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Microsoft Launches First Shared Source Contest

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the gpl-your-entry dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft has launched its first-ever shared source programming contest. With several XBox 360's and an HDTV on the line, hackers will download 120-day trial versions of Windows CE and associated tools, and create 'cool, real-world' apps using designated shared source components. Judging criteria include originality, real-world practicality, feature-extension of the Shared Source components, project documentation, and a short video that demonstrates the successful operation of the project. The Grand Prize is a complete Xbox 360 dream setup consisting of the Xbox 360 console, a 34-inch HDTV, games, and accessories. Three other winners will be awarded Xbox 360 game consoles."

8 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. in other words by Rooked_One · · Score: 4, Insightful

    work for us without working for us

    1. Re:in other words by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "work for us without working for us"

      If one were to have irrational biases, one could colorfully describe Open Source that way.

      Oversimplifying everything always sucks.

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      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  2. Why not by grahamsz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Give out development kits for the XBox 360. That would spur a lot more cool shared-source development.

  3. Wow... by BrainInAJar · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They've invented the Summer of Code but without all that, you know... money

  4. Who has the copyright? by JanMark · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Who has the copyright of the applications?

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  5. Playing catch-up again, and failing by agent+dero · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This seems like another bad-copy of something Google is doing.

    Google Summer of Code: practically any open source project, involving any components you choose, $4500

    MS Summ3r 0f C0d3: their shared source project, involving components they choose, some electronics that don't pay rent or tuition.

    Gee, what a deal.

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  6. How about sharing your source Microsoft? by BestNicksRTaken · · Score: 4, Insightful

    All of this Microsoft opensource stuff is hollow.

    How about they "share the source" to the Xbox 360 filesystem, or publish an SDK or Linux distribution, jees even evil Sony managed that?

    How about not trying to patent the FAT filesystem, or opening up the specs to NTFS?

    How about giving us the source to WGA, or stop crippling your free Visual Studio Express?

    Yeah, make us create stuff to help sell or fix your products, but don't give anything back.

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  7. who is the target audience? by Captain+Entendre · · Score: 4, Insightful
    The 120-day trial version has been around forever, it's only the contest that's new. The CE dev tools cost around $1k/seat. No slashdotter is going to fork over that kind of cash to do OS development on the weekends. And what would develop against? Most phones and PDAs are locked up tight.

    On the other hand, Linux is free and there's stuff like the WRT54g to run it on. So who is the target audience for this contest? Do they just want to get professional set-top-box developers exposed to their DVR stuff?

    This would actually make sense if they were targeting existing customers. But who do they expect (or hope) will spend 4 months coding furionsly on some cool project, only to lose access to the development tools when it's all over?