4 ms·

I bet that there is already some Linux version reverse-developed inside Microsoft with a windows copy on top and a working compatability layer below.

pas 3y ago
they already have a compatibiltiy layer for "SQL Server on Linux", they had one for WSL1 (but WSL2 just runs in a VM), Edge already has official Linux builds. And as Office moves to the cloud all they need is just a thin-client running Edge. WSL2 already uses a VNC/RDP something to show Linux applications on the host, so it's not far-fetched to run the old legacy stuff in Windows VMs on Azure and VNC/RDP that to the user. but I think corporate IT is still in love with group policies, and many fancy "endpoint security" things (device management for compliance), and they might be slow to change
- red-iron-pine 3y ago
  > but I think corporate IT is still in love with group policies, and many fancy "endpoint security" things (device management for compliance), and they might be slow to change Aye, AD rules the roost, as does O365 and being able to lock down work laptops. I've done work w/ FreeIPA and OpenLDAP stuff -- and as much as I hate to admit it, I think AD is better for that, and it's not hard to find an SME. Also kinda liked powershell, though I don't use it very often.
izacus 3y ago
In what world would that make any sense? Like, seriously, how did you get from "Microsoft is pushing ads into the OS they own so they earn more" to "That means that they are spending money to rebuild their OS on top of another OS they don't own" ?
- Lutger 3y ago
  Earn ads mean they don't need to make money with the OS itself anymore, which means they can give it away for free, which means its important for it to be cheap, which means its better to use something free and built on top. Not sure I agree with the logic, but this is what I imagine the reasoning is. I don't think the reasoning applies when you still have market dominance, and MS still does on the desktop.
  - izacus 3y ago
    I also doubt it applies when you need to pay thousands of engineering ours to rebuild your OS on top of another kernel... despite already owning said OS and said OS being complete and stable.
- Sohcahtoa82 3y ago
  I'm suddenly imagining Microsoft abandoning the Windows kernel and switching to a full Linux kernel in the future. At that point, Windows would just become another Linux distro. We could finally talk about it being the year of the Linux desktop without it being a meme. On one hand, it could mean MS could lay off a TON of staff since they don't have to maintain their own kernel and can rely on open source. On the other, it would likely mean that software designed for Windows could now easily be run on any other Linux distro with little work. For many people (especially gamers), there'd be no reason to use Windows anymore. It's a pipe dream, for sure. If it happened, wouldn't it require MS to open source Windows, especially if they made their own modifications to the Linux kernel?
Mindwipe 3y ago
I doubt it. For a start, it doesn't appear from Windows 11 that "looking, feeling or acting like the Windows UI that users want" is actually something very high up the priority list for Microsoft.
pahbloo 3y ago
It would be incredibly ironic if Linux were to win the desktop, and Microsoft were to become the biggest vendor.

pas 3y ago

they already have a compatibiltiy layer for "SQL Server on Linux", they had one for WSL1 (but WSL2 just runs in a VM), Edge already has official Linux builds. And as Office moves to the cloud all they need is just a thin-client running Edge. WSL2 already uses a VNC/RDP something to show Linux applications on the host, so it's not far-fetched to run the old legacy stuff in Windows VMs on Azure and VNC/RDP that to the user. but I think corporate IT is still in love with group policies, and many fancy "endpoint security" things (device management for compliance), and they might be slow to change

red-iron-pine 3y ago
> but I think corporate IT is still in love with group policies, and many fancy "endpoint security" things (device management for compliance), and they might be slow to change Aye, AD rules the roost, as does O365 and being able to lock down work laptops. I've done work w/ FreeIPA and OpenLDAP stuff -- and as much as I hate to admit it, I think AD is better for that, and it's not hard to find an SME. Also kinda liked powershell, though I don't use it very often.

izacus 3y ago

In what world would that make any sense? Like, seriously, how did you get from "Microsoft is pushing ads into the OS they own so they earn more" to "That means that they are spending money to rebuild their OS on top of another OS they don't own" ?

Lutger 3y ago
Earn ads mean they don't need to make money with the OS itself anymore, which means they can give it away for free, which means its important for it to be cheap, which means its better to use something free and built on top. Not sure I agree with the logic, but this is what I imagine the reasoning is. I don't think the reasoning applies when you still have market dominance, and MS still does on the desktop.
- izacus 3y ago
  I also doubt it applies when you need to pay thousands of engineering ours to rebuild your OS on top of another kernel... despite already owning said OS and said OS being complete and stable.
Sohcahtoa82 3y ago
I'm suddenly imagining Microsoft abandoning the Windows kernel and switching to a full Linux kernel in the future. At that point, Windows would just become another Linux distro. We could finally talk about it being the year of the Linux desktop without it being a meme. On one hand, it could mean MS could lay off a TON of staff since they don't have to maintain their own kernel and can rely on open source. On the other, it would likely mean that software designed for Windows could now easily be run on any other Linux distro with little work. For many people (especially gamers), there'd be no reason to use Windows anymore. It's a pipe dream, for sure. If it happened, wouldn't it require MS to open source Windows, especially if they made their own modifications to the Linux kernel?

Mindwipe 3y ago

I doubt it. For a start, it doesn't appear from Windows 11 that "looking, feeling or acting like the Windows UI that users want" is actually something very high up the priority list for Microsoft.

pahbloo 3y ago

It would be incredibly ironic if Linux were to win the desktop, and Microsoft were to become the biggest vendor.