Understanding open source
Open source is a series of principles, processes, people, and technologies that makes information publicly accessible—so anyone can see, modify, and distribute the information as they see fit.
What is open source?
Open source generally refers to a type of software released through a specific kind of license that makes its source code legally available to end-users.
But, open source can also be used to describe groups of people, processes, and principles that enable the free flow of information across systems and cultures.
Explore open source communities
Read more about specific open source topics
Open source
Code that can been seen, modified, and distributed by anyone.
Open source software
Software with source code legally available to end-users.
Open source software in vehicles
Comparing development methodologies in transportation.
InstructLab
An open source project for large language models (LLMs).
CentOS Stream
A Linux distribution between Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
CentOS
CentOS can refer to CentOS Stream or CentOS Linux.
CentOS replacements
Comparing distributions related to CentOS Linux.
Linux distros
Comparing enterprise and community Linux types.
KVM
An open source virtualization technology.
Podman
An open source tool to develop, manage, and run containers.
Podman Desktop
An open source container tool for local developer environments.
Skopeo
A container image tool for Linux, Windows, and MacOS systems.
Buildah
Build containers compatable with the Open Container Initiative.
KubeLinter
An open source Kubernetes validation tool focused on security.
Kogito
Build cloud-native applications for complex business processes.
Knative
An open source community project for serverless applications.
Apache Kafka
A real-time distributed data streaming platform.
Apache Kafka on Kubernetes
Combining 2 open source projects for serverless functions.
Argo CD
A declarative continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes.
Clair
An open source tool to monitor container security.
Clair
An open source tool to monitor container security.
Cloud Foundry
A Platform-as-a-Service to build containerized applications.
Docker
Containerization technology to create and use Linux containers.
etcd
An open source, distributed, consistent key-value store.
Grafana
An open source interactive data-visualization platform.
Helm
A Kubernetes package manager.
Helm on Red Hat OpenShift
Automate Red Hat OpenShift deployments that complement Kubernetes Operators.
Istio
An open source service mesh to share data across microservices.
Jaeger
Distributed tracing software for microservices.
MicroShift
An edge-focused, lightweight container orchestration tool.
RKT
An application container engine for cloud-native environments.
Quarkus
Develop and run Kubernetes-native Java applications across hybrid clouds.
Spring
Develop and run Kubernetes-native Spring and Spring Boot applications.
CoreOS
Founded in 2013, acquired by Red Hat in 2018, and retired in 2020.
Ansible vs. Chef
Comparing open source automation tools.
Ansible vs. Puppet
Comparing open source automation tools.
Ansible vs. Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
Explaining the differences between the project and product.
Ansible vs. Salt
Comparing open source automation tools.
Ansible vs. Terraform
Comparing open source automation tools.
Ansible, Terraform, Puppet, Chef, and Salt
Comparing open source automation tools.
OpenJDK vs. Oracle JDK
An open source distribution of Java Platform, Standard Edition.
Red Hat OpenShift vs. OKD
OKD is the upstream project of Red Hat OpenShift.
Videos and podcasts
Command Line Heroes: Days of Future_Open
Command Line Heroes: Ready to Commit
Command Line Heroes: Open Source Hardware
Code Comments: Aligning With Open Source Principles
Resources
Open source AI platforms in the enterprise
See why open source platforms should be the preferred choice of enterprises.
Value of Red Hat solutions versus non-paid alternatives
Understand the potential benefits of using Red Hat solutions instead of non-paid open source alternatives.
The State of Enterprise Open Source: A Red Hat report
The state of tested and supported open-source software tailored for businesses.
Success stories
WHO builds open source learning platform
WHO created a sustainable open source development infrastructure to support development of a platform for its new training center.
Massachusetts Open Cloud uses open source storage
MOC’s new storage solution reduced IT costs by using a cost-effective, open source platform and industry-standard hardware.
FIWARE creates open source smart city platform
FIWARE builds an improved open source, eco-smart city platform that cities of any size, around the world, can implement.