21 votes

Microsoft to acquire GitHub for $7.5 billion

8 comments

  1. [4]
    nacho
    Link
    It surely won't be long before we see commercialized, for-profit changes that decimate another large site that's become the go-to hub for a specific web activity.

    It surely won't be long before we see commercialized, for-profit changes that decimate another large site that's become the go-to hub for a specific web activity.

    4 votes
    1. [3]
      Tetizeraz
      Link Parent
      See, I can't see how that would happen. GitLab has some really expensive plans compared to GitHub. Both GitHub and GitLab, and Atlassian's Bitbucket if we need to talk about other competitors,...

      See, I can't see how that would happen. GitLab has some really expensive plans compared to GitHub. Both GitHub and GitLab, and Atlassian's Bitbucket if we need to talk about other competitors, they need to justify their expenses and seek profit, so I don't see the problem here. As I said, I think this reaction by some people in the programming community to be overblown.

      Microsoft under Nadella has been really receptive of open source projects, such as ASP.NET and other projects being offered for free or with their source code open for others.

      3 votes
      1. set
        Link Parent
        Agreed -- although I can see the point of the arguments the latest efforts put forth by MS in the open source arena leave a good taste in my mouth.

        Agreed -- although I can see the point of the arguments the latest efforts put forth by MS in the open source arena leave a good taste in my mouth.

        3 votes
      2. tyil
        Link Parent
        Most people have known Microsoft for longer than just the time with Nadella. It's healthy scepticism in my opinion. And even with Nadella, they made questionable decisions. For instance, the...

        Most people have known Microsoft for longer than just the time with Nadella. It's healthy scepticism in my opinion. And even with Nadella, they made questionable decisions. For instance, the entirity of Windows 10, which has some grave privacy issues to say the least.

        To me, it seems shortsighted to simply forget all bad decisions Microsoft ever made and look exclusively at their short resume of good open source behaviours.

        3 votes
  2. [2]
    Tetizeraz
    Link
    This is the press release statement from Microsoft. Here's the statement from GitHub: A bright future for GitHub News sources outlets reporting this: TechCrunch: Microsoft has acquired GitHub for...

    This is the press release statement from Microsoft. Here's the statement from GitHub: A bright future for GitHub


    News sources outlets reporting this:

    TechCrunch: Microsoft has acquired GitHub for $7.5B in stock

    CNBC: Microsoft to buy GitHub, a platform for software developers, for $7.5 billion in stock

    ArsTechnica: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/06/microsoft-snaps-up-github-for-7-5-billion/


    GitLab is also taking the opportunity from people who fear Microsoft's past (I personally think the reaction is overblown), by offering a tool to move GitHub projects to GitLab.

    3 votes
  3. nkv
    Link
    R.I.P Github. Now it's time to use GitLab.

    R.I.P Github. Now it's time to use GitLab.

    2 votes
  4. luke-jr
    Link
    The real reason to be concerned about Microsoft buying GitHub is NOT that Microsoft has worse policies regarding their software, but that Microsoft may end up requiring all copyleft software they...

    The real reason to be concerned about Microsoft buying GitHub is NOT that Microsoft has worse policies regarding their software, but that Microsoft may end up requiring all copyleft software they mirror/host, to exempt them from the usual copyleft (ie, GPL) terms.

    (This was already a problem with Google Code before it was shut down; they wanted permission to distribute regardless of the usual licensing terms.)

    2 votes