Open Source
What Does It Mean to Be Open Source?
Rocky Linux is built on the principles of transparency, collaboration, and accessibility. This is why the source code of Rocky Linux is publicly available, allowing anyone to examine, modify, and distribute the software.
This open source nature encourages a community of developers, users, and contributors to work together in building a better and more secure operating system. With open source software, there is no proprietary code. Everyone benefits from the community's knowledge and experience.
Because the source code is freely available, there is no need to worry about vendor lock-in, hidden back doors, or other security concerns.
Additionally, open source software is often more stable and secure than proprietary alternatives because it benefits from the collective expertise of a large community of developers and users who actively contribute to its development.
Furthermore, the open source model allows users to customize the software to their specific needs, leading to a more personalized and optimized experience.
The Open Source Community
The open source community supporting Rocky Linux is a thriving and dynamic group of individuals and organizations who are passionate about the principles of open source software. Some members of this community include Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, 45Drives, OpenDrives, Rakuten Symphony, VMware and more.
Rocky Linux was created as a community-driven alternative to CentOS, which was acquired by Red Hat. The response from the open source community has been overwhelmingly positive. Since its inception, the Rocky Linux project has attracted a large and diverse group of contributors who are committed to ensuring the success of the project.
Rocky Linux’s success will be determined by the users and contributors who support the project. As a community-driven initiative, Rocky Linux is outside of any corporate umbrella and is free from constraints that can stifle innovation and creativity. This independence allows the project to remain true to the principles of open source software and ensures that the needs of the community remain front and center.
Rocky Linux is hosted by Rocky Enterprise Software Foundation (RESF), an organization that is guided by responsibility to the community, transparency, and a commitment to build artifacts that are free, open source, and reproducible. RESF allows Rocky Linux to be truly directed and governed by the community.
The use of Rocky Linux offers various industries the ability to be fully transparent in their communities, enjoy customization benefits, and gather advantages from reducing costs. With the recent integration of Peridot in Rocky Linux 9, users can trust Rocky Linux with their crucial projects. Peridot empowers everyone to construct, improve, and reproduce Rocky Linux autonomously, while also ensuring complete transparency and openness of the entire Rocky Linux building process and pipelines.
As the open source movement continues to gain momentum, Rocky Linux will play an increasingly important role in the development of software that is both powerful and accessible to all.