Gentoo founder and chief architect recruited by MS

[RaZoR1394]

Daniel Robbins accepts new position with Microsoft, finalizes transfer of Gentoo Technologies IP to the Gentoo Foundation
 Posted on June 13, 2005 by g2boojum
 gentoo
 
Gentoo founder and former Gentoo Chief Architect Daniel Robbins began a new position at Microsoft on 23 May 2005. According to drobbins: "I'm helping Microsoft to understand Open Source and community-based projects." While in the midst of hastily packing to move to Redmond, drobbins nonetheless managed to find the time to finalize the transfer of Gentoo's intellectual property (essentially copyrights on ebuilds and other software as well as soon-to-be trademarked Gentoo logos) to the not-for-profit Gentoo Foundation, Inc.

I post this in the MS forum because of MS recruiting him...

This is a sad day for Gentoo... I don't blame Daniel because he obviously had debts and lack of support/income to cover it. Still I think that there must have been some other well payed position with his qualification. MS stands against everything he and the foundation believes in.

Don't you find it weird how Microsoft are recruiting known OSS developers/founders/architects these days? It's obvious they are planning to attack the OSS comunity from behind.

[MrX]

If he is smart he will do some corporate espionage, sabotoge and screw up everything then quit while he is ahead. In his defence, he should say that if Microsoft does that everyday, why can't he just once?

Mr X

[Jenda]

If he is smart he will do some corporate espionage, sabotoge and screw up everything then quit while he is ahead. In his defence, he should say that if Microsoft does that everyday, why can't he just once?

Mr X

So what? If he gets a good job at MS, gets paid and repays his debts - it's as if MS was funding Gentoo! Almost. We can just hope he doesn't help them much and does only as much as he has to to get paid...

[WMD]

I should just say...according to MS's top Linux man...I forget his name...says that in-house, Gentoo is their favorite distribution.

Fancy that.

[Aloone_Jonez]

I think this if funny but still, some Linux users aren't anti Microsoft so it makes sense that some Linux developers aren't anti-Microsoft either, often people seem to assume other's are on one side or the other but there are many neutral people around too.

[noob]

there must be somthing going on. ms recruting the gentoo founder, threatening to buy redhat out, having a whole linux department. i reckon they are gunna make a linux distribution, a free one that runs all windows apps nativly and has a similar file setup to windows. so, whats the best os to use. a linux distro hat runs all windows and linux software perfectly and is free. there, they can take over another part of the market. get linux into peoples homes, but still keeping them using their products.

[Jenda]

And as soon as they do, the GNU/Linux devs will legally reverse-engineer it and add the new (good) features to all the existing Linux distros... where does that take us? - a better Linux!

[Kintaro]

No, if that was to happen there would be a dozen patent infringment lawsuits from Microsoft.

Look at the reality here: Microsoft are simpily hireing someone. There probably is no strategy for them to create their own Linux distribution. Even if they do the complexities that it would take to run Windows applications natively would require: Kernel Level Support, which would have to be Open Source, which would mean the other distros could use it. This would also mean that Microsoft would not do it, because the GPL in that respect removes all competetive advantage.

If Microsoft wanted to create a Unix product, they would probably buy a Unix licence. But I doubt they would because of the amount of work they are putting into Windows assets, including their server products.

I doubt he is planning on helping destroy Microsoft from the inside. He would get sued for neglegence. I think more likely he is getting a job that pays (Who would have thought?).

[jtpenrod]

This is a sad day for Gentoo...

I don't think so. So Robbins got a job offer. There is nothing that would prevent him from continuing to work on Gentoo on his off-time. Furthermore, it could be a good thing. Robbins: "I'm helping Microsoft to understand Open Source and community-based projects."

Now, they have done their damnedest to get rid of Linux, and they failed miserably. If they mean what they say, about reconciling themselves to that reality, and mean what they say about wanting to improve inter-operativity between different systems, then that is all for the better, in that standards and protocols will remain open. In the end, it will make it all that much more difficult for MS to lock out non-MS systems.

Of course, it's wise not to fully trust MS, given the past history. You can be sure that Robbins understands this as well, and won't be lead into doing anything that will harm Linux and Open Source.