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The endless Microsoft bashing in this thread makes me so sad, I think they've done really well and put a lot of work and effort behind it. VS Code, Ts, .NET Co

by enlyth 7y ago

The endless Microsoft bashing in this thread makes me so sad, I think they've done really well and put a lot of work and effort behind it. VS Code, Ts, .NET Core, WSL (v2 soon), Github (yes I know they merely bought it, but changes like allowing free users private repos wouldn't have happened without MS) among others are all quite amazing.

skohan 7y ago
It's foolish to anthropomorphize a corporation and have pity for it. A publicly traded company is an entity which is legally required to maximize value for its shareholders. Microsoft is "putting a lot of work and effort" into open source software because, by their calculations, this is good for the bottom line. When that calculation changes, they will certainly be less developer friendly. Don't forget: nothing is for free. If a corporation is pouring resources into something and you're not paying up front, someone's going to pay for it sooner or later.
- craftyguy 7y ago
  > A publicly traded company is an entity which is legally required to maximize value for its shareholders. Stop spreading this, it's not true. 'Strong motivation' != 'legal requirement'. The rest of your comment is spot on.
  - rectang 7y ago
    +1, Here's a piece explaining the details: https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/04/16/what-are-corporations-obligations-to-shareholders/corporations-dont-have-to-maximize-profits https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/04/16/what-are-co... I appreciate skohan's perspective and their comments in this thread very much. It won't take much to adapt the points to be technically correct while preserving the gist.
- BeetleB 7y ago
  >It's foolish to anthropomorphize a corporation and have pity for it. No more foolish than to anthropomorphize it and assign negative human qualities to it.
  - skohan 7y ago
    Which is why you should treat it as what it is: an amoral, profit-driving entity which will predictably act in it's own self-interest.

by enlyth 7y ago

skohan 7y ago

It's foolish to anthropomorphize a corporation and have pity for it. A publicly traded company is an entity which is legally required to maximize value for its shareholders. Microsoft is "putting a lot of work and effort" into open source software because, by their calculations, this is good for the bottom line. When that calculation changes, they will certainly be less developer friendly. Don't forget: nothing is for free. If a corporation is pouring resources into something and you're not paying up front, someone's going to pay for it sooner or later.

craftyguy 7y ago
> A publicly traded company is an entity which is legally required to maximize value for its shareholders. Stop spreading this, it's not true. 'Strong motivation' != 'legal requirement'. The rest of your comment is spot on.
- rectang 7y ago
  +1, Here's a piece explaining the details: https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/04/16/what-are-corporations-obligations-to-shareholders/corporations-dont-have-to-maximize-profits https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/04/16/what-are-co... I appreciate skohan's perspective and their comments in this thread very much. It won't take much to adapt the points to be technically correct while preserving the gist.
BeetleB 7y ago
>It's foolish to anthropomorphize a corporation and have pity for it. No more foolish than to anthropomorphize it and assign negative human qualities to it.
- skohan 7y ago
  Which is why you should treat it as what it is: an amoral, profit-driving entity which will predictably act in it's own self-interest.