Editing CentOS (section)

== {{Anchor|REPOS}}Repositories ==
There are three primary CentOS [[software repository|repositories]] (also known as channels), containing [[package (package management system)|software packages]] that make up the main CentOS distribution:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.centos.org/docs/5/html/yum/sn-software-management-concepts.html#sn-about-repositories |title=Software Management Concepts: About Repositories (CentOS 5 manual) |date=24 November 2005 |website=centos.org |access-date=16 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117184551/http://www.centos.org/docs/5/html/yum/sn-software-management-concepts.html#sn-about-repositories |archive-date=17 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* <code>base</code> : contains packages that form CentOS point releases, and gets updated when the actual point release is formally made available in form of ISO images.
* <code>updates</code> : contains packages that serve as security, bugfix or enhancement updates, issued between the regular update sets for point releases. Bugfix and enhancement updates released this way are only those unsuitable to be released through the <code>CentOS-Fasttrack</code> repository described below.<ref name="centos-fasttrack">{{Cite web |url=http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos/2006-April/020826.html |title=[CentOS] CentOS FastTrack repository |last=Johnny Hughes |date=6 April 2006 |website=lists.centos.org |access-date=8 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="redhat-fastrack">{{Cite web |url=https://www.redhat.com/archives/nahant-list/2006-April/msg00003.html |title=Re: Fastrack channels? |last=Jay Turner |date=3 April 2006 |website=redhat.com |access-date=16 December 2014 |archive-date=20 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820165132/https://www.redhat.com/archives/nahant-list/2006-April/msg00003.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* <code>addons</code> : provides packages required for building the packages that make up the main CentOS distribution, but are not provided by the upstream.{{Efn|This repository does not exist from CentOS&nbsp;6.}}

The CentOS Project provides several additional repositories that contain software packages not provided by the default <code>base</code> and <code>updates</code> repositories. Those repositories include the following:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/Repositories |title=Available Repositories for CentOS |website=centos.org |access-date=8 October 2013}}</ref>
* <code>CentOS Extras</code> : contains packages that provide additional functionality to CentOS without breaking its upstream compatibility or updating the base components.
* <code>CentOSPlus</code> : contains packages that actually upgrade certain base CentOS components, changing CentOS so that it is not exactly like the upstream provider's content.
* <code>CentOS-Testing</code> : serves as a proving ground for packages on their way to <code>CentOSPlus</code> and <code>CentOS Extras</code>. Offered packages may or may not replace core CentOS packages, and are not guaranteed to work properly.
* <code>CentOS-Fasttrack</code> : contains bugfix and enhancement updates issued from time to time, between the regular update sets for point releases. The packages released this way serve as close candidates for the inclusion into the next point release. This repository does not provide security updates, and does not contain packages unsuitable for uncertain inclusion into point releases.<ref name="centos-fasttrack" /><ref name="redhat-fastrack" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.redhat.com/rhn/rhndetails/fastrack/ |title=Red Hat Network (RHN) FasTrack |publisher=[[Red Hat]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103063411/http://www.redhat.com/rhn/rhndetails/fastrack/ |archive-date=3 January 2015 |access-date=16 December 2014 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* <code>CR</code> (Continuous Release) : makes generally available packages that will appear in the next point release of CentOS. The packages are made available on a testing and hotfix basis, until the actual point release is formally released in form of ISO images.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/Repositories/CR |title=The Continuous Release (CR) Repository |website=centos.org |access-date=8 October 2013 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101004151/https://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/Repositories/CR |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* <code>debuginfo</code> : Contains packages with debugging symbols generated when the primary packages were built.
* <code>contrib</code> : Contains packages contributed by CentOS users that do not overlap with any of the core distribution packages.
* <code>Software Collections</code> : Provides versions of software newer than those provided by the base distribution, see [[#SCL|above]] for more details.