What is CentOS Stream?

CentOS Stream is a Linux® development platform where open source community members can contribute to Red Hat® Enterprise Linux in tandem with Red Hat developers. 

As part of Red Hat’s open source development model, Red Hat develops the Red Hat Enterprise Linux source code in CentOS Stream before releasing new Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions—making CentOS Stream a preview of future Red Hat Enterprise Linux releases.

CentOS Stream is an important part of the larger Red Hat Enterprise Linux source code development process:

• Fedora: The upstream project on which future Red Hat Enterprise Linux major releases are based. This is where significant operating system (OS) innovations are introduced.
• CentOS Stream: A preview of upcoming Red Hat Enterprise Linux minor and major releases. This is where various Red Hat ecosystem development partners and community members can add their contributions prior to being incorporated into Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux: The hardened and fully supported enterprise OS solution for production environments.

Why contribute to CentOS Stream?

Community contributors to CentOS Stream get early access to the same code Red Hat developers and engineers use to produce the next version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. 

• Hardware partners and application developers can test their solutions, checking that everything works as it should with the next release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
• Community members can contribute new features and patches that can improve the capabilities and security of the next Red Hat Enterprise Linux release.
• Users of CentOS Stream can share feedback without having to wait for the next Red Hat Enterprise Linux release.