nixCraft 🐧Jun 21, 2023
Wow. Red Hat cutting back RHEL source availability: CentOS Stream will now be the sole repository for public RHEL-related source code releases. For Red Hat customers and partners, source code will remain available via the Red Hat Customer Portal. https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/furthering-evolution-centos-stream What do you think? #linux #opensource
Furthering the evolution of CentOS Stream

As the CentOS Stream community grows and the enterprise software world tackles new dynamics, we want to sharpen our focus on CentOS Stream as the backbone of enterprise Linux innovation. We are continuing our investment in and increasing our commitment to CentOS Stream. CentOS Stream will now be the sole repository for public RHEL-related source code releases.

Show threadChou pas gothJun 21, 2023
@nixCraft I don't get it. If it's still free software, what prevents any customer to publish the source code at each release?
Show threadKevin P. Fleming
@jenesuispasgoth @nixCraft It's a violation of the terms of their support contracts.
Jun 21, 2023 at 5:03pmWeb
Show threadChou pas gothJun 21, 2023

@kevin @nixCraft but aren't these terms also in contradiction with the GPL (let's say not BSD-like licenses for the sake of argument)?

IANAL obviously.

Show threadKevin P. FlemingJun 21, 2023
@jenesuispasgoth @nixCraft No. The GPL terms do not have any bearing on support contracts.
Show threadChou pas gothJun 21, 2023
@kevin @nixCraft yes, I was too hasty in my answer. :)
Show threadChou pas gothJun 21, 2023

@kevin @nixCraft mmmh I tooted too fast. Looks like a "warranty voiding" situation : sure, I can open the blu-ray drive, but then since I may have tampered with the laser etc., the vendor won't fix it if I break the seal.

Although this analogy has limits: in the case of RHEL source code, nothing has been altered (supposedly).

Show threadKevin P. FlemingJun 21, 2023

@jenesuispasgoth @nixCraft The GPL, like nearly all open source software licenses, disclaims all warranty and support obligations. The publisher of the software is obligated only to provide the complete corresponding source code. Anything they do beyond that is under terms outside of the GPL.

It may be surprising to some people, but this arrangement is not a violation of any terms of the relevant software licenses.