Rocky and Alma Linux Continue to Thrive; RHEL Introduces AI Assistant

Rocky Linux 10 ‘Red Quartz’ has reached general availability, marking a significant milestone for the open-source operating system. The release includes support for RISC-V processors, positioning Rocky Linux at the forefront of modern computing architectures. However, this version also drops support for older Raspberry Pi 3 and Zero models, narrowing its hardware compatibility. In comparison, AlmaLinux 10 continues to support a broader range of legacy hardware, including CPUs from as far back as 2008, which broadens its appeal to users with older systems. This strategy highlights AlmaLinux’s commitment to backward compatibility, a stark contrast to Rocky Linux’s focus on modernization. RHEL 10 introduces an AI assistant named Red Hat Enterprise Linux Lightspeed, which allows users to interact with the system through shell prompts. This feature is designed to enhance user experience by simplifying tasks that would traditionally require manual searches in man pages. The absence of similar AI features in AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux underscores RHEL’s strategic emphasis on innovation in user interface and assistant technologies. The differences in system requirements and feature sets among these Linux distributions reflect their distinct approaches to market demands and user preferences, with RHEL leading in AI integration while AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux prioritize hardware compatibility and legacy support.