10.31.15
Gemini version available ♊︎Microsoft’s Poaching Efforts (Against GNU/Linux) Advance, Don’t Fall Into the Trap
“I would love to see all open source innovation happen on top of Windows.”
–Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO
Summary: Microsoft’s attempts to embrace, extend, extinguish GNU/Linux (convert GNU/Linux virtual instances into Windows, in the long term) an important reminder of a long-established modus operandi
JUST less than a fortnight ago we showed that the Azure 'department' at Microsoft tries poaching GNU/Linux people in events that are about the very opposite of Microsoft. Microsoft propaganda sites (treated as ‘news’ site nonetheless) are now amplifying Microsoft’s E.E.E. blog by saying: “If you’re looking for a job and possess some awesome open source chops, Microsoft might be looking for you. The Azure team is hiring, and they’ve laid out what they’re looking for over at the Microsoft Openness blog.”
“Now, Microsoft is showing its commitment to open source technologies,” Brian Fagioli wrote. No, they are just showing their E.E.E. strategy. Have they dropped the patent lawsuit? Have they stopped bullying FOSS rivals? Nope.
“Priorities may vary depending on the person, but if we want to make the world a better place we need to stop helping those whose ambitions are against public interests.”Microsoft is not about “Openness”, it’s about predation, bribes, blackmail, and mass surveillance. Days ago we mentioned how Microsoft had liaised with TASER (see the press release). Having given plenty of back doors for spooks, Microsoft now gets closer to very shady companies for income, even so-called ‘law enforcement’ (whose potentially-lethal/fatal tools are used domestically to torture dissidents like Matt DeHart in the US). Microsoft is also getting closer to the FOSS-hostile ‘security’ firm Trend Micro, based on puff pieces that accompany the press release or other puff pieces, e.g. [1, 2].
People should reject careers at Microsoft not just because it’s a proprietary software company. It’s an unethical company. Notoriously so. What comes first? Money? Freedom? Ethics? Priorities may vary depending on the person, but if we want to make the world a better place we need to stop helping those whose ambitions are against public interests. █
“Really, I’m not out to destroy Microsoft. That will just be a completely unintentional side effect.”
–Linus Torvalds
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