Microsoft on ‘wrong side of history’ with open source, president Brad Smith says
Steve Ballmer called Linux a “cancer,” but Microsoft’s current president says Microsoft was on the wrong side of history when it comes to open source.
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What you need to know
Microsoft president Brad Smith recently shared his thoughts on open source and how Microsoft approached it at the turn of the century. Speaking at anMIT event, Smith stated that “Microsoft was on the wrong side of history when open source exploded at the beginning of the century, and I can say that about me personally.” Smith has been with Microsoft for 25 years andThe Vergepoints out that he has been part of several legal battles surrounding open source software as one of Microsoft’s senior lawyers. Now, Smith has a different view.
The Microsoft president added that “The good news is that, if life is long enough, you can learn … that you need to change.” Smith isn’t alone in his feelings about open-source software. Microsoft has embraced the concept increasingly over the last few years. PowerShell, Visual Studio Code, and the original Microsoft Edge’s JavaScript engine are all open-sourced. The Windows Subsystem for Linux not only exists, but itintegrates more with Windows 10now more than ever. Microsoft alsopurchased GitHubandacquired Xamarin, both popular open-source technology.
These moves are a stark contrast to when former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said Linux is “a cancer that attaches itself in an intellectual property sense to everything it touches.” Now, Microsoft has a browser based on the open-source Chromium engine and is active in several open source communities.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
