Microsoft Acquires GitHub?

[lexluthermiester]

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.

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.

 

[PowerPC]

And why wouldn't they? You think they are contributing all that effort for charity or something? No. They want linux to become dependent on them for it's very survival. When that day comes, they own it in everything but name...

... and it's completely free... you know, just details like that.

You cannot hurt something that is completely free and open to the world by making it better. That just doesn't make sense at all.

 

[R-T-B]

... and it's completely free... you know, just details like that.

"Free" can be monetized. Microsoft has actually demonstrated that quite recently.

 

[PowerPC]

"Free" can be monetized. Microsoft has actually demonstrated that quite recently.

How did they demonstrate that recently?

Don't even know what you mean by "free" in quotes here. Linux is literally free, as in free beer.

 

[R-T-B]

How did they demonstrate that recently?

Windows 10 "free" upgrade?

For another example of monetized "free" software, see Google.

Don't even know what you mean by "free" in quotes here. Linux is literally free, as in free beer.

And when it relies on "telemetry" laden Microsoft laden parts to be built?

No, that's not how it is now, but MS would love that. Github would also be an ideal place to start this.

I do not think mind you such an effort will be successful. I do think however it's on their minds.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Windows 10 "free" upgrade?

Ah, but the upgrade required a previous purchase of some sort, so not truly free as it had a requirement. If they'd given it away, willy-nilly, that would be different. But then you still have all the directed ads and spying on personal details to deal with which makes it very much not free, you're just paying a different kind of price. Linux is actually free. You don't have pay for most of the best versions, the linux community abores spying and anything that invades security and privacy. From that perspective, I very much have to side with @PowerPC on this point.

 

[R-T-B]

Ah, but the upgrade required a previous purchase of some sort, so not truly free as it had a requirement.

Excellent point, hadn't thought about it that way.

Worth noting, I am speaking largely theoretically. As I said, I don't honestly see any of this happening.

 

[PowerPC]

And when it relies on "telemetry" laden Microsoft laden parts to be built?

You can't just sneak in spyware into open source software. That's literally the whole point of open source. And why would the Linux guys let Microsoft all of a sudden do that? Github has nothing to do with any of this.

 

[R-T-B]

You can't just sneak in spyware into open source software.

You don't have to sneak it. Everyone can know and it often doesn't matter.

And why would the Linux guys let Microsoft all of a sudden do that?

They have before. Android? Not microsoft, but same concept, and linux kernel to the core.

Github has nothing to do with any of this.

No, the world's biggest open source repository has nothing to do with a project like Android, they could never use code that way at microsoft, etc...

 

[PowerPC]

They have before. Android? Not microsoft, but same concept, and linux kernel to the core.

What does Android has to do with Linux besides using the kernel? You can literally take any code from Linux and use it for anything, even hacking governments. What do the ethics of Android or Google have to do with Linux?

No, the world's biggest open source repository has nothing to do with a project like Android, they could never use code that way at microsoft, etc...

Github is literally all about sharing code, it's just a platform that hosts code. You can't prevent people from using the code anyway they want. Do you think Microsoft will kill that idea after they just invested $7.5 billion into it? Even if they did, what is preventing Linux to go to exact clones of Github like Bitbucket or GitLab? Microsoft bought Github to invest into open source and push their developer tools, not block open source. They know they cannot fight it in the long run. Might as well own it and make Windows open while they're at it. All they are doing is fighting for minds at this point and changing their business model to probably mimic Google's Android to get some of that same success. Doesn't mean they won't collect your data (they definitely still will), but that at least makes them safe from the open source competition taking their market share away anymore. That's all they care about at this point. And to sell Surface tablets, of course... This is all just a big stunt to sell more hardware in the end. (Don't forget Microsoft already tried the Apple closed model with Windows Phone and we all know how that turned out.)

 

[Fluffmeister]

All we know for sure is free open source certainly pays the bills (well not for the suckers that submit the free code, but you get the idea).

https://www.techspot.com/news/74950-microsoft-turns-github-founders-billionaires.html

 

[R-T-B]

What does Android has to do with Linux besides using the kernel?

The kernel is the definition of what defines "Linux." Everything else is literally a separate project.

 

[PowerPC]

The kernel is the definition of what defines "Linux." Everything else is literally a separate project.

I refer to GNU/Linux as Linux, but it doesn't matter for my point. You claimed Android somehow influenced Linux in a negative way, which isn't true. If anything, Linux is the one which influences the projects based on it. Anyway, being open source still has nothing to do with Github. They could host their code in a public Google Doc, if they wanted, and it wouldn't change anything.