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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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Red Hat’s commitment to open source: A response to the git.centos.org changes (www.redhat.com)

submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

93 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Some mix of wrong and right, the exact proportions of which I'll leave as an exercise to the reader.

(page 2) 38 comments

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

I'm supposed to complete a higher level Red Hat cert this year, but I think I'll pass, despite it counting against my KPI. These exams are hard, expensive, take a lot of time to prepare for, and the ROI is increasingly questionable. I'll rather do some vendor-agnostic k8s or Ansible cert instead. This RHEL decision definitely helped to make up my mind.

I also wonder what IBM will do to ceph. Not really buying their spiel.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'm genuinely scared they'll be coming for ansible next.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Nothing a fork or two won't solve.

[–] adhdplantdev 2 points 2 years ago

The problem I see with this attitude is there are plenty of developers that are trying to develop for RHEL instances that need a specific environment for whatever reason. Originally you could use CentOS for this and then you could use Rocky Linux or one of the other distributions that sprung up after stream became a thing. They've taken away that opportunity and they may suffer for it since Enterprise application developers like Jeff will not eat this cost since they do it out of the goodness of their own heart and not for monetary compensation. Unfortunately this could end up stifling a lot of the tools that we use in a cloud setting with Red hat distributions. My company has a requirement that we need the OS to look exactly the same and be extremely stable and stream I don't think has that capability since it's a rolling distro and could get hit with a bad package update. It would be quickly patched but that still means down time that I now have to explain to my customers. Instead we might switch to Debian which will stay exactly the distribution it should be until I decide to update it. It can be configured in a rolling distribution but it doesn't have to be and enterprise admins are not going to use something that rolls that that could possibly expose us to more risk with wild package updates. There's a reason that while we like Arch Linux, we don't typically use it in an enterprise setup.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 years ago

Simply rebuilding code, without adding value or changing it in any way, represents a real threat to open source companies everywhere. This is a real threat to open source, and one that has the potential to revert open source back into a hobbyist- and hackers-only activity.

Hacker hoodies activate.

[+] [email protected] -14 points 2 years ago

I asked ChatGPT to do that exercise for me:

I find it deeply troubling to witness the erosion of true open source values within Red Hat, as outlined in the recent blog post by Mike McGrath. While he attempts to defend the company's actions, it is clear that the fundamental principles of software freedom are being undermined.

Firstly, McGrath's claims about Red Hat's commitment to open source development are misleading. Mere code contributions upstream are not sufficient to embody the spirit of the free software movement. True dedication to freedom means liberating users by ensuring that the software they use respects their rights to study, modify, and share it. Unfortunately, Red Hat's actions fall short of this ideal.

The emphasis on backporting patches and maintaining an operating system for extended periods is not inherently incompatible with open source values. However, it is the context in which these activities occur that matters. Red Hat's increasing restrictions on downstream rebuilders and its reluctance to facilitate their efforts is a disservice to the community. By limiting the ability to freely modify and redistribute the software, Red Hat is erecting barriers that hinder innovation and impede the spirit of cooperation that open source should foster.

Furthermore, the dismissal of rebuilders as mere profit-seeking entities is a distortion of reality. These rebuilders play a crucial role in expanding the reach and accessibility of open source software. By disregarding their contributions, Red Hat is failing to recognize the diverse needs of users and the benefits that can arise from a vibrant ecosystem of downstream distributions.

The introduction of CentOS Stream as a replacement for CentOS raises concerns about the viability of a truly community-driven project. While Red Hat claims that the source code remains open, the increased control exerted by the company raises questions about the autonomy and independence of the project. This shift undermines the trust and collaboration that formed the foundation of CentOS and threatens to marginalize the very community that helped build it.

I implore Red Hat to reconsider its stance and recommit to the principles that once defined the company. Open source is not simply about code contributions; it is about empowering users and fostering a community of collaboration, transparency, and shared knowledge. Red Hat must embrace these values fully, or risk betraying the very essence of the open source movement it once championed. Only by upholding software freedom can we ensure a future where technology serves the best interests of all.

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