Blog 6: Microsoft Sings a New Tune—Wants to Play Nice With Open-Source

Microsoft Sings a New Tune—Wants to Play Nice With Open-Source

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/02/21/microsoft-sings-a-new-tune%E2%80%94wants-to-play-nice-with-open-source/

Microsoft has been notoriously dead-set against the open source movement. Most notably, it sees Linux as a major threat to its Enterprise server business. There are also very good open source office programs that rival Microsoft Office (though, in my opinion, not yet as good).

Microsoft is not yet letting developers have access to its source code and frankly, I don't see that ever happening. But, it is embracing some of the tenets of the open source movement and that is a good start.

The article states Microsoft is declaring four principles:

(1) ensuring open connections
(2) promoting data portability
(3) enhancing support for industry standards
(4) fostering more open engagement with customers and the industry, including open source communities.

It will release documentation for all APIs of the products. Their goal is to enable developers to create more plug-ins and features for the Office products.

Red Hat, a key proponent of open source, and a major distributor of Linux is skeptical at Microsoft's announcement.

Many other open source proponents are equally skeptical. Con Zymaris, CEO of Cybersource in Melbourne, Australia says "that if Microsoft is serious about improving its interoperability with the open-source industry, it could start by publishing, in a technically and legally unencumbered format, the protocols for Exchange-Outlook interaction."

In my research, I found countless companies, organizations, blogs, etc that did not believe Microsoft was on the “up and up.” The company has a long history of exploiting developers, computer manufacturers, and distributors. I’m not a journalist, but disclosure time here. I was a Microsoft employee from 1993-2006. I lost my job due to outsourcing to India. Thanks Microsoft. I do remember attending company events where the new CEO Steve Ballmer would scream about “crushing” competitors such as Novell and Sun. Such is the mindset of Microsoft.

Overall, I find this a good first step for Microsoft if it follows through and does not try to crush competition like it has in the past.

References:

Red Hat Statement on Microsoft Announcement

http://www.press.redhat.com/2008/02/21/red-hat-statement-on-microsoft-announcement/


Skeptics Question Microsoft Interoperability Pitch
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Windows/Skeptics-Ques