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Rocky Linux: A CentOS replacement by the CentOS founder (github.com)

833 points by andyjpb · 2111 days ago · 533 comments on HN

Article summary

Rocky Linux is a community-driven enterprise operating system designed to be 100% bug-for-bug compatible with Enterprise Linux, created in response to CentOS shifting its direction. The founder of CentOS, Gregory Kurtzer, introduced Rocky Linux as a downstream build of Enterprise Linux. Rocky Linux aims to provide a stable and transparent alternative for production environments. The project is driven by the community and will not be sold or driven by corporate interest.

Main themes

  • Rocky Linux and CentOS
  • Stability vs. package updates
  • Community-driven vs. corporate-driven
  • Enterprise operating systems
  • Linux distribution choices
  • Security and vulnerability management

What commenters say

  • Some commenters believe that Rocky Linux is a good alternative to CentOS, providing a stable and predictable environment for production use.
  • Others argue that Debian or Ubuntu LTS are better options due to their clear upgrade paths and stable policies.
  • The age of packages in CentOS and RHEL is a concern, with some arguing that it can lead to security vulnerabilities and others seeing it as a feature that provides stability.
  • There is a debate about the trade-offs between stability and having up-to-date packages, with some prioritizing one over the other.
  • Some commenters are wary of relying on a single distribution or vendor, citing the potential risks of being tied to a particular company's interests.
  • The use of backported patches in RHEL can lead to subtle breakage and inconsistencies, which can cause problems for users.
  • The importance of having a supported operating system is highlighted, particularly in critical applications such as healthcare and finance.