Dear Red Hat: Are you dumb? (jeffgeerling.com)

Article summary

Red Hat has decided to lock down RHEL sources behind a subscription, angering users who relied on CentOS as a free alternative. The author, who develops software compatible with RHEL, is frustrated by this move and considers dropping support for RHEL. The change may lead to a decline in RHEL's popularity and mindshare. The author sees this as a shortsighted decision that may harm Red Hat in the long run.

Main themes

• Red Hat's business strategy
• Linux ecosystem
• Open source community
• RHEL and CentOS
• Enterprise Linux
• Market trends and competition

What commenters say

• Red Hat's decision to lock down RHEL sources is seen as a mistake that will lead to a decline in its popularity.
• The move may drive users to alternative Linux distributions such as Debian or SUSE.
• Some argue that Red Hat's actions are driven by a desire to increase revenue and force users into a paid subscription model.
• Others believe that Red Hat's contributions to the Linux ecosystem justify its decision to restrict access to RHEL.
• The acquisition of Red Hat by IBM may have influenced the company's decision to prioritize profit over community engagement.
• Some commentators predict that Microsoft may acquire Ubuntu, which could have significant implications for the Linux ecosystem.
• The decision may ultimately harm Red Hat's reputation and lead to a loss of market share.
• Alternative Linux distributions such as SUSE may benefit from Red Hat's decision and gain market share.