title: About CentOS with_content_width: col col-lg-8
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, 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.
CentOS Stream is an open source Enterprise Linux distribution that tracks just ahead of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). 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. 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.
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).
The CentOS Project is home to a number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs). SIGs are involved in the project in a number of ways.
See all Special Interest Groups.
The CentOS Governing Board is made up of members of the CentOS Project, many of whom have been around since the creation of the Project, as well as new members from Red Hat who were instrumental in bringing the new relationship together. 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.