Embrace, Extend, and Apache
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz
- 2008-10-16 15:42:47 UTC
- Modified: 2008-10-16 15:42:47 UTC
"It's part of a continuing behavior pattern by Microsoft that I think it's fair to call "dirty fighting." GoDaddy was using Apache (I assume on Linux) because it was a great technical solution. They didn't switch to IIS on Windows Server 2003 for any technical reason. The switch was accompanied by a press release by GoDaddy, containing Microsoft promotional language. Now, I've changed many servers from one thing to another, but I've never made a press release about it. GoDaddy wouldn't be doing that unless Microsoft had offered them something valuable in return. There has been talk in the domain business that Microsoft has been offering the large domain registries a wad of cash to switch their parked sites. There is no other reason to do this than to influence the Netcraft figures."
--Bruce Perens
APACHE HAS BEEN GAINING at the expense of IIS for several consecutive months now, despite dirty tricks from Microsoft. It's an important ongoing discussion because Apache is a FOSS poster child. Microsoft just can't stop this project, so it may be opting for a different strategy.
Just as Microsoft tried to
gain control
over ODF (blame
all the luring, it seems to be have just approached and obtained
partial control of Apache now that it's
cleared to commit code to it.
Few will have noticed, but Microsoft's Jim Kellerman just announced that he and a Microsoft colleague have "been cleared to contribute patches again" to Apache, and specifically to the Hadoop project.
Microsoft is desperate to intervene with Apache's direction [
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7]. Why is that? Might they be trying to earn the privilege to add Windows-only/Microsoft-oriented extensions, just as they contributed patches for SQL Server around the time of their Apache announcement (payment for a free pass)?
“They merely isolate competing projects from their other competitors.”To Apache, "GNU/Linux vs. Windows" is not an important debate. It's clear enough that Microsoft, being another reckless for-profit business, will attempt to increase installations of Apache atop Windows Server. So, is this really good news, as Matt Asay tries to put it?
Microsoft engineers are not foolish. They merely isolate competing projects from their other competitors. They divide their rivals (divide and conquer). Without the neutrality of GNU/Linux, which enjoys a so-called 'Switzerland status', projects are left at the mercy of Windows, i.e. Microsoft. ⬆
"I once preached peaceful coexistence with Windows. You may laugh at my expense -- I deserve it."
--Be's CEO Jean-Louis Gassée
"Microsoft has had clear competitors in the past. It’s a good thing we have museums to document that."
--Bill Gates
Comments
AlexH
2008-10-16 16:00:17
Roy Schestowitz
2008-10-16 16:03:51
AlexH
2008-10-16 16:09:50
The Apache in the first paragraph is not the same Apache as the second paragraph, and a casual reader will not realise this is FUD.
Roy Schestowitz
2008-10-16 19:01:42
Remember POI, for example:
http://boycottnovell.com/2008/03/26/microsoft-buys-moox-support/ http://boycottnovell.com/2008/03/20/ooxml-deception-pr/ http://boycottnovell.com/2008/07/25/dividing-with-osp-oem/
AlexH
2008-10-16 19:35:20
The beauty of free software is that it doesn't matter where you get it from; your freedoms are already in the license.
Roy Schestowitz
2008-10-16 19:38:37
AlexH
2008-10-16 19:46:24
Apache is protected from software patents with the v2 license in basically the same way as GPLv3. That is why those licenses are now compatible.
Roy Schestowitz
2008-10-16 19:58:19
AlexH
2008-10-16 20:06:44
You're trying to scare people into believing there is some problem with the Apache project; there is none.
You may as well just state on the front page that you will never give Microsoft any credit for doing anything. Here they're contributing free software - which you claim to support - to a prominent free software project, and all in Java, not .net, and with a license that includes a software patent protection clause. And Hadoop doesn't even support Windows as a production platform.
Roy Schestowitz
2008-10-16 20:20:04
Microsoft-Yahoo Deal Still Makes Sense, Ballmer Says http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aK6VdgpZiLvI&refer=home
Remember who owns Hadoop.
AlexH
2008-10-16 20:24:08
This is just FUD; silly scare-mongering FUD about another good free software project. If this is going to be your standard tactic for any project which takes contributions from Microsoft, I'm afraid you're going to be left with very little software.
Betto
2008-10-16 22:05:21
You know, proof.
Roy Schestowitz
2008-10-16 22:09:19
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predatory_pricing
Betto
2008-10-16 23:24:08
http://slashdot.org/~SockDisclosure/journal/
@Roy,
Another one of those "private communications" I gather? One of those "oh if only I could publish what I know but my life is in danger" situations? Like the mostly out of context quotes you paste on to your whack jobs, linking to some Wikipedia article is useless. But what the heck, here are some links of my own:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zealot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sockpuppet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_by_exhaustion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_by_verbosity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shill http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalomania
Enjoy :)
twitter
2008-10-16 22:16:42
http://apache.slashdot.org/apache/08/07/25/2135202.shtml
Jose_X
2008-10-16 23:29:00
Microsoft has plenty of money and access to users to inflate numbers if they wanted to do so. Other companies can do the same. It does make sense, if you are after marketing points, to go after the biggest bang for buck and that would be with domains that were parked.
In fact, Microsoft is proud of their cost-saving move: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/mar06/03-21GoDaddyPR.mspx
"Go Daddy to transition all its parked domains from Linux to Microsoft.".. straight from the horses mouth, if you will.
I guess that was proof. Sorry. I didn't think it would be that easy.
boycottnovell is not meant to be the alpha and omega. They post leads and discussion that many find useful.
Betto
2008-10-16 23:49:43
Jose_X
2008-10-17 00:20:02
BPerens is saying that the reasons were for a business deal and not for tech reasons. What part of what he says bothers you so I can maybe look at that part closer?
Roy Schestowitz
2008-10-17 00:23:49
Betto
2008-10-17 01:50:35
Betto
2008-10-17 01:51:58