Grabbing GNU/Linux revenue and share

Summary: The 'Embrace, Extend, Extinguish' strategy goes a few steps further as Microsoft looks to dominate developers, devices and servers that are running Free/libre software

AS we have just shown, Microsoft suffers billions in losses because GNU/Linux and Android crush it. Microsoft's reaction seems irrational as it's not sure whether to just keep attacking GNU/Linux and Android (as it still does) or pretend to embrace it. Xamarin, the steward of Mono (along with Microsoft), integrates more closely with Microsoft and hopes to make developers (not just Windows developers) dependent on Microsoft. Microsoft wants "developers developers developers developers" (Ballmer's words) and that's where Xamarin comes in.

"Perhaps we are seeing the very end of Microsoft these days."Yesterday we remarked on the latest advertising (in news form) for Microsoft as a GNU/Linux host. Microsoft's Channel 9 (the last remaining channel) has been openwashing Microsoft quite a lot recently and now it joins the advertising effort:

Corey Sanders, Director of Program Management on the Windows Azure Compute team sits to chat about recent Linux announcements on supportability as well as MOAR stuff on ARM Templates (this time from a partner).

Like we explained yesterday, it would be very dumb to let Microsoft control GNU/Linux instances, but Microsoft's acceptance of this route is a sign of defeat.

An argument that can never be won when dealing with anti-GNU/Linux trolls is about "year of Linux". It often goes like this never-ending moving-goalposts list of demands:

2002: "Nobody uses Linux."

But look, everyone uses Google and many other servers, which mostly run GNU/Linux.

2007: "Nobody uses Linux on the client side."

Actually, many people's devices and phones run some form of Linux.

2012: "Nobody uses Linux on the proper screen."

Android (Linux) is used extensively not only on phones but also tablets.

2014: "Nobody uses Linux on desktops or laptops."

Actually, Chromebooks are gaining popularity and they have GNU/Linux in them.

2014: "But Chrome OS is not really Linux."

It's also simple to install 'proper' GNU/Linux on them (my wife did that twice).

2015: "Microsoft does better than GNU/Linux. Windows is so much better!"

Even Microsoft is trying to make money by offering GNU/Linux support and hosting.

And on it goes...

Perhaps Microsoft's current efforts to become a GNU/Linux host are due to GNU/Linux being a majority market share platform (especially in the back rooms). The same is true for Android on mobile. Perhaps we are seeing the very end of Microsoft these days. ⬆