Microsoft to share Office code
Posted by Mr magoo on 20 September 2004 - 13:36 · 26 comments & 2246 views
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#1 Posted by empty on 20 Sep 2004 - 13:38
- heh, sure hope it isnt leaked
would be another fiasco
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(2 replies)
#2 Posted by hulibecker on 20 Sep 2004 - 13:40
- Sounds like Microsoft are begining to worry a bit bout competition!!! LOL
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#2.1 Posted by markjensen on 20 Sep 2004 - 13:56
- I think it is more because of governments' concerns over the 'security' of the software - making sure that there aren't any secret 'back doors'.
You know.... Too many conspiricy theories!
lol
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(1 reply)
#3 Posted by nathanintu on 20 Sep 2004 - 13:47
- bad move.
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#3.1 Posted by Wrath Delivery on 20 Sep 2004 - 13:58
- agreed.
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#4 Posted by v_magal on 20 Sep 2004 - 13:54
- I dont know what to think of this. i'll just keep up on this story as it unfolds
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(3 replies)
#5 Posted by nw_raptor on 20 Sep 2004 - 14:02
- lol - open source but not freeware... very weird...
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#5.2 Posted by MR_Candyman on 20 Sep 2004 - 16:30
- besides, not all open source is freeware...take SuSe and Redhat for example
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#5.3 Posted by mr_da3m0n on 20 Sep 2004 - 18:41
- Open Source is free software. Free as in "libre", as in, freedom of speech. Not Free as in "beer".
Besides it's not Open Source. They are disclosing the source to governement so they don't get trouble if a major hole is found. That plus, I assume they like the idea of having people do Audits for them.
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(3 replies)
#6 Posted by Ramses on 20 Sep 2004 - 14:03
QUOTE Governments often use and need software from a variety of vendors to work together to ensure efficiency. Microsoft hopes the move will restore any faith lost in the past few years;
It seems to me that microsoft should make better programs and show those source coude, not the ones of obsolete (soon to be replaced with Longhorn versions) software
With kind regards
Ramses (will follow the c0de - Assembly, the language of the Gods!)-
#6.1 Posted by shao on 20 Sep 2004 - 15:21
- they're replacing office with longhorn?? since when??
also, my personal experience microsoft's products tend to be far more feature rich than most open source alternatives, where open source software tends to really lack in innovation - instead resorting to extensive and blatant feature theft from commercial alternatives. Not always the case, i know, but it's certainly happened more than a handful of times.
in the case of office there are still large portions of the suite for which there are no open source alternatives.. if you don't need that functionality then the choice is kind of simple... or so a lot of people think. -
#6.2 Posted by Ramses on 20 Sep 2004 - 15:43
- Ms will release new OS codenamed Longhorn. As is it's custom, Ms will release Office version for new OS, thus Office 2003 will be obsolete.
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#6.3 Posted by JaggedFlame on 20 Sep 2004 - 16:32
- That's more than three years away.
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#7 Posted by SniperX on 20 Sep 2004 - 14:31
- Nice token gesture but worthless.
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(2 replies)
#8 Posted by CubanPete on 20 Sep 2004 - 15:04
- I dont see any positive measures this could bring. I also dont understand why governments choose open source software? what is the point if everyone else can view the source to find exploits.
Also the governments could leak the code and even if ms do know who it was, what are they gonna do sue the government's? Or maybe refuse to supply them?
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#8.1 Posted by Darkinspiration on 20 Sep 2004 - 15:27
- it's simple the move is a psychological one. By opening up the source of it's product microsoft intend to prouve to gouvernement agency's that it's software is secure. You should note that microsoft will most likely not realease the entire source code of a given product only specefic part and even then only under a really restrictive agreement.
As for gouvernement agency switching to opensource software the main reason is cost.
if you have a network with a domain structure under a windows NT server it would cost you hundred of thousand of dollards to switch to windows 2003 and you would have to redesign your structure for ADS. With open source all you have to do is configure samba
and replace your nt server with your new box without having to pay for the per seet license. Really useful if you consider that windows NT is no longer supported by microsoft
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#8.2 Posted by noyb on 20 Sep 2004 - 21:21
- @CubanPete, the open source argument works both ways. Yes bad people can view the source to find exploits, but so can the good guys, this also has the benefit of patching quicker.
MS are doing this as a direct result of competition, i noticed that some people disagree but just think open source has the value benefits attached to it and in this transitional stage between NT and 2003 it is all more important, not to mention MS does not have a new client system out until 2006-2007. Darkinspiration gives a good example of this.
As for open source regarding competition, put it this way despite patches and security settings, to the typical user and especially branches of the public sector Windows has been one big pain in the ass over the last two years, 9x systems were cursed with bad stabillity and XP systems its security that has brought a dark cloud over MS's reputation. By giving them shared source they are handing them an olive branch saying keep trusing us, we are serious about security now, and as such you can even monitor part of the source for yourselves should you have any doubts.
The next three years are going to be an exciting time in the IT world because MS has kinda screwed up in their release schedule and its the time that *nix systems are going to have to pull their socks up and take advantage. MS knows this and they are worried, especially in government and corporate sectors.
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#9 Posted by aristotle-dude on 20 Sep 2004 - 15:54
- "Pull back, It's a trap!"
Seriously, anyone involved in Open Source should avoid contact with this shared code or MS could try to pull a SCO on you.
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(3 replies)
#10 Posted by xp1ode on 20 Sep 2004 - 16:32
- I dunno about this move, i doubt is actually a "smart" one if anything, But i guess MS has to do something in order to get these countries to accept their product instead of the competition. I also still think that alot of these mishaps with Windows and all are mostly due to on the user part, yes i acknowledge that the code has holes and can be exploited but by taking certain measures and precautions im sure everyone can live with some of them, but then again thats an ongoing topic that will probably never end....
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#10.1 Posted by kronik on 20 Sep 2004 - 17:05
- i'm sure Microsoft have put enough research funding into this kind of super-fragile step, as they do with most of their major inovations. let them do the worrying, we are merely capable of sounding our opinions on such comprehensive issues. trust me these people know what they are doing.
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#10.2 Posted by Ramses on 20 Sep 2004 - 17:57
QUOTE trust me these people know what they are doing. 
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#11 Posted by mtdlabs on 20 Sep 2004 - 20:53
- Not giving up some source just means another day in court. I guess they're getting a bit tired of that by now.
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#12 Posted by Coolme on 20 Sep 2004 - 21:42
- I am willing to bet everyone here 10 bucks that some of the code will be leaked...
Microsoft’s main competitor in many markets is free software. More often than not, it's also open source (i.e. anyone can view the underlying code that makes the programs work). Microsoft programs are generally closed source and are only opened up to select people, often with tight restrictions.
To a certain extent, Microsoft has opened up the code to stay competitive (or ahead of the game) with regard to Open Source software. Asides from this fact, the problems with security and inter-operability with Microsoft programs has prompted the move. Governments often use and need software from a variety of vendors to work together to ensure efficiency. Microsoft hopes the move will restore any faith lost in the past few years; recently, the company has been beaten to some lucrative and high value contracts by Open Source alternatives.
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