of things is limited to the occasional news.
Yeah, I have witnessed a lot of outrages in the linux community in my time, but I'm not sure what the big deal is with this one. Can you not still get a free rhel account and download the source code anyways?