4 ms·

Linux-Based Windows Makes Perfect Sense

14 points by andrewl 6y ago

moocowtruck 6y ago
it does not make perfect sense. linux being a windows app makes perfect sense
jve 6y ago
Nonsense. Soneone just told his opinion. How exactly would MS save money by using linux if they already own Windows? And some of us actually like working in windows, by the way.
- jka 6y ago
  I wouldn't make a bet based on it, but it's possible. Kernel engineering is challenging, precise and experience-based work and it's tricky to recruit and develop for those talents when your codebase is proprietary. A large number of companies depend on Linux, and that creates a common interest in multiple areas - reliability, architecture support, security, and so on. Under this suggestion, "Windows" as you experience it as a user might not change very much - but within the software stack, Linux would replace the existing proprietary kernel.
- simonblack 6y ago
  How exactly would MS save money by using linux if they already own Windows? Easy. They replace those hundreds of expensive programmers who do nothing but maintain the Microsoft kernel with thousands of free programmers maintaining the Linux kernel. Notice I said 'Microsoft kernel' rather than 'Windows kernel'. That was to distinguish the Windows 'look and feel' code from the underlying invisible OS code. Those hundreds of Windows (Desktop) programmers will remain. It's very likely that you won't notice the difference between Windows with a Microsoft kernel and Windows with a Linux kernel.
ksec 6y ago
I think there is a higher chance of Microsoft Open Sourcing Window Kernel ( but not other part of the OS ) than running Windows on Linux Kernel.
nix23 6y ago
I think he talks about Wine and Dosbox. But Opensource Windows could be the real thing.
FandangoRanger 6y ago
You can tell this is going to happen because we're being softened up for it. First the what-ifs and apologetics, next will come more substantial rumors, then a big speech by Nadella.
heelix 6y ago
I've just started messing with WSL2 on one of my old threadrippers. Ubuntu works. What I've not found yet is a source for Centos. I've found a couple open source projects, and a few beer money entries on the Microsoft store - but nothing I'd consider a good source yet. Still trying to figure out if I need to package up Centos or make some random msi work. The irony is I've spent more time mucking with this than doing a native Centos 8 install on the same hardware.
newen 6y ago
One reason OS X became popular in the programmer crowd was because of its BSD kernel. Now that Apple is moving towards locking its BSD access down and generally locking down OS X, I think Microsoft sees Windows having a Linux kernel as an opportunity to attract the programmer crowd. WSL is certainly very attractive to me anyway. I’ve used it lots of times for coding.

14 points by andrewl 6y ago

it does not make perfect sense. linux being a windows app makes perfect sense

jve 6y ago

Nonsense. Soneone just told his opinion. How exactly would MS save money by using linux if they already own Windows? And some of us actually like working in windows, by the way.

jka 6y ago
I wouldn't make a bet based on it, but it's possible. Kernel engineering is challenging, precise and experience-based work and it's tricky to recruit and develop for those talents when your codebase is proprietary. A large number of companies depend on Linux, and that creates a common interest in multiple areas - reliability, architecture support, security, and so on. Under this suggestion, "Windows" as you experience it as a user might not change very much - but within the software stack, Linux would replace the existing proprietary kernel.
simonblack 6y ago
How exactly would MS save money by using linux if they already own Windows? Easy. They replace those hundreds of expensive programmers who do nothing but maintain the Microsoft kernel with thousands of free programmers maintaining the Linux kernel. Notice I said 'Microsoft kernel' rather than 'Windows kernel'. That was to distinguish the Windows 'look and feel' code from the underlying invisible OS code. Those hundreds of Windows (Desktop) programmers will remain. It's very likely that you won't notice the difference between Windows with a Microsoft kernel and Windows with a Linux kernel.

ksec 6y ago

I think there is a higher chance of Microsoft Open Sourcing Window Kernel ( but not other part of the OS ) than running Windows on Linux Kernel.

nix23 6y ago

I think he talks about Wine and Dosbox. But Opensource Windows could be the real thing.

FandangoRanger 6y ago

You can tell this is going to happen because we're being softened up for it. First the what-ifs and apologetics, next will come more substantial rumors, then a big speech by Nadella.

heelix 6y ago

I've just started messing with WSL2 on one of my old threadrippers. Ubuntu works. What I've not found yet is a source for Centos. I've found a couple open source projects, and a few beer money entries on the Microsoft store - but nothing I'd consider a good source yet. Still trying to figure out if I need to package up Centos or make some random msi work. The irony is I've spent more time mucking with this than doing a native Centos 8 install on the same hardware.

newen 6y ago

One reason OS X became popular in the programmer crowd was because of its BSD kernel. Now that Apple is moving towards locking its BSD access down and generally locking down OS X, I think Microsoft sees Windows having a Linux kernel as an opportunity to attract the programmer crowd. WSL is certainly very attractive to me anyway. I’ve used it lots of times for coding.