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Ask Slashdot: Should We Worry Microsoft Will 'Embrace, Extend, and Extinguish' Linux? (betanews.com)

BrianFagioli writes: While there is no proof that anything nefarious is afoot, it does feel like maybe the Windows-maker is hijacking the Linux movement a bit by serving distros in its store. I hope there is no "embrace, extend, and extinguish" shenanigans going on.

Just yesterday, we reported that Kali Linux was in the Microsoft Store for Windows 10. That was big news, but it was not particularly significant in the grand scheme, as Kali is not very well known. Today, there is some undeniably huge news -- Debian is joining SUSE, Ubuntu, and Kali in the Microsoft Store. Should the Linux community be worried?

My concern lately is that Microsoft could eventually try to make the concept of running a Linux distro natively a thing of the past. Whether or not that is the company's intention is unknown. The Windows maker gives no reason to suspect evil plans, other than past negative comments about Linux and open source. For instance, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer once called Linux "cancer" -- seriously.

4 of 431 comments (clear)

  1. Re: I got something for u to embrace by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Youâ(TM)ve already extended them I assume, so letâ(TM)s just extinguish this now.

  2. Re:No, absolutely not by 110010001000 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wow! You can't graphically ask for a current IP address? That sounds terrible.

  3. It could totally happen! by Kludge · · Score: 4, Funny

    Any moment now Google, Facebook, Netflix, and Amazon might switch all their servers to "Windows Enterprise" edition.

    I can't even read my own stuff without giggling.

  4. Re:Embracing a Cancer? by fisted · · Score: 3, Funny

    feel nothing but pity

    Lucky you! I additionally feel the occasional searing pain in the ass when my job forces me to fiddle with a windows box.