Microsoft just sent a huge patch to the Linux Kernel

 July 26, 2009

In a historical twist, now Microsoft contributes to Linux Kernel. This fact can seem absurd, but Microsoft sent a 22k lines patch to better support Linux on Microsoft’s Hyper-V last week.

On the one hand, we have to remember that Steve Balmer, Microsoft CEO, back in 2001 affirmed compared Linux and Open Source to cancer. On the other hand, it does make sense for Microsoft to ensure that Linux properly runs on Hyper-V, and there is no better way to do so than to commit the code themselves. Also, Microsoft has entered into a deal with Novell for many millions of dollars around Linux and Windows interoperability in 2006.

Considering everything, I see this change positively. Still, it’s also imperative to remember the strategies that Microsoft adopted in the past, such as the “Embrace, Extend, Extinguish”, to be sure to not end up in a trap.