Is EPEL “upstream” or “an official package repository” (like Fedora Extras was)?
EPEL is just one of several add on repositories with RPM packages for RHEL and derivates. It is not an official repository. The different repositories serve different users bases or follow different ideas. Just like RHEL itself, EPEL in reality is more a “downstream” in the sense that Fedora is upstream and EPEL just like Red Hat takes packages for its product that are constantly developed, tested and received feedback in Fedora. Red Hat through their sponsorship for the Fedora project and participation of Red Hat maintainers continues to back EPEL, but Red Hat has not endorsed EPEL or commercially supported it. The EPEL maintainers are further well aware that EPEL can’t serve all needs and that other repositories are likely needed for kinds of software the Fedora project won’t provide which currently includes packages for EPEL with a rolling release model or non-free and patent encumbered software.
