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---
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title: About CentOS
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---
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## The CentOS Project
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The CentOS Project is a community-driven free software effort focused around
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providing a rich base platform for open source communities to build upon.
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We provide a development framework for cloud providers, the hosting community,
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and scientific data processing, as a few examples.
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We work with several upstream communities to help them layer and distribute
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their software more effectively on a platform they can rely on.
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## CentOS Stream
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CentOS Stream is an open source Enterprise Linux distribution that tracks
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just ahead of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).
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CentOS Stream is derived from Fedora Linux. It has a new major version
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release every three years, and each release is maintained for five years.
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CentOS Stream development is open to all, but because CentOS Stream only
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has updates intended for RHEL, it is maintained by the RHEL team.
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[Learn how to contribute](/contribute).
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CentOS Stream can serve as a production operating system, a development
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environment, or a preview of the next minor RHEL release.
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It also serves as a foundation for the work from our Special Interest Groups (SIGs).
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## CentOS Special Interest Groups
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The CentOS Project is home to a number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs).
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SIGs are involved in the project in a number of ways.
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* Produce variant editions and alternative images of CentOS.
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* Develop and package software to be run on top of CentOS.
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* Support the CentOS project with non-technical activities.
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[See all Special Interest Groups](/sigs).
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## The CentOS Board
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The CentOS Governing Board is made up of members of the CentOS Project, many of
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whom have been around since the creation of the Project, as well as new members
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from Red Hat who were instrumental in bringing the new relationship together.
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The focus of the Governing Board is to curate the CentOS Project, assist and
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guide in the progress and development of the various SIGs, as well as to
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promote CentOS Linux. For more information read the [governance
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page](/about/governance).
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