As a leading open source software company, Red Hat has always attracted much attention for its enterprise distribution RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux). However, since Red Hat announced that its RHEL source code is only publicly released on CentOS Stream, there have been a series of discussions and controversies about RHEL-based clones, such as AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, etc. So, what is Red Hat's attitude toward these RHEL clones? This article will provide an in-depth look at Red Hat's views and stance on RHEL clones.
Recently, Red Hat's decision to announce that the source code of its enterprise distribution RHEL will only be publicly released on CentOS Stream has brought a series of discussions and controversies to the Linux community. The direct consequence of this decision is that the community will not be able to directly obtain the precise source code of RHEL, which hinders downstream distributions (such as AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, etc.) that want to replicate 1:1 based on RHEL.
Faced with criticism from the community, Red Hat executives recently wrote a rebuttal pointing out that those angry at them are either unwilling to commit the time, energy, and resources required to produce RHEL, or want to repackage RHEL for their own benefit. people. He further believes that "downstream rebuilders" such as AlmaLinux do not provide value, they simply repackage and resell without adding any value, and even threaten the sustainability of open source software. Furthermore, he stated that they are under no obligation to make the job of refactorers easier, calling the situation a "threat" to open source.
However, Red Hat's view sparked broader debate and dissent. Many people believe that one of the core ideas of open source software is sharing and transparency, and the accessibility of source code is its cornerstone. Individuals and organizations in the open source community have long relied on the ability to freely access and use source code to help innovate, improve, and advance open source projects. Therefore, Red Hat's decision to limit access to the core technology is undoubtedly a challenge for those who rely on the RHEL source code for secondary development and rebuilding.
In addition, some criticize Red Hat executives for their commercial interests. As a commercial company, Red Hat really needs to focus on profits and the sustainability of its business model. However, in the open source community, the existence and growth of numerous downstream distributions precisely contribute to the health and vitality of the entire ecosystem. Through rebuilding and repackaging, downstream distributions can be tailored to individual needs and provide broader support and services. Therefore, it is not in the spirit of sharing and collaboration in the open source community to belittle the work of downstream refactorers.
Although Red Hat has a certain cautious and protective attitude towards RHEL clones, they also recognize the importance of the open source community and encourage all parties to participate and contribute together. The success of open source software is inseparable from extensive cooperation and innovation, and the existence and growth of RHEL clones as downstream distributions have contributed to the entire open source ecosystem. By balancing commercial interests with the spirit of open source, we can build a stronger and more prosperous open source community that benefits everyone.