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Microsoft isn't buying them because devdiv is not a profit driver for Microsoft. Enabling devs to build for other platforms is not a profit driver for them.

They will only buy Xamarin defensively. If they feel like someone else might gobble them up and they will lose access to dev mindshare around c# and mobile.

Xamarin took a lot of VC money. There's little precedent in language and tool vendors becoming big and influential firms. So, they must have had an exit strategy or two. I can't see how selling to MS is not one of those options.

Except for that small languages company known as Microsoft.

Maybe he's holding out for more money?

I don't know how to feel about this partnership. As someone whom likes C#, it makes sense. As someone that likes OSS, it brings to mind all the old accusations from the some of the OSS community about the purpose of Mono.

Let's face it, being bought by Microsoft isn't what it used to be and has some downsides, like preventing Google from promoting Xamarin like they should.