---

title: About CentOS

layout: aside

---

## The CentOS Project

The CentOS Project is a community-driven free software effort focused around

the goal of providing a rich base platform for open source communities to build

upon. We will provide a development framework for cloud providers, the hosting

community, and scientific data processing, as a few examples. We work with

several 'upstream' communities to help them layer and distribute their software

more effectively on a platform they can rely on.

### The Governing Board

The CentOS Governing Board is made up of members of the CentOS Project, some

whom have been around since the creation of the Project, as well as new members

from the community and Red Hat. The focus of the Governing Board is to curate 

the CentOS Project, assist and guide in the progress and development of the

various SIGs, as well as to promote CentOS Linux. For more information read

the [governance page](/about/governance).

### The Project Structure

The CentOS Project is modeled on the structure of the [Apache

Foundation](http://apache.org), with a governing board that oversees various

semi-autonomous [Special Interest Groups or

'SIGs'](http://wiki.centos.org/SpecialInterestGroup). These groups are focused

on providing various enhancements, addons, or replacements for core CentOS

Stream functionality. A few notable examples of SIGs are:

* [Core](http://wiki.centos.org/SpecialInterestGroup/Core) - Building and releasing the core CentOS Linux platform.

* [Cloud](http://sigs.centos.org/cloud) - Providing a home for Cloud related infrastructures

* [Hyperscale](http://sigs.centos.org/hyperscale) - Providing a home for Hyperscale innovation

* [Automotive](https://sigs.centos.org/automotive/) - Providing a home for CentOS-oriented automotive work