During the Microsoft Build 2020 developer conference, Microsoft has raised a number of eyebrows at their Linux plans. We've had a lot, and I do mean a ridiculous amount of people emailing in and messaging across various places about Microsoft. So, to get it out of the way and provide you a place to comment, here we are.
Microsoft put up a developer blog post titled "DirectX ❤ Linux", which is a nice bit of PR bait. In reality, it means nothing for the standard desktop Linux. It's focused entirely on the Windows Subsystem for Linux which Microsoft tightly controls and DirectX itself remains firmly closed source. Not only that, this current implementation relies on pre-compiled user mode binaries that ship as part of Windows itself. Right now it seems to also be focused on CUDA and AI / Machine Learning, however, they also announced Linux GUI applications will eventually be supported on WSL as well.
A Microsoft developer even said on the Linux Kernel mailing list, that there's "no intent" to have people coding for DX12 on Linux. Although another developer also said they "consider the possibility of bringing DX to Linux with no Windows cord attached". That's just words for now though. I wouldn't read much into it.
That's not all, they also announced the Windows Package Manager under an MIT license, which works much like the ones on Linux do in terminal. Better late than never.
Going even further, Microsoft also announced .NET MAUI, an "evolution" of the Xamarin.Forms toolkit which Microsoft said "supports all modern workloads" which once again did not mention Linux anywhere. However, to be properly clear, at least .NET MAUI should work on Linux like Xamarin.Forms but be entirely community supported (as noted on GitHub). Oh and Maui is already used—oops? It's GVFS all over again.
First they embraced Linux doing away with the Ballmer era of "Linux is a cancer", now they're extending a branch saying they were "on the wrong side of history" with open source and now they continue the extending. How long before extinguish phase starts (EEE)? Don't be fooled about Microsoft's stance and their aim here, it's not because they love Linux. They're going where the developers are to continue pulling people to Microsoft services. Nothing more.
If any of it concerns you: I hope you put that energy and effort into continuing your support of the Linux desktop. Help it to grow and prosper. Support your favourite distribution, your favourite application and/or game developer by throwing some money at them.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Quoting: amatai.... and there is lobbying from Microsoft not to make available some pro software on Linux (like Catia, Solidworks or Abacus).
Small correction here: Abaqus is still available on Linux! And they won't get those Linux users to switch to MS-Windows easily as there's tons of processes attached to it that rely on the underlying OS. Though many CAD programs abandoned Linux the FEA world looks a little bit differently. Especially programs that have also to run on an HPC cluster (though some companies were crazy enough to try to set an HPC cluster up on MS Windows, they quickly returned to Linux).
BrazilianGamer May 20, 2020
Quoting: Liam DaweQuoting: EhvisNever say never when it's Microsoft. Changed in some ways, not at all in others ;)QuoteHow long before extinguish phase starts?
Never. Not because they don't want to, but because the importance of Linux as a whole is way bigger that than the worst-of-both-worlds WSL system can ever be. It simply doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
You could argue that trying to pull developers from Linux to stick with Windows, and just use WSL for ML/AI/CUDA is part of an extinguish strategy. It is when you think of it quite literally, as keeping people on WSL where they control it. All depends on your point of view and what we're referencing when we say extinguish.
Well, the Linux foundation is already owned by M$ and Google because of all the dollars that flow in so, the only person we can trust there is Linus. So, extinguish is not too far like we think. But hopefully, when M$ gives the word, Linus will just leave and keep maintaining the Kernel as an independent person. Not as an employee. And I'm Pretty sure all of those corporations that today fund the linux foundation will fund him because he is the most appropriate person to keep the Mainline Kernel going. Let's see
Mohandevir May 20, 2020
Quoting: BrazilianGamerBut hopefully, when M$ gives the word, Linus will just leave...
Why? I don't know much about the Linux Foundation's legal structure, but it should just be a matter of saying to MS to keep it's dirty money and be on their way, thus keeping the Linux foundation intact and independent. It's a shame if it's not thus.
Afterall, Linus is good to show the middle finger to big players. :D
Edit: And you think that all these platinum members won't try to keep in check Microsoft's "appetite for destruction"?
Linux Foundation Members
Last edited by Mohandevir on 20 May 2020 at 2:57 pm UTC
BrazilianGamer May 20, 2020
Quoting: MohandevirQuoting: BrazilianGamerBut hopefully, when M$ gives the word, Linus will just leave...
