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| title: About CentOS |
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| The CentOS Project is a community-driven free software effort focused around |
| providing a rich base platform for open source communities to build upon. |
| We provide a development framework for cloud providers, the hosting community, |
| scientific data processing, and many more. |
| We work with several upstream communities to help them layer and distribute |
| their software more effectively on a platform they can rely on. |
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| CentOS Stream defines Enterprise Linux. |
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| CentOS Stream is derived from Fedora Linux. |
| It has a new major version release every three years, |
| and each release is maintained for five years, matching the |
| [full support phase](https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata) |
| of RHEL. |
| CentOS Stream development is open to all, but because CentOS Stream only |
| has updates intended for RHEL, it is maintained by the RHEL team. |
| [Learn how to contribute](/contribute). |
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| CentOS Stream can serve as a production operating system, a development |
| environment, or a preview of the next minor RHEL release. |
| It also serves as a foundation for the work from our Special Interest Groups (SIGs). |
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| The CentOS Project is home to a number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs). |
| SIGs are involved in the project in a number of ways. |
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| * Produce variant editions and alternative images of CentOS. |
| * Develop and package software to be run on top of CentOS. |
| * Support the CentOS project with non-technical activities. |
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| [See all Special Interest Groups](/sigs). |
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| 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 Stream. For more information read |
| the [governance page](/about/governance). |