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Microsoft Quietly Released Its Own Linux Distro

36 points by MR4D 5y ago

MR4D 5y ago
Link to the Github repo is here: https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner Makes me wonder when/if we will see WoL (Windows on Linux).
Someone 5y ago
FTA: “Microsoft has developed its own Linux distro, CBL-Mariner, and released it under the open source MIT License.” The GitHub repo (https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner) confirms that license. Linux is GPL2 licensed, so that can’t be included. Is this more a distro builder than a distro, with the builder being MIT licensed?
- Anunayj 5y ago
  Yes, Kind of. I think calling it MIT overall would be a little misleading, If you look closely Microsoft has clearly mentioned what part of the code is released under what license, like for example looking at linux-firmware specification [1]. Added commits to Linux are under GPLv2 (as they have to be), The build script itself is under MIT, while added drivers and under their own respective licenses. Same is true for all bundled packages. List here [2]. So it's more of a Licensed under MIT unless otherwise stated. [1]. https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner/blob/1.0/SPECS/linux-firmware/linux-firmware.spec https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner/blob/1.0/SPECS/linu... [2]. https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner/blob/1.0/SPECS/LICENSES-AND-NOTICES/LICENSES-MAP.md https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner/blob/1.0/SPECS/LICE...
rcfaj7obqrkayhn 5y ago
which stage is it? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend,_and_extinguish https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend,_and_extinguis...
- prirun 5y ago
  Still in embrace IMO. First they have to get corporations to adopt the Microsoft version, though this can be helped along by Extending the Microsoft Linux distribution. Then, once it becomes the most popular distribution, perhaps in conjunction with buying Canonical, they will control Linux. Sure, they likely have to dance with IBM for a while to retain Red Hat's kernel developers, but if IBM can make some cash and secure some concessions from Microsoft, they'd probably be glad to sell Red Hat's assets to Microsquash sometime down the road. It's all conspiracy theory of course. But wouldn't the world look different if Microsoft acquired Canonical and Red Hat. And before someone drags out the GPL and says that can't happen, that problem is easily fixed by putting all of Microsquash's enhancements in kernel modules, or inventing some new wiz-bang tech to run their stuff outside the kernel and outside the GPL. Nah, that could never happen.
- rvz 5y ago
  Extend.
- cpach 5y ago
  TBH – I truly believe that Microsoft has changed their playbook since the 90s. Lots of water under the bridge since the Halloween documents.
simonblack 5y ago
So now it's finally starting to sink in that Microsoft truly is embracing Linux. Freudian Slip?? Seeing, of course, that Microsoft's published philosophy is "Embrace, Extend, Extinguish" as mentioned in the Halloween Documents. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_documents https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_documents
dang 5y ago
A Look into CBL-Mariner, Microsoft’s Internal Linux Distribution - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27792366 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27792366 - July 2021 (118 comments)

36 points by MR4D 5y ago

MR4D 5y ago

Link to the Github repo is here: https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner Makes me wonder when/if we will see WoL (Windows on Linux).

Someone 5y ago

FTA: “Microsoft has developed its own Linux distro, CBL-Mariner, and released it under the open source MIT License.” The GitHub repo (https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner) confirms that license. Linux is GPL2 licensed, so that can’t be included. Is this more a distro builder than a distro, with the builder being MIT licensed?

Anunayj 5y ago
Yes, Kind of. I think calling it MIT overall would be a little misleading, If you look closely Microsoft has clearly mentioned what part of the code is released under what license, like for example looking at linux-firmware specification [1]. Added commits to Linux are under GPLv2 (as they have to be), The build script itself is under MIT, while added drivers and under their own respective licenses. Same is true for all bundled packages. List here [2]. So it's more of a Licensed under MIT unless otherwise stated. [1]. https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner/blob/1.0/SPECS/linux-firmware/linux-firmware.spec https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner/blob/1.0/SPECS/linu... [2]. https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner/blob/1.0/SPECS/LICENSES-AND-NOTICES/LICENSES-MAP.md https://github.com/microsoft/CBL-Mariner/blob/1.0/SPECS/LICE...

rcfaj7obqrkayhn 5y ago

which stage is it? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend,_and_extinguish https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend,_and_extinguis...

prirun 5y ago
Still in embrace IMO. First they have to get corporations to adopt the Microsoft version, though this can be helped along by Extending the Microsoft Linux distribution. Then, once it becomes the most popular distribution, perhaps in conjunction with buying Canonical, they will control Linux. Sure, they likely have to dance with IBM for a while to retain Red Hat's kernel developers, but if IBM can make some cash and secure some concessions from Microsoft, they'd probably be glad to sell Red Hat's assets to Microsquash sometime down the road. It's all conspiracy theory of course. But wouldn't the world look different if Microsoft acquired Canonical and Red Hat. And before someone drags out the GPL and says that can't happen, that problem is easily fixed by putting all of Microsquash's enhancements in kernel modules, or inventing some new wiz-bang tech to run their stuff outside the kernel and outside the GPL. Nah, that could never happen.
rvz 5y ago
Extend.
cpach 5y ago
TBH – I truly believe that Microsoft has changed their playbook since the 90s. Lots of water under the bridge since the Halloween documents.

simonblack 5y ago

So now it's finally starting to sink in that Microsoft truly is embracing Linux. Freudian Slip?? Seeing, of course, that Microsoft's published philosophy is "Embrace, Extend, Extinguish" as mentioned in the Halloween Documents. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_documents https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_documents

dang 5y ago

A Look into CBL-Mariner, Microsoft’s Internal Linux Distribution - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27792366 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27792366 - July 2021 (118 comments)