Port 25: Microsoft and Open Source
Port 25: Communications from the open source lab @ Microsoft is a fascinating new initiative from the company. I’m not sure, but I think they’re starting to understand that open source is an opportunity (as well as a threat).
[tease]
Microsoft’s Open Source Software Lab is an ambitious research project. Located on the company’s main campus, the lab houses more than 300 servers, which collectively run more than 15 versions of UNIX and 50 Linux distributions. It boasts a team of senior-level programmers and system administrators, some of whom were architects of popular Linux distributions or authors of well-regarded books. In short, the lab is one of a few such facilities in the world dedicated to open source research.
The driving force behind the lab is Bill Hilf, General Manager of Platform Strategy at Microsoft. Hilf joined the company in 2004 after working at IBM, where he was instrumental in driving IBM’s Linux technical strategy for its emerging and competitive markets organization. Prior to his stint at IBM, Hilf was VP of Engineering at E-Toys, where he helped build the company’s e-commerce infrastructure.
When Hilf speaks about the lab and his involvement, the usual response he gets is, “At Microsoft? Why run Open Source in a mixed environment at Microsoft?” While theories abound—ranging from “Microsoft is working on its own Linux implementation” to “Microsoft is considering porting Windows to Linux”—the truth is far simpler. The lab provides Microsoft with deeper insight into the world of open source software, and it helps the company improve how Microsoft products work with open source software.
Assuming Port 25 is not primarily used to deliver subtle PR that’s anti-Linux, anti-open source, I’d say Microsoft is on right track. On thing is for certain: they are not ignoring open source.
[via tech.memeorandum]
[via Jupiter]