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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."

15 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 HillBilly · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Other companies such as Google have done the same.

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      "Go into the hall of mirrors and have a bloody hard look at yourself" - HG Nelson
    2. Re:in other words by Bacon+Bits · · Score: 3, Insightful
      What do you think SourceForge is?

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

      --
      The road to tyranny has always been paved with claims of necessity.
    3. 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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    -- (:> jms cs.vu.nl (_) --"---
    1. Re:Who has the copyright? by elmartinos · · Score: 5, Informative
      From the official rules:
      You may make the source code for your Project available under the license of your choice. 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.
      --
      Open Source Alternatives
    2. Re:Who has the copyright? by killjoe · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think it's vile that MS is encouraging communism in young people. It's just not right to encourage such anti capitalist, anti American behavior amongst young people.

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      evil is as evil does
  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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    Error 407 - No creative sig found
  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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    #include <sig.h>
  7. odd, SoC... by deander2 · · Score: 4, Interesting

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

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    http://kered.org
  8. And another thing! by kahei · · Score: 5, Funny


    Now Microsoft, my dear fellow, here's a thing: one doesn't create cool, real-world apps on a 120-day trial version of an OS. It simply isn't done. Oh, how I wish it were; but as it's not, it just isn't.

    Now, I realize this is all part of your 'capture markets that everyone actively avoids' strategy.

    Having advanced into the 'phones that stop you from playing music' market and the 'OS licenses that suddenly cut out because you didn't keep on paying' market, you're now charging into the 'writing software for environments which you have so little interest in that you need a time-limited trial version' market.

    Tally-ho, eh?

    Splendid stuff but to be quite honest I'm not at all sure you know what you're doing!

    Anyway toodle-pip. I have the Duke of Guernsey coming over for Quake. Quake 2, that is -- old Guernsey isn't quite on top of the trends, I fear! Splendid chap nonetheless. Anyway I must dash. Fucktard.

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    Whence? Hence. Whither? Thither.
  9. Why not share the tools? by jkrise · · Score: 3, Insightful

    From TFA: "Create your cool Windows CE project using 120-day free evaluation versions of Windows CE and its development tools, either or both of the designated Microsoft Shared Source components, and your own programming ingenuity".

    So, you complete a great cool project, everyone gets to use your code... and then! You Pay Microsoft for continued use of the tools used!

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    If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
  10. 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?