Slashdot Mirror


OSS on Windows the Next Big Thing?

Lam1969 writes "Linux geeks and Microsoft have similar interests, says Computerworld: They both are interested in seeing open-source software succeed. Linux geeks admit that the open source OS isn't necessarily a better platform for important applications, and Microsoft recognizes that many of its customers are using open-source applications, and doesn't want to alienate them." From the article: "Faced with the allure of inexpensive open-source applications among its core customer base of small to midsize businesses, Microsoft has toned down its rhetoric. 'It's a myth that open-source and Windows can't work together. Customers just aren't religious about these things,' said Ryan Gavin, a director of platform strategy for Microsoft."

3 of 351 comments (clear)

  1. Re:MS Grasping for Straws by Quarters · · Score: 4, Informative

    And there's nothing OSS unfriendly about the Windows APIs. The APIs I have access to and documentation for in VisualStudio work equally well regardless of whether or not I create a proprietary or open application.

  2. Re:MS Grasping for Straws by toadlife · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://unxutils.sourceforge.net/

    dd is included. I use these on my Windows servers at work all the time.

    --
    I don't always use unix-like operating systems; but when I do, I prefer FreeBSD.
  3. Re:MS Grasping for Straws by spatley · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yes, but you have VisualStudio. That investment is a significant barrier to many...
    No you don't, M$ does give away Visual Studio tools in fully functional and free Express versions like C# Express

    Granted, that would not help you with connecting VB6 access applications to mySql ODBC source, but that kind of interoperability is a tall order on any platform.