Sunday, June 3rd 2018

Microsoft Acquires GitHub?

Jun 3rd, 2018 18:15 Discuss (62 Comments)

In a move that could significantly shake up the software industry, reports are emerging that Microsoft may have acquired GitHub, and that an announcement to that effect could be made on Monday (4th June). A 2015 valuation of GitHub put it at USD $2 billion, but it's not clear at what price Redmond struck this deal. GitHub had been struggling for the past few quarters and hadn't appointed a full-time CEO since the departure of Chris Wanstrath in August 2017.

This deal could have sweeping ramifications on the software industry because proprietary software companies use GitHub for private repositories of software source-code, so their developer teams spread across the globe could collaborate (they now have to content with Microsoft owning GitHub); and for ideologically-charged free software (and OSS) developers to continue to run their projects on GitHub. Microsoft has been a top contributor on GitHub, with over 1,000 employees pushing code to public and non-public projects on the platform.

Sources: BusinessInsider, The Verge

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62 Comments on Microsoft Acquires GitHub?

#26

Frick

Fishfaced Nincompoop

ZeppMan217Blatant lies and apologism! Is your memory so short that you've already forgotten about Windows S, that only allows access to Microsoft Store? Have you forgotten about the general push for sanitation and lock up of the environment, a la Apple? This isn't consolidation, it's strangulation!

Did you forget a /sarcasm tag there? Windows S is dead and its functions will be baked in as an "S-mode" in normal Windows 10. And frankly Windows S wasn't a terrible idea; it's just that the app store is limited.

#27

CrAsHnBuRnXp

EasoOr just maybe there is no reason to panic yet?

:roll: sorry I had to. I dont really care one way or the other though.

#28

Easo

This thread was entirely predictable.

R-T-BThat's not an option for competitors to Microsoft with private repositories at github, of which there are quite a lot.

My little bits of code are all open source so my only objection is that everything Microsoft touches loses it's soul (see Minecraft as a prime example).

Why it isn't an option? What, you think that MS will delete their/your repos? Ask you to pay for them? Steal trade secrets from them?

#29

AltCapwn

Could be implemented with Office 365 which is nice for an enterprise using that solution already.

If they keep GitHub opensource, and do a copy and sell a modified and upgraded one, I wouldn't say no.

CrAsHnBuRnXp

:roll: sorry I had to. I dont really care one way or the other though.

Just perfect <3

#30

R-T-B

EasoWhy it isn't an option? What, you think that MS will delete their/your repos? Ask you to pay for them? Steal trade secrets from them?

No, but if I had to bet my fortune and livlihood on the behavior of a competitor, I would certainly worry.

#31

AltCapwn

R-T-BNo, but if I had to bet my fortune and livlihood on the behavior of a competitor, I would certainly worry.

Hmmm said like that... you're right.

But they can integrate a way to encrypt the info (like MEGA, they can't access your uploaded files) so they can't access them. Else, it gonna blow and everyone will run and cry in fear in chaos.

#32

R-T-B

altcapwnHmmm said like that... you're right.

But they can integrate a way to encrypt the info (like MEGA, they can't access your uploaded files) so they can't access them. Else, it gonna blow and everyone will run and cry in fear in chaos.

Good point.

#33

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder

RejZoRI'm just wondering what's in for the Microsoft? They aren't buying it out of good will...

It's right in the article. Microsoft is one of the biggest user of Github and no matter what people want to think Github has been struggling, loosing money for quite a while now. So it makes sense for Microsoft to buy it, if only so they can continue to use it. But more likely they will integrate it into their ecosystem. Will this mean change for Github? Absolutely, but Github needed a change. It was no longer sustainable in its current form, it wasn't making any money, and if it can't make money it can't continue to live in its current form.

#34

StrayKAT

I don't get the MS hate at all. Not for the past 20 years or so.

#35

AltCapwn

StrayKATI don't get the MS hate at all. Not for the past 20 years or so.