Why? I don't know much about the Linux Foundation's legal structure, but it should just be a matter of saying to MS to keep it's dirty money and be on their way, thus keeping the Linux foundation intact and independent. It's a shame if it's not thus.
Afterall, Linus is good to show the middle finger to big players. :D
Well i thought the same way like you but after realizing how much money they get from these corporations and the minimum amount of effort towards the community, I just got the conclusion they just care about money and that's all. Did you know that Linus himself gets paid less than the CEO of Linux foundation. The fucking creator of it all gets paid less than an irrelevant guy on a suit. Do you know how expensive the tickets for the LinuxCon organized by them is? I mean, IMHO it should be free for all since they are paid millions of dollars by all donators they have. And do you know where all this money goes to? Yeah, neither do I. Lots of FLOSS projects dying because they don't have enough funding to keep on and Linux foundation itself claims it exists for the best interest of the community and what they do about it? Nothing. I consider RedHat the legit Linux foundation. They are the ones that help Linux the most, contribute a lot to the Kernel and listen to the community. They've donated to lots of FLOSS projects and even some of their employees maintain packages of some distros like Fedora. And no one donated to them because they are a private company that succeeded by supporting the community and making their business in the open AFAIK. That was a little rant but that's what I see today in our community. I really don't trust the Linux foundation
Quoting: BrazilianGamerI consider RedHat the legit Linux foundation.You mean IBM?
Mohandevir May 20, 2020
Quoting: BrazilianGamerI really don't trust the Linux foundation
Ah! Ok... This what it's all about. The only thing that I can say is that we have to trust that it's going to continue to be the way it's been for the past few years. Many conflicting/opposing interests are supporting the Linux Foundation and should act as a counter power to Microsoft's inlfuence. It's not like MS is the sole investor.
Last edited by Mohandevir on 20 May 2020 at 3:39 pm UTC
BrazilianGamer May 20, 2020
Quoting: MohandevirQuoting: BrazilianGamerI really don't trust the Linux foundation
Ah! Ok... This what it's all about. The only thing that I can say is that we have to trust that it's going to continue to be the way it's been for the past few years. Many conflicting/opposing interests are supporting the Linux Foundation and should act as a counter power to Microsoft's inlfuence. It's not like MS is the sole investor.
I didn't say it was. I even mentioned Google. Well if you want to trust them, then it's on you. Everyone is free to act however they like. I keep trusting Linus only and his work as the Kernel maintainer
BrazilianGamer May 20, 2020
Quoting: amataiQuoting: BrazilianGamerI consider RedHat the legit Linux foundation.You mean IBM?
Well, not really. RedHat was acquired by them but they still have the freedom to manage their own business. They respond to IBM but AFAIK they're not controlled by them specifically regarding their moves towards the FLOSS community which is mostly composed by Linux users/devs
Mohandevir May 20, 2020
Quoting: BrazilianGamerQuoting: MohandevirQuoting: BrazilianGamerI really don't trust the Linux foundation
Ah! Ok... This what it's all about. The only thing that I can say is that we have to trust that it's going to continue to be the way it's been for the past few years. Many conflicting/opposing interests are supporting the Linux Foundation and should act as a counter power to Microsoft's inlfuence. It's not like MS is the sole investor.
I didn't say it was. I even mentioned Google. Well if you want to trust them, then it's on you. Everyone is free to act however they like. I keep trusting Linus only and his work as the Kernel maintainer
Saying that I trust them is exagerated, but saying that I trust in the Foundation's structure is more accurate. I may be naive though. As for code review and this is the most important part, from what I understand, they have awesome folks working on that, not only Linus.
Last edited by Mohandevir on 20 May 2020 at 3:57 pm UTC
Quoting: GuestAlthough I don't like the writing style and generally try to follow through and make sure I'm as informed as possible, the info from techrights.org is pretty hard to ignore. Microsoft doesn't need technical superiority for EEE to work - there are other ways to achieve the same goal, and what they're up to is very, very worrying to anyone who values software freedoms.Techrights might sometimes have a point, but I get turned off when I read one of the articles, follow the links, and realize the guy is quoting himself quoting himself quoting himself. I don't trust the accuracy, is what I'm saying--I want to because I'm on what I'd consider the same side as the guy, but I don't. At best, Techrights for me is something that might flag an issue for further investigation to see if it's real this time.
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 20 May 2020 at 4:44 pm UTC
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