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AWS uses Linux and open source in three distinct ways: it maintains Linux distributions and developer tools, contributes to community projects, and offers cloud infrastructure and managed services where customers can run open source software. Amazon Linux is a general-purpose distribution for cloud applications; Bottlerocket is designed for container hosts. Using open source in an AWS service is not the same as making that service open source or contributing code upstream.
How AWS participates in open source
AWS describes its work as a mix of contributions to external projects, AWS-led software, support for the open source ecosystem, and services that use or host open source technology. Those activities are related, but they are not interchangeable.
Contributions to community projects
AWS identifies work in projects including Apache Airflow, Apache Cassandra, Apache Flink, Apache Hudi, Apache Kafka, Apache Lucene, containerd, Kubernetes, OpenJDK, OpenTelemetry, PostgreSQL, Project Jupyter, Rust, and Valkey. The list indicates areas AWS says it contributes to; it does not measure the scale of its work or independently establish the health of each relationship. AWS’s overview is at Open Source at AWS.
Software developed or maintained by AWS
AWS also lists projects it leads or maintains, including the AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK), AWS Distro for OpenTelemetry, Lambda runtimes and event libraries, and Babelfish for PostgreSQL. These are different from AWS contributions to independently governed upstream projects: project ownership, governance, and the route by which code is developed vary.
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Cloud services that use or host open source
AWS says a majority of Amazon services are powered by open source and cites S3 and EC2 as examples. It also says customers can run open source workloads on EC2 or use managed services such as EKS, RDS, and MSK. This describes AWS’s use of open source and the workloads it enables; it does not mean every AWS service or component is open source. A managed service may operate software based on an open source project while AWS manages the underlying service for customers.
Amazon Linux: AWS’s general cloud distribution
Amazon Linux is an AWS-maintained Linux distribution intended for applications in AWS cloud environments. Amazon Linux 2023 (AL2023) reached general availability on March 15, 2023. AWS described it as security-oriented, with versioned repositories and deterministic control over updates. AWS’s announcement also says AL2023 is open source and that source RPMs for shipped packages are available through its SRPM repository: Amazon Linux 2023, a Cloud-Optimized Linux Distribution with Long-Term Support.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
AL2023 lifecycle policy as announced
The 2023 announcement set out a policy of major releases expected every two years, with five years of support per major release: two years of standard support followed by three years of maintenance. It also described quarterly release updates and security updates as available. Those are the terms published in that announcement, not a substitute for checking the current lifecycle dates and policy before planning a migration. Consult AWS’s current Amazon Linux 2023 lifecycle documentation for release-specific dates.
What is established about AL2027
The Amazon Linux 2027 project repository describes AL2027 as the next generation of Amazon Linux, based on Fedora upstream and optimized for EC2. It lists x86_64 and aarch64 support, says the distribution is available at no additional charge, and describes quarterly updates. The repository points to separate release and support documentation; do not assume AL2023’s support duration or lifecycle dates apply to AL2027. Check the project’s current information before choosing it: Amazon Linux 2027 repository.
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Rank #3
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- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Bottlerocket: Linux for container hosts
Bottlerocket serves a narrower role than Amazon Linux. AWS describes it as an open source, Linux-based operating system purpose-built for container workloads, with a security emphasis. It is intended for the machines that host containers, rather than as a general-purpose distribution for all cloud applications. The description appears in AWS’s Linux-tagged blog index; consult current Bottlerocket documentation for supported platforms, update behavior, and support details rather than relying on older blog descriptions: AWS Open Source Blog: Linux.
Choosing between Amazon Linux and Bottlerocket
These distributions target different operational needs, so there is no universal winner. The comparison below reflects the descriptions available for each project; details such as release status and support windows should be verified in their current documentation.
Rank #4
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- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
| Consideration | Amazon Linux | Bottlerocket |
|---|---|---|
| Primary role | General cloud application distribution; AL2027 is described as optimized for EC2. | Linux-based operating system purpose-built for container hosts. |
| Update approach | AL2023 was announced with versioned repositories, deterministic update control, quarterly release updates, and security updates as available. AL2027’s repository describes quarterly updates; consult its separate release documentation. | Specific current update behavior is not stated in the cited AWS blog index; check current Bottlerocket documentation. |
| Architecture | AL2027’s repository lists x86_64 and aarch64; this should not be treated as a claim about every Amazon Linux release. | Not stated in the cited AWS blog index. |
| Support window | AL2023’s announcement described five years per major release, split into two years standard support and three years maintenance. Verify the current lifecycle page; no AL2027 support window is established by its repository description. | Not stated in the cited AWS blog index. |
| Best-fit question | Do you need a general cloud OS for application workloads and controlled package updates? | Are you selecting an OS specifically for container-host workloads? |
For a deployment decision, check workload compatibility, required architecture, lifecycle and support commitments, update controls, security requirements, and operational tooling. Also consider portability: a distribution optimized for AWS or EC2 may suit an AWS deployment, while a workload expected to move among environments may need a broader compatibility assessment.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How AWS says it supports open source projects
AWS reports support through code contributions, relationships with foundations, cloud credits, and project funding. These are company-reported activities and figures; the cited announcements do not provide an independently audited comparison of AWS’s contribution volume against other providers.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Cloud credits for projects
In a March 31, 2025 post, AWS said it had provided promotional credits to more than 200 open source projects since its credits program launched in 2019. Credits provide cloud usage, not cash grants, and the figure does not establish that every project can qualify under current program rules. See AWS Cloud Credits for Open Source Projects: Affirming Our Commitment.
That post reproduces a statement from Jeffrey Sica, CNCF Head of Projects: “Cloud Credit donations from major providers is essential for Kubernetes’ sustainability. AWS’s continued support has helped scale testing, improve performance, and streamline workflows, reducing bottlenecks and operational overhead.” This is a beneficiary’s assessment as quoted by AWS, not an independent measurement of AWS’s overall impact.
Funding for Kubernetes and open source security
AWS said in 2025 that it was making a $3 million annual commitment to support Kubernetes, the project underlying Amazon EKS. In a separate announcement dated March 17, 2026, AWS said it joined Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI in a $12.5 million investment in open source security work, with AWS contributing $2.5 million of that total. These are figures and descriptions reported by AWS, not independent audits. The security announcement is AWS and Others Invest $12.5M to Defend the Open Source Ecosystem from AI Threats.
What AWS’s open source activity means for customers
- Using open source: AWS may use open source components inside products or services. That alone does not make the whole service open source.
- Contributing upstream: AWS engineers may contribute to a community project. A project named in AWS’s contribution overview is not, on that basis alone, an AWS-owned project.
- Publishing AWS-led software: AWS offers open source tools and projects of its own, such as CDK and AWS Distro for OpenTelemetry.
- Running open source workloads: Customers can operate open source software on EC2 or use managed services such as EKS, RDS, and MSK, with different divisions of operational responsibility.
When evaluating a service or project, check its license, governance, maintenance status, and the boundary between customer-managed software and AWS-managed infrastructure. AWS’s broad participation is evidence of multiple kinds of engagement, not a guarantee that a particular project is community-led, portable, or suitable for every workload.
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