MS's entry into OSS?

[rightcoast]

I think this is Microsoft's initial foray into open source. Wolf in sheep's clothing? I'm not intending to incite anti-Microsoft banter, I'm just......surprised.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/coding4fun/

[netnamakan]

Wow that is surprising, a good idea nonetheless

I guess the finally listened to the "customer is always right" rule.


namakan

[mairving]

I fail to see any connection with that link to the MSDN site and Open Source Software.

[mb26]

ah we have finally found the genious behind longhorn development

[rightcoast]

I fail to see any connection with that link to the MSDN site and Open Source Software.

There really isn't any, I agree. What I was wondering is this can be many things, but the two I figure are most possible are:

1. This is the initial baby steps in open source I have heard some people say MS may take. (not as likely as #2, if history is a guide)

2. They are hoping at least a few "hobbiests" will post code they can later lay claim to and patent. I mean could you imagine the clustermess if some 17 year old posts code here, only to tie it in successfully with kernel 2.9.12 or whatever in 3 years, forgetting where he he started the idea 3 1/2 years ago. Or even something not directly tied to the kernel like Qt?

I wonder what the motivation could be....I have thought of a third: Divert even a little production from existing OSS development, slowing the bleeding.

Tell you the truth I haven't even gone over the site, I was sent a link this morning. I will eventually read the page ("about us" was down this morning) and see if it is all Visual Studio.NET type stuff, or if they are interested in python, and other less proprietary code.