Really, what does Linus Torvalds say about Microsoft invading the Linux kernel? Every time we read a story about Microsoft and Linux, we see comments like, "Microsoft is taking control of Linux!" or "Microsoft is trying to destroy Linux" or "Microsoft is a wolf in sheep's clothing and will destroy Linux".
Yes, Microsoft certainly wants to take advantage of Linux. And, yes, Microsoft wants to expand and test Linux.
But everyone is trying to do it and no one can gain control of the open operating system.
In Linux Plumbers Conference of 2019, the Steven ZDNet's J. Vaughan-Nichols spoke with Linus Torvalds and several of the top Linux kernel developers. They agreed that Microsoft wants to control Linux, but they are not particularly worried. This is because Linux, due to its nature and GPL2 open source licensing, cannot be controlled by any third party.
Linus Torvalds stated:
The whole thing with Microsoft may sound funny sometimes, but it's not. Today, it is much friendlier to talk to Microsoft engineers at various conferences and I feel that yes, the company technicians are happy and it seems like they are really working with Linux, so I completely rejected all scripts with Microsoft.
But that does not mean that the leopard (Microsoft) can not change its plans. Sure, we still hear the voices: "This is the old Microsoft, and it's just passing its time."
Linus Torvalds added:
I do not think it is true, I mean, there will be tension, but this is true for every company that comes to Linux, they have their own goals and they want to do things their way, and they have reasons for that.
So with Linux, “Microsoft uses it primarily for Azure and will do everything to make Linux to work well for them "
At the most recent a Linux kernel development report for 2017, The Companies που φαίνεται να βοηθούν είναι οι: Intel, Red Hat, Linaro, IBM, Samsung, SUSE και Google. Each of them has their own goals and they try to do it the best they can. Although some developers volunteer to develop Linux (8,2% in 2017), the core is largely the work of developers working at the above companies.
James Bottomley, IBM Research A Distinguished Engineer and leading developer of the Linux kernel, he believes that Microsoft follows exactly the same process as all other corporate supporters of Linux:
You can't work on the Linux kernel to have any advantage of your own to help gain ownership. Many companies come with proprietary technologies but they need to be convinced that they need something from Linux to help their business. Then their proprietary technologies should go through an open development process, and if someone else finds them useful, the companies should collaborate on that feature.
This means that Microsoft is now "forced to work with others."
Bottomley concluded:
So it doesn't matter if Microsoft has an agenda that resembles that of competitor Red Hat. Developers need to work together for the Linux kernel with a transparent agenda.
In short, Microsoft can be great, but no one is bigger than the entire Linux community.
