CentOS - Dec 2020 - https://blog.centos.org/2020/12/future-is-centos-stream/

Aside from the the latest shiny - what are the advantages of CentOS 8 Stream? 
What are the benefits?

I read through the announcement and FAQ, but they do not address that question. 
Is it just a name change?  Is it an attempt to put CentOS on a subscription
model?

-- 
Bill Gee



On Tuesday, December 8, 2020 8:06:44 AM CST Rich Bowen
wrote:
> The future of the CentOS Project is CentOS Stream, and over the next 
> year we?ll be shifting focus from CentOS Linux, the rebuild of Red Hat 
> Enterprise Linux (RHEL), to CentOS Stream, which tracks just ahead of a 
> current RHEL release. 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.
> 
> Meanwhile, we understand many of you are deeply invested in CentOS Linux 
> 7, and we?ll continue to produce that version through the remainder of 
> the RHEL 7 life cycle. 
> https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata/#Life_Cycle_Dates
> 
> CentOS Stream will also be the centerpiece of a major shift in 
> collaboration among the CentOS Special Interest Groups (SIGs). This 
> ensures SIGs are developing and testing against what becomes the next 
> version of RHEL. This also provides SIGs a clear single goal, rather 
> than having to build and test for two releases. It gives the CentOS 
> contributor community a great deal of influence in the future of RHEL. 
> And it removes confusion around what ?CentOS? means in the Linux 
> distribution ecosystem.
> 
> When CentOS Linux 8 (the rebuild of RHEL8) ends, your best option will 
> be to migrate to CentOS Stream 8, which is a small delta from CentOS 
> Linux 8, and has regular updates like traditional CentOS Linux releases. 
> If you are using CentOS Linux 8 in a production environment, and are 
> concerned that CentOS Stream will not meet your needs, we encourage you 
> to contact Red Hat about options.
> 
> We have an FAQ - https://centos.org/distro-faq/ - to help with your 
> information and planning needs, as you figure out how this shift of 
> project focus might affect you.
> 
> [See also: Red Hat's perspective on this. 
>
https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/centos-stream-building-innovative-future-enterprise-linux]
> 
> _______________________________________________
> CentOS mailing list
> CentOS at centos.org
> https://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
>

On 12/8/20 8:35 AM, Bill Gee wrote:
> Aside from the the latest shiny - what are the advantages of CentOS 8
Stream?  What are the benefits?
> 
> I read through the announcement and FAQ, but they do not address that
question.  Is it just a name change?  Is it an attempt to put CentOS on a
subscription model?
> 
Stream is the RHEL sorce code for rhel + 0.1 .. so durng the 8.3 rhel
cycle, stream will be rhel 8.4 source code.

It is not very far ahead of the current code.  It is indeed the code you
will get in 6 months.  It is not 'new shiny' .. it is newer enterprise.

What are the benefits:

1)  Many people (like Intel and Facebook) are providing feedback in real
time.  So can any user.  They should have in place, before RHEL 9
development starts, the ability to accept public community pull requests
into stream.

2)  This code is still RHEL source code .. it is just not released in
rhel yet.  Almost all of it will be released in the upcoming RHEL point
release.

3)  Most bugs will get fixed faster, if the code is pulled into stream.
 Many times you don't get the fix until the next point release .. and
this will be what stream is.

On 12/8/20 8:35 AM, Bill Gee wrote:
> Aside from the the latest shiny - what are the advantages of CentOS 8
Stream?  What are the benefits?
> 
> I read through the announcement and FAQ, but they do not address that
question.  Is it just a name change?  Is it an attempt to put CentOS on a
subscription model?
> 

Another very good thing

There is no longer a huge delay of a drop of 750 packages at once and a
delay of more than a month to get a new release.

There will be on delay in stream .. it will be a constantly rolling
distribution .. updates will happen all the time with no 'big drop' at
point release time.

Just do a thought experiment and think about the current process and how
stream works.  There is no reason you can not use CentOS Stream for what
you use CentOS Linux for now.

I know what the knee jerk reaction is .. but put that aside and really
look at the timing of code and release of packages, etc.

If you don't like how it turns out .. then shift to another platform.
You (and we) have a full year to show you the benefits of Stream.

Is Ubuntu or Debian any better wrt package versions and enterprise?

How really different is RHEL 8.3 from 8.2 .. or 8.4 from 8.3?

Just look at the facts and make the choice that is appropriate for your
situation.