People didn't forget some bad practises Microsoft has made in the past. They did some good shots, and they failed some (like everybody in life tho). Let's just hope Github won't be one of those bad shots :rolleyes:

#36

StrayKAT

altcapwnPeople didn't forget some bad practises Microsoft has made in the past. They did some good shots, and they failed some (like everybody in life tho). Let's just hope Github won't be one of those bad shots :rolleyes:

Well, in the big picture of things, they're pretty benign. IBM, for example, helped bolster the Nazis before WW2.. yet this is rarely mentioned. They even helped build the database (primitive/pre digital machines) that helped them catalogue the disabled and eventually the Jews. While AT&T also built the Nazi communications infrastructure. This goes without mentioned their decades long monopolistic practices. These two companies' bad reputation was definitely deserved.

And I've said this elsewhere, but MS isn't a bad game publisher either. They create a better environment for developers than the likes of EA or something.

#37

Easo

R-T-BNo, but if I had to bet my fortune and livlihood on the behavior of a competitor, I would certainly worry.

Worry about what? What basis there is for any of those points? Why would MS even spend 7 billion just to lose the client base? By the same logic you can acuse MS using Azure of stealing your dataz.
It's ridiculous.

#38

R-T-B

EasoWhat basis there is for any of those points?

Lots of money equals lots of worry, especially when in the hands of a competitor. You act like commercial sabotage has never happened in the history of man.

You can say "it's not logical!" till the cows come home. It's still on their minds.

Frickit's just that the app store is limited.

Which is why all app stores need to allow third party installs as an option. In Microsoft's ideal world, that wouldn't be so.

StrayKATI don't get the MS hate at all. Not for the past 20 years or so.

People have long memories (plus some recent bad ones in MS's case).

RIP OS/2.

#39

AltCapwn

StrayKATWell, in the big picture of things, they're pretty benign. IBM, for example, helped bolster the Nazis before WW2.. yet this is rarely mentioned. They even helped build the database (primitive/pre digital machines) that helped them catalogue the disabled and eventually the Jews. While AT&T also built the Nazi communications infrastructure. This goes without mentioned their decades long monopolistic practices. These two companies' bad reputation was definitely deserved.

And I've said this elsewhere, but MS isn't a bad game publisher either. They create a better environment for developers than the likes of EA or something.

You're right at 100%. It's kind of sad for the studio they owned previously but they seem back to it former glory with remakes of AOE and even a new AOE (W000T!!). But overall, it's a business and they need to make money.They did some mistakes like put some ads in Windows 10 for Home users, things like that (it's not like helping nazis tho...). I think people are just afraid that they begin to capitalize everywhere and abuse their OS monopoly. They're kind of gentle for a company who has 80% of the market share for PC OS (www.makeuseof.com/tag/linux-market-share/). They could be a lot more mean.

#40

R-T-B

StrayKATIBM, for example, helped bolster the Nazis before WW2.. yet this is rarely mentioned.

So did Walt Disney. Long story short, the Nazis fooled a lot of people by playing up popular racial propaganda of the era.

At least IBM eventually converted many of their plants into gun manufacturing plants to make guns for shooting Nazis, when told to. That helps their case a bit.

#41

kruk

Let's just hope GitHub won't become another SourceForge ...

For those that don't know: SourceForge was one of the first to offer free of charge hosting/version control for open source projects. In 2013 they began bundling adware with the downloads and when the devs left for alternatives, SourceForge hijacked the unmaintained projects and bundled them with malware [source]

#42

R-T-B

krukLet's just hope GitHub won't become another SourceForge ...

For those that don't know: SourceForge was one of the first to offer free of charge hosting/version control for open source projects. In 2013 they began bundling adware with the downloads and when the devs left for alternatives, SourceForge hijacked the unmaintained projects and bundled them with malware [source]

Sourceforge has turned over a new leaf since then as part of a buyout, but yeah, may be too late for them as their name is forever tarnished. Let that be a warning to MS about messing with a good thing.

Sudden thought: This would be a great moment for google code to do a relaunch...

altcapwnIf they keep GitHub opensource

Git still is open source, and MS can't do anything about that.

Github really isn't.

#43

remixedcat

lexluthermiesterThis is a disaster! WTH was Github thinking?

some shady smarmy saleswoman with big tits and a big breifcase full of cash got the neckbeards wetting themselves. they saw dollar signs and tits

#44

AltCapwn

remixedcatsome shady smarmy saleswoman with big tits and a big breifcase full of cash got the neckbeards wetting themselves. they saw dollar signs and tits

7 billions dude. He wouldn't have kept GitHub just to be cool with the users.

