[Wolves] Microsofts sudden release of GPL code

[Simon B.]

Hi all,

I assume many of you are aware that recent Microsoft submitted a patch 
to the Linux Kernel, which improves performance when running within a 
hyper-v environment.

Which to me is not really a bad thing, though it is mainly beneficial to 
Microsoft as a bit or PR. As Both Xen (in the Citrix form) and Hyper-v 
are trying to get market space from VMWare. :

Today, they have also released a Live Services Plugin for Moodle 
(source: 
http://port25.technet.com/archive/2009/07/21/the-live-services-plug-in-for-moodle-debuts.aspx 
). 

I'm now curious as to the direction they are taking. I don't feel like 
its a move for more interoperability, and it more likely a PR/Marketing 
exercise. Though from the LKML it appears we can expect further patches 
from them also (them = hyper-v team, at least).

Where do you guys reckon this is heading?

I can happily say that if there is a decent MAPI plugin released in the 
future from Microsoft, (though I seriously doubt they would or if they 
did it would be closed source). I can finally rid the need for a Windows 
box.

Thanks,
Simon.