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Sam Ramji, Microsoft's Open Source Guru, Is Moving On

Posted by Soulskill on from the onward-and-upward dept.

barking_at_airplanes writes "Some called him crazy a few years ago when he joined Microsoft to run the Open Source Software Lab, but Sam Ramji endured and made real differences to how Microsoft treats open source and how open source people view Microsoft. Ramji is now heading back to Silicon Valley to join a cloud computing startup. Sam comments in his announcement: '46 months later, I am amazed at the changes that have occurred for the company, for the team I belonged to, and the sentiments of the industry.' It's a statement which, 46 months ago, few Slashdotters would have thought could come true! With Sam leaving, can Microsoft's positive momentum into open source continue successfully? Bill Hilf says they're 'actively seeking someone to fill Sam's shoes.'"

8 of 155 comments (clear)

  1. I know! by Lord+Byron+II · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hire Stallman!

    1. Re:I know! by aetherworld · · Score: 5, Funny

      Wait... so we would get free Microsoft products that look cool and only do one thing, but they do it well? Can we please lock those guys up in a room already until they come up with that idea?

    2. Re:I know! by jonadab · · Score: 5, Funny

      You don't want to put Jobs and Stallman in a room together, trust me. Gates and Stallman would probably just give eachother the cold shoulder (what would they have to say to one another, after all?), but Jobs would probably do something to get Stallman riled. Could get messy.

      --
      Cut that out, or I will ship you to Norilsk in a box.
  2. Really? by kubrick · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sam Ramji... made real differences to how Microsoft treats open source and how open source people view Microsoft.

    [Citation needed]

    --
    deus does not exist but if he does
    1. Re:Really? by minsk · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I believe it.

      A few years ago, Microsoft was ignoring Free Software and Open Source. Now Microsoft has moved onto misleading branding, false marketing, patent threats, and courting developers with what traditionally turned out to be empty promises.

      So, the same way they treat other competition.

  3. What are you smoking? by Grokmoo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The article claims Ramji has improved relations between Microsoft and open source people? Since when have relations between Microsoft and open source been anything but negative? We read stories on here almost every day about some new point of conflict.

  4. Microsoft promises to play nice *this* time by David+Gerard · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft has announced Microsoft CodePlex, its new Open Source foundation.

    "We want to be more responsive to your needs," said Sam Ramji of Microsoft during a Linux Foundation Collaboration Summit panel this week as he wiped rotten tomatoes off his suit.

    "We want all open source innovation to happen on Windows. In practice, Windows is too slow, and just putting Linux underneath the same software stack triples performance. So we're running the Windows versions of the software on Linux using Wine. We'll also be funding the Wine on Windows initiative."

    The new Microsoft Amazingly Open And Genuine Public License allows you complete freedom to use, modify and redistribute the software provided that every copy comes with a DVD of Windows Vista Ultimate, you acknowledge that Microsoft's FAT patent protects a remarkable and valuable innovation in computer science and all accompanying documentation is in OOXML. Also, all your data belongs to Microsoft.

    The overwhelming dominance of Microsoft was assured, he said, pointing to their success in paying netbook manufacturers to use Windows XP and paying US retailers not to stock the Linux versions of the computers. "We're also enforcing our patent on right-clicking. And on the number seven." Ramji reassured journalists of his absolute faith in the power of Microsoft's vision, just before quitting to work somewhere -- anywhere -- else.

    --
    http://rocknerd.co.uk
  5. You forgot one... by ichbineinneuben · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You forgot to add corrupting an international standards body...