The Future of CentOS Is CentOS Stream

Red Hat is shifting away from CentOS Linux to focus on CentOS Stream. 

According to the announcement, “CentOS Linux 8, as a rebuild of RHEL 8, will end at the end of 2021. CentOS Stream continues after that date, serving as the upstream (development) branch of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.” Additionally, the project will continue to produce that version through the remainder of the RHEL 7 life cycle.

Red Hat’s senior vice president and chief technology officer Chris Wright says, “CentOS Stream isn’t a replacement for CentOS Linux; rather, it’s a natural, inevitable next step intended to fulfill the project’s goal of furthering enterprise Linux innovation. Stream shortens the feedback loop between developers on all sides of the RHEL landscape, making it easier for all voices, be they large partners or individual contributors, to be heard as we craft future versions of RHEL.” 

For additional perspective on this “rolling release” approach, see the article by Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols at ZDNet.