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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."

5 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. Brilliant Move by Enderandrew · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Despite comparisons to Google's Summer of Code (which is far more generous to the community on the whole) this is in fact a smart move for Microsoft. They get code on the cheap, and PR at the whole time.

    If I ran a business like Microsoft, I'd be doing the same type of things.

    --
    http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
  2. amazing... by advocate_one · · Score: 2, Interesting
    does this include GPL???

    rules

    However, we encourage you to make the source code available under a license that offers users very broad use rights, with few restrictions, and so would enable a larger community to come together for learning, collaboration, and reuse based on your Project. For an example, see the Microsoft Permissive License.
    --
    Donald 'Duck' Dunn: We had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.
  3. odd, SoC... by deander2 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    odd that they would announce this the very day google announces the summer of code winners...

    --
    http://kered.org
  4. For legitimate homebrew... by halfcuban · · Score: 2, Interesting
    For legitimate homebrew, I would wait for the PS3 and its inclusion of Linux. Why waste your efforts on something thats only for a contest, when you could build long-term projects for the PS3, and possibly see them arrive for the larger Linux community?

    Speaking of which, am I the only one who see's the PS3 as the world's greatest way to sneak Linux in the backdoor into homes? Imagine the possibilities of turning a PS3 into a fully functional desktop, except with the massive horsepower of the Cell architecture behind it. The possibilities could be endless.

  5. Re:in other words by ookaze · · Score: 2, Interesting

    What do you think SourceForge is?

    And you ?
    For sure, SourceForge is NOT a place where the dev tools stop working 120 days after you started coding.

    Complaining that developers don't get paid for MS's shared source software while many FOSS developers also develop for no pay is obtuse

    But complaining that developers can't even keep the dev environment unless they pay the company making the contest is not obtuse at all.