[Python-Dev] Microsoft to acquire GitHub for $7.5 billion

[Steven D'Aprano]

On Mon, Jun 04, 2018 at 07:25:49PM +0200, Matěj Cepl wrote:
> On 2018-06-04, 16:06 GMT, Guido van Rossum wrote:
> > I don't see how this *increases* the uncertainty. Surely if 
> > GitHub had remained independent there would have been be 
> > similar concerns about how it would make enough money to stay 
> > in business.
> 
> Beacuse Microsoft is known to keep a money loosing venture 
> around forever?

No, but Guido is right: neither is anyone else.

In that regard, Microsoft is probably *more* likely to keep pumping 
money into a failing business if it gives them a strategic advantage, 
compared to other investors with no long-term strategy other than "get 
aquired by Google/Microsoft/Oracle/Apple".

But on the other hand, Microsoft (or at least the bad old Microsoft of 
Bill Gates' days) has a long history of "Embrace, Extend, Extinguish" 
as policy:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend,_and_extinguish

(Not that Microsoft is the only big tech company that does/did this.)

Anyway, this is just all speculation at this point. In the short term, 
nothing changes, and it is too early to tell how it changes the long 
term.


-- 
Steve