Ep02: "The Open Source debate part2 " (Community strikes back ✊🏻)

👨🏽‍🚀 Welcome to Episode 02 of "Tech Beats unplugged" After part 1 where we covered the Fundamentals of Linux  distributions ,The RHEL DownStream/UpStream story ,who were the Freeloaders, Redhat's shenanigans behind the whole Open Source drama.

This time , we'll explore how,  the open source community, and rebuilders are coping with Redhat's decision to close their source.. And what it means for the future of enterprise Linux? 

To help us close this final part of this Open Source debate , we brought back our guest is Erik Benner, the VP of Enterprise Transformation at Mythics to explain how the community and the rebuilders are fighting back this hostile Era to ensure the continuity and freedom of the enterprise linux ecosystem for all its users .

Topics discussed:

1. (00:00) Introduction
2. (1:32) What are Rebuilders Workarounds
• Rocky's Use of UBI or per per use Cloud instances
• Alma Linux Use of Binary-compatible (ABI)
• Is amazon linux really a EL distro?
• Can RedHat block CIQ (Rocky) from accessing UBI
3. (11:20) Hot take:Is Oracle the new Batman of Open source linux🦸‍♂️ ?
4. (15:25) What's so special about UEK and what makes it a serious RHEL contender distro of the future?
• Is it compatible with RHEL, how different is it ?
• Unique features of Oracle's Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK) .
• Is amazon linux really a EL distro?
• Can RedHat block CIQ (Rocky) from accessing UBI
5. (33:52) Should I sell my kidney for Oracle Linux support?
• How does Oracle support compare with RedHat's
• What do I get for my money in terms of offering?
• License Cost compare for servers/ansible tower/etc
6. (42:53) Candid Predictions for the Future of EL
• Discuss the potential direction of community in response to these changes.
• Justice league: Rocky, Oracle Linux, Alma, Suse & others.
7. (50:25) Erik's Key advice to junior folks interested to join the FORCE of Linux

Show Notes

Although OPEN LA announcements we're already known by the public we decided to keep the chronology of events in our talk because it was recorded 2 days after it happened.

Links:

• Alma going a different route than full parity(Application binary Interface compatible)
• Rocky linux will keep providing bug-for-bug rebuilds
• AlmaLinux "Red Hat source changes won’t kill our RHEL-compatible distro
• Comparing Amazon Linux 2 and AL2023
• Erik's blog ⁠⁠centos-and-the-bomb-that-ibm-red-hat-dropped⁠⁠

Open Enterprise Linux Association (OELA):

• CIQ, Oracle and SUSE Create Open Enterprise Linux Association for a Collaborative and Open Future
• "No subscriptions. No passwords. No barriers. Freeloaders welcome 😘🤟🏻"