#45

Easo

R-T-BLots of money equals lots of worry, especially when in the hands of a competitor. You act like commercial sabotage has never happened in the history of man.

You can say "it's not logical!" till the cows come home. It's still on their minds.

Fine, paranoia then. Once more - Azure. It is way bigger than GitHub. Well, why people are not accusing MS of stealing data from here? From Office 365? Because that's insanity.
The only argument here is that "Microsoft is evil" and nothing else. Which... is not an argument at all.

#46

R-T-B

EasoThe only argument here is that "Microsoft is evil" and nothing else. Which... is not an argument at all.

No, not at all. The only arguement I am making is "don't trust your competitor" is believed strongly in the business world. Are you seriously going to try to argue otherwise? Do you seriously believe say Apple or Redhat use Azure? Do you think this is not on the news desks of Software CEOs around the world? Ask yourself why that is.

Please don't try to degrade this into a brand-driven fanboy debate. It's not, and I'm not going there.

#47

Easo

R-T-BNo, not at all. The only arguement I am making is "don't trust your competitor" is believed strongly in the business world. Are you seriously going to try to argue otherwise? Do you seriously believe say Apple or Redhat use Azure? Do you think this is not on the news desks of Software CEOs around the world? Ask yourself why that is.

Please don't try to degrade this into a brand-driven fanboy debate. It's not, and I'm not going there.

There are other companies besides Apple (just open this and see the first results www.apple.com/shop/accessories/all-accessories/software ) and Redhat. O365 runs on Azure. Azure, IIRC, itself is second biggest cloud provider in the world. Of course it runs stuff which hosts some competitors stuff. Sheer scale of it would make it hard to believe it doesn't.
Microsoft could theoretically look up every machine there, sniff all network traffic, intercept every email sent. But... has there been any reason to believe they do so? Any at all?
I fail to see the same accusations about AWS and Google.
Do you even understand that MS would get cut up in pieces by USA goverment agencies the moment news about something like that got out? It's stock would drop like crazy while people migrate over to AWS and Google. This is pure conspiracy theory speculation from your side.
Microsoft now is not the Microsoft 10 years ago. The FUD about this deal and MS is insane.

#48

lexluthermiester

AssimilatorNo. This is just another anti-Microsoft circle-jerk thread.

And for good reason. Microsoft has EARNED the level of loathing it gets from many with it's obnoxious, anti-consumer, anti-fair-trade and in some instances, unlawful actions.

AssimilatorBut if you think they'd be willing to pay top dollar for it just to run it into the ground, because, I dunno... arbitrary evil... yeah, no, take off your tinfoil hat.

Simple actually, something they've done before. Spend a bunch of money to buy it and and run it into the ground so they can save a lot more in the long run eliminating one less competitor to spend money against.

EasoThe only argument here is that "Microsoft is evil" and nothing else.

Microsoft is evil. They do not care about their clients/customers, and have proven so with their business model. They care only about money and control.

EasoWhich... is not an argument at all.

Sure it is.

R-T-BGit still is open source, and MS can't do anything about that.

True. And all the community has to do is exactly what the communities of LibreOffice and LineageOS did when OpenOffice and CyanogenMod(respectively) tried to lock out the open aspects of there respective software, go completely independent and community owned/driven.

#49

R-T-B

EasoThe FUD about this deal and MS is insane.

No, your FUD is getting rather old though.

Again, I am only stating that competitors do not like being on competitors servers. Some may not care, but many do (several of them on github), and like it or not, many of those clients will be concerned about this.

I am NOT stating that MS is going to snoop on customers source code or data. Frankly, I doubt that heavily and would be very shocked were that to happen.

But it is a concern of competition, I assure you, rational or not. In business it often pays to "plan for the worst and hope for best."

Anything more is being claimed by you, not me, or anyone else here. Quit the panic, there is no fire.

#50

lexluthermiester

R-T-BI am NOT stating that MS is going to snoop on customers source code or data. Frankly, I doubt that heavily and would be very shocked were that to happen.

I would not. In fact I'd be shocked if that didn't happen. They've done it before. No doubt they'll do it again.

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Microsoft Acquires GitHub?

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