Over the course of 2023, AlmaLinux underwent significant alterations in its management and update mechanisms, which marked a noteworthy pivot from its initial objective. Initially conceived as a 1:1 binary compatible fork of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), the managing foundation re-evaluated this aim, opting instead for a model focused on maintaining Application Binary Interface (ABI) compatibility with RHEL. This shift was announced in July 2023 and sought to ensure that software applications and kernel modules functioning on RHEL would operate seamlessly on AlmaLinux too.
Consequently, AlmaLinux began aligning more closely with CentOS Stream, incorporating code from Red Hat Universal Base Images as well as upstream Linux code, thereby maintaining a strong compatibility with RHEL without being an exact clone.
This paradigm shift necessitated the restructuring of AlmaLinux’s testing and release process to sustain the robustness and reliability of the operating system. A pivotal step in this direction was the enablement of the Testing repository on AlmaLinux machines, facilitating a more dynamic testing environment for new packages before their official release. Users could easily enable this repository and partake in testing, thus contributing to a more solid and community-driven quality assurance process.
The thorough adjustments in 2023 reflected AlmaLinux’s commitment to evolving alongside the needs and feedback of its user community, as well as staying abreast of developments in the broader ecosystem of enterprise Linux distributions. Furthermore, the bolstered testing and release process underpins AlmaLinux’s enduring promise of delivering a dependable, enterprise-grade operating system. The community’s active involvement in testing not only fortifies the release process but also fosters a collaborative ethos, which is quintessential for the sustained success and growth of AlmaLinux.
As of the latest updates, AlmaLinux continues to thrive with over 500,000 systems connecting to its extensive network of mirrors for updates, and a growing global user base. The initiatives taken in 2023 have evidently enhanced the operating system’s standing as an untethered enterprise Linux offering, garnering substantial support from users worldwide.
In retrospect, 2023 was a hallmark year for AlmaLinux, with strategic shifts in its alignment with RHEL and the rejuvenation of its testing and release processes. These strides are instrumental in ensuring that AlmaLinux remains a robust, user-friendly, and community-driven enterprise Linux distribution.
Here at Enbecom we continue to provide AlmaLinux as an operating system on our great value VPS packages.