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If Mircosoft were to fully collaborate with the Linux/open source community what would the resulting Linux distro chimera look like and how would it affect the Linux community in general? (leminal.space)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by CorrodedCranium@leminal.space to c/operating_systems@beehaw.org

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I am aware of the Linux subsystem and projects like Linspire and ReactOS that attempt to either better compatibility between the two OSs or replicate the other but I was wondering if Microsoft were to open source the entirety of Windows what the ramifications on the Linux community would be.

Would WINE and Proton's development rapidly accelerate? Would they be necessary?

Would Windows tools like their file explorer become dominant over others in the Linux space?

Would things like NTFS be installed by default in most distros? exFAT also seemed to be (or was) in a weird legal position.

Do you think a lot of people and businesses would jump on a chimera distro that was half and half?

Bit of a weird question I know but I wouldn't even know how to word it for a web search. I could also be missing a lot due to my knowledge level on licenses and compatibility projects.

It doesn't have to be Linux specific either. If you wanted to mention how it would affect BSD or other OSs I'd be interested to hear about that as well.

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[–] draughtcyclist@programming.dev 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The better question is why would we want that?

Microsoft has historically not been friendly to anyone else. Until they prove otherwise, this is going to be my assumption. It's some form of embrace/extend/extinguish.

I love that Linux is everything that Microsoft is not. I love that I have full control of my hardware. I have control over processes. I have control over packages. And user control is the default.

I can already join a Linux PC to a domain and run VPN. I can easily transfer files. I'm good.

[–] CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Microsoft has historically not been friendly to anyone else. Until they prove otherwise, this is going to be my assumption. It's some form of embrace/extend/extinguish.

That's a good point. I feel like there would be a lot of suspicion or skepticism behind it