Rocky Linux community survey 2026 -- results and what comes next

A few weeks ago we put out a short survey asking contributors past and present to tell us where things stand. We kept it simple on purpose: fewer questions, more signal. Thirty people responded, and what they shared was candid, useful, and in some cases, a little uncomfortable. That's exactly what we needed.

Here's what the data says, along with what we're planning to do about it.

By the numbers

• 30 total responses
• 41% are currently contributing
• 31% are interested but not yet involved
• 53% of active contributors are working in testing / QA

Mattermost and the forums are the top two places people follow Rocky Linux news, each at 40%. When it comes to where people actually want to be reached, Mattermost leads again, followed by LinkedIn and Discord.

What's working

The testing team came up more than once in the open-ended responses, and always positively. The word "welcoming" appeared in direct reference to Stack and the team around openQA. That matters -- it's proof that the right culture can exist here, and that people notice when it does.

Several respondents said they genuinely love this community and want to see it grow. One person called it their favorite Linux community, full stop. That kind of attachment doesn't appear in communities people have given up on.

There's also real appetite for contribution: 31% of respondents aren't currently involved but want to be. That's a waiting room full of people ready to be invited in.

"Stack and the test team are very welcoming and encourage new ideas."

What needs work

The open-ended responses were direct, and they deserved to be taken seriously.

Time is the most common barrier to contributing, cited by 59% of respondents. That's partly just life, and no process change will fix it entirely. But several other barriers are squarely within our control.

Transparency came up repeatedly. People feel like decisions are made behind closed doors, that a small group controls the direction, and that the broader community finds out about changes after the fact rather than before. Board and team meeting minutes, shared decision-making, and space for input before decisions are finalized were specific, actionable asks.

Onboarding is another gap. Contributors want to help but don't always know where to start, or they pick something up only to find someone else already working on it without any coordination. A curated list of beginner-friendly issues, area-specific getting started guides, and better project management practices were all mentioned by multiple people.

The departure of some long-standing contributors was also noted, and the lack of any explanation around it has left people uneasy. We hear that.

"The community needs to feel that they are a part of this project and not just an afterthought."

Where you can help right now

Based on what we heard, here are the areas where fresh energy would make the biggest difference. If any of these resonate, jump into Mattermost and introduce yourself.

Documentation -- We need help building contributor-facing guides, especially for specific areas like testing, packaging, and infrastructure. If you're good at explaining things, this is your spot.

Testing / QA -- The test team is active, welcoming, and has room for more people. You don't need to know openQA going in. They'll help you learn.

Community coordination -- Someone needs to own the new contributor experience: curating good first issues, following up after pull requests, and making sure people don't fall through the cracks. If this sounds like you, let's talk.

AltArch SIG -- Quiet but active, with a solid backlog of work and a handful of longtime contributors. Looking for someone to help lead and provide direction. Willingness to learn matters more than existing expertise.

What happens next

We're treating this survey as the start of a conversation, not the end of one. The feedback about transparency and community voice is being taken directly to the people who can act on it. We'll be publishing meeting notes, opening up decision-making processes, and creating more structured ways for contributors to weigh in before decisions are made.

If you filled out this survey, thank you. If you didn't but want to get involved, the door is open. Find us on Mattermost and say hello.