Microsoft joins the Linux Foundation

Tech Times notes that the partnership is uncanny considering the huge, long-standing rivalry between Redmond and Linux, as the free OS has always been a major rival to Windows operating system. Despite Microsoft‘s recent joint-venture projects with open source developer companies, many were sceptical that the relations between them were just for short-term mutual benefits, and nothing more.

Under the stewardship of CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft has become a more open company, in stark contrast to the era of Steve Ballmer who was especially hostile to Linux, describing the platform as a “cancer”.

Now, lo and behold, Microsoft has joined on as a Platinum member of The Linux Foundation. Microsoft’s endorsement of open-source software has been welcomed by most community members. In fact, John Gossman – Azure Architect at Microsoft – will be joining the Linux Foundation board of directors too.

Microsoft Corporation is aware software developers, including ones from corporations love to work with the free and open source OS and want those workloads to operate on its Azure cloud.

While many PC users still hold a pretty negative view of the company, Zemlin insists the company has evolved.

This isn’t Microsoft’s first rodeo as a member of an open-source group.

A warmer relationship between the two organizations began emerging a year ago when the two launched a certification for running Linux on Azure.

The Linux Foundation is the organization of choice for the world’s top developers and companies to build ecosystems that accelerate open technology development and commercial adoption.

Once archenemies, Microsoft has blown everyone away by joining Linux; and in a surprising move joins Google as well. Joining the Linux Foundation will allow Microsoft to further align itself with a market that may not initially trust the historically closed off company.

More than half of the GitHub contributions to.NET’s corefx and coreclr come from outside of Microsoft.

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks.

Microsoft is also releasing a public preview edition of its previously-announced SQL Server database product for Linux. Microsoft is also making it easier to install and get started with SQL Server.

It could make it easier for developers working on PHP and Node.js running under Linux in building web and mobile apps with easy scaling and integration with other services. It’s created to help developers build web and mobile apps that easily scale and integrate with other services. He broke the news on Wednesday morning during the latest Microsoft Connect conference which was held in NY.

According to industry analysts, the announcement by Microsoft assumes great importance for both Microsoft and Linux.