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Comment by frandroid | Hacker News Reader

Because open source has always been defined in its very definition by its definition to the for-profit software industry, which Microsoft basically invented? Because in spite of having made a turn towards open source, Microsoft once treated it like a mortal enemy, akin to cancer? Because of how other large companies like Google have smothered open source projects?

I'm personally not worried about the acquisition (I think it's a net positive for the community), but there are plenty of reasons to discuss this interaction.

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Even people change, why do you find weird that companies change? >Because in spite of having made a turn towards open source, Microsoft once treated it like a mortal enemy, akin to cancer?

MS was in the business of selling operating systems and desktop software. Not only they realized that open source doesn't threaten that territory (remember year of the Linux desktop?), but they've changed the revenue model and are making much more money now from selling services than by selling software.

>Because of how other large companies like Google have smothered open source projects?

Why should we judge what one company does based on what other company does?

I am sure no company does something for "good of humanity" but to earn money. What matters is if in the process of making money, they also do good things or bad things.

Microsoft has stopped doing bad things and started doing good things. I only hope more companies will follow.

Parent was saying "why discuss this at all?" and I'm saying here are some reasons! And you're doubling down while... having the discussion. Case closed. :)

It's a common misconception that open source is antithetical to profit. The concern is really about the freedom to inspect, modify and distribute the codes which run your computer without restriction.

I hear you, I think MS is prone to mismanage the nicest things we have. And yes part of this will be some PR mess up.

We definitely cannot trust a large cash reserve to guarantee the survival of these technologies, it's just not how businesses work.

#notallopensource, but the Free Software movement part of open source, for sure, you know? Okay I've re-read my original comment, you're right, it was too encompassing.

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