---
title: About CentOS
layout: aside
---

## The CentOS Project

The CentOS Project is a community-driven free software effort focused around
the goal of providing a rich base platform for open source communities to build
upon. We will provide a development framework for cloud providers, the hosting
community, and scientific data processing, as a few examples. We work with
several 'upstream' communities to help them layer and distribute their software
more effectively on a platform they can rely on.


### The Governing Board

The CentOS Governing Board is made up of members of the CentOS Project, some
whom have been around since the creation of the Project, as well as new members
from the community and Red Hat. The focus of the Governing Board is to curate 
the CentOS Project, assist and guide in the progress and development of the
various SIGs, as well as to promote CentOS Linux. For more information read
the [governance page](/about/governance).

### The Project Structure

The CentOS Project is modeled on the structure of the [Apache
Foundation](http://apache.org), with a governing board that oversees various
semi-autonomous [Special Interest Groups or
'SIGs'](http://wiki.centos.org/SpecialInterestGroup). These groups are focused
on providing various enhancements, addons, or replacements for core CentOS
Stream functionality. A few notable examples of SIGs are:

* [Core](http://wiki.centos.org/SpecialInterestGroup/Core) - Building and releasing the core CentOS Linux platform.
* [Cloud](http://sigs.centos.org/cloud) - Providing a home for Cloud related infrastructures
* [Hyperscale](http://sigs.centos.org/hyperscale) - Providing a home for Hyperscale innovation
* [Automotive](https://sigs.centos.org/automotive/) - Providing a home for CentOS-oriented automotive work