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by wpietri 2943 days ago
Yes. 100% yes. Microsoft didn't care about their reputation for a long time. They currently do, at least a little, but that could change back.

Github was losing money, but that's pretty typical for SaaS businesses. I have no reason to think they couldn't have gotten to break-even. And if the can't get to break even, I have no reason to think Microsoft will subsidize them indefinitely.
2 comments
baldfat 2943 days ago
I still think Microsoft had the lion share of the programmers mind with Virtual Studio? I am guessing it really has more to do with emotional response to the name MS then anything MS has done in the past 5 years.

I use Bit Bucket because I knew they were making money and were solvent and I knew GitHub was just waiting for a big pay day. BOY was I wrong with the timing and the amount.

> And if the can't get to break even, I have no reason to think Microsoft will subsidize them indefinitely.

This fits perfectly with their developer system with Virtual Studio, VS Code and Azure. I can't see how this isn't a great buy for them and their ecco-system.

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hannasanarion 2943 days ago
That's not just a scummy breach of trust though, that's a blatantly illegal breach of trust. Source code is a trade secret. Copying it without permission is corporate espionage. People would go to jail if they tried. You are asserting that Microsoft's intentions are criminal.
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dorfsmay 2943 days ago
I'm 100% sure that this is not their intention... But can you guarantee that this is not going to happen in the future?

All it takes is one rogue employee, and it could have devastating irreversible effects on a small startup.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%A9r%C3%B4me_Kerviel#Unaut...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Leeson#Downfall

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Marysville 2943 days ago
What's stopping a Github or Gitlab or Atlassian employee from going rogue? That's not an MS specific problem.
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wpietri 2943 days ago
Did you reply to the wrong comment? Because I don't think I am asserting anything like that.

Of course, Microsoft was famous for their dirty pool tactics in the past, so it's not irrational to worry that they'd return to them. E.g.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_litigation#Private

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