Rocky Linux
A community-driven effort to bring you enterprise-grade, production-ready Linux.
What is the Rocky Linux project?
Rocky Linux is a community enterprise operating system designed to be 100% bug-for-bug compatible with America's top enterprise Linux distribution now that its downstream partner has shifted direction. It is under intensive development by the community. Rocky Linux is led by Gregory Kurtzer, founder of the CentOS project. The current ETA for a beta release is April 30th. Contributors are asked to reach out using the communication options offered on this site.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What do you mean, "its downstream partner has shifted direction?"
The CentOS project recently announced a shift in strategy for CentOS. Whereas previously CentOS existed as a downstream build of its upstream vendor (it receives patches and updates after the upstream vendor does), it will be shifting to an upstream build (testing patches and updates before inclusion in the upstream vendor). Additionally, support for CentOS Linux 8 has been cut short, from May 31, 2029 to December 31, 2021.
- So where does Rocky Linux come in?
Rocky Linux aims to function as a downstream build as CentOS had done previously, building releases after they have been added by the upstream vendor, not before.
