THE layoffs at Microsoft aren't exactly surprising (four rounds of layoffs since June). The stock too is affected (Apple's also). Those who followed closely enough would know that Microsoft merely fakes its current status (Azure layoffs confirm what we've been hearing from Microsoft insiders). It's an empire in pain and it's trying to destroy (or somehow control) what replaces it. GNU and Linux have come under many attacks lately, with deliberate distraction and disruption taking various forms.
"...some projects that still move to GitHub are in fact bribed by Microsoft to do this. So it's expensive and unsustainable. In fact, GitHub still loses a lot of money."Free/Libre software attracts a lot of developers and testers. Microsoft has just fired thousands of employees, but perhaps tens of thousands contribute to core Free/Libre software every day. Some extend and augment with plug-ins, but some send patches upstream, improving the 'core' software. By contrast, Windows and Office have no such contributions or even contributors. Almost none. So they rapidly stagnate, becoming just old fossils with lock-in, foul play and nothing else. The marketing and bribery budgets increase over time because there's no other way to shove those things down people's throats.
It seems quite safe to say and rather fair to guess that Microsoft won't survive the next decade any better than Sun did. We've heard that a lot of users, senior staff and projects have been leaving GitHub (awareness of the risks certainly helps!) and some projects that still move to GitHub are in fact bribed by Microsoft to do this. So it's expensive and unsustainable. In fact, GitHub still loses a lot of money. Judging by the fact that Azure too has layoffs, Mr. Guthrie's rogue strategy -- an attack disguised as "love" -- seems to be costing the company a fortune without anything to show for it (except bribed media that spreads lies like "Microsoft loves Linux" -- lies that very few actual GNU/Linux users believe).
Microsoft can say it loves "Open Source" (openwashing), which means too little, but it will never like or even tolerate software freedom. So Microsoft is basically doomed and we expect more layoffs to come, albeit secretly with excuses (like saying that so-called 'HEY HI' is replacing the workers, hence it's just Microsoft ingenuity). Microsoft is a fossil or dead man walking... ⬆
"DOS will be with us forever. We've learned how passionate people are about DOS."
--Former Microsoft Vice President Brad Silverberg