AlmaLinux OS shifts focus from RHEL compatibility to ABI compatibility amid Red Hat's source code restrictions

AlmaLinux OS has announced a shift in its development focus from 1:1 compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) to Application Binary Interface (ABI) compatibility. The goal of this change is to enable any software compatible with RHEL to function on AlmaLinux OS.

Existing users will not be impacted by this change, as they will still be able to run RHEL-compatible applications and receive regular security updates. The transition to ABI compatibility will also enable AlmaLinux OS to independently roll out bug fixes outside of RHEL's release cycle and accept patches for unresolved bugs.

This strategic shift was triggered by Red Hat's decision to restrict its source code behind a subscription wall. AlmaLinux OS is one of the first distributions to make this significant change, following SUSE's recent decision to fork RHEL into a new distribution. Rocky Linux, another RHEL fork, has also revealed its future plans. The changes are currently underway, with implementation expected in the upcoming months. For more details, refer to the AlmaLinux OS announcement.