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Is Interoperability The Right Microsoft Open Source Strategy?

By Mitchell Ashley on Fri, 05/15/09 - 3:16am.

Win over the PHP open source community. Get PHP developers to put their apps on Windows and Microsoft technologies rather than open source software options on Linux. That's what Microsoft would love to do. The BHAG (big hairy "audacious" goal) would be to achieve a transformation from LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP), the dominant web app platform de-facto standard, to a new Microsoft model, WISP (Windows, IIS, SQL Server and PHP). But the distance between passionate open source users and Microsoft is as wide as the chasm between Starfleet Federation and the Romulans. (I always love it when I can get at least one sci-fi reference, especially a Star Trek reference, in a blog post.)

Microsoft's been employing the nice guy approach; "We may be Romulans, but we're nice Romulans and we just want to interoperate. Your open source would go well with our Romulan ale." (Okay, that's two.) The Microsoft olive branch to the open source world is the Open Source Technology Center, or OSTC. Near the end of last year it seems the chatter about Microsoft and PHP began increasing again, and earlier in May an OSTC member began dialoging with members on the PHPfreaks forums.

Microsoft is working to improve the interface libraries between PHP and technologies like SQL Server and IIS, addressing issues and difficulties PHP developers encounter. Earlier this week Microsoft announced PHPAzure, an Azure SDK for PHP. There's a very specific (one of the most specific I've seen from Microsoft) schedule and line item list of features for PHPAzure starting with today's technology preview release, with two more feature releases at the end of July and August. Maybe embracing PHP on the Azure platform was inevitable, maybe it was just a smart move. The question is, will interoperability with open source PHP make enough of a difference to matter.

The problem with just relying on interoperability between Microsoft and open source technologies is it really only addresses one aspect of a pretty daunting challenge. The Microsoft interoperability strategy is about making it easier for PHP developers who bump up against or may even need to run their software on Microsoft technologies. It's the plug your nose and take a bite approach. We'll minimize the unpleasantness (barriers) as much as possible. The hopes are removing the barriers creates opportunities for PHP'ers to grow accustomed to and begin to use Microsoft technologies.

That seems to me to be an effort thats far from resulting in winning over droves of PHP developers and applications. Open source advocates are so because they believe in the open source model, and revel in its freedom from Microsoft. Many work with open source technologies for the mere fact that it's not Microsoft. Even mighty Sun (well, mighty at the time) had to begin bringing Java into more of an open source model. Until Microsoft makes some bold move, like open sourcing some of Microsoft's technologies, Microsoft will be seen as clumsy, ingenious, only bumping up against open source not embracing it.

Microsoft's challenge is what technology could they relicense as open source, and the revenue stream that goes along with it, would make a credible enough impact to win over even a small portion of the open source community. Interoperability is the price to play, but not the winning strategy.

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Microsoft's urge to win

0
By Jeremiah (not verified) on Sat, 05/16/2009 - 3:32am.

Brilliant write up!! I loved the way you analyze things. Interoperability may not be the winning strategy but its certainly an important one in the present scenario.

Microsoft is striving hard to change the way people percieve them. With Windows 7, Zune and Visual Studio8 n 10 being launched it will certainly prove tht its the best in technology. http://bit.ly/OxdIK <--- This is a proof to it. Kindly review this as well. Many thanks :)

Too late

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By Termina (not verified) on Sat, 05/16/2009 - 9:54am.

Microsoft's tactics of Embrace, extend and extinguish are well known.

Their "Get The Facts" campaign hasn't received a very positive response from the open source community either.

It's too little too late. Why leave an open platform that fills your needs for a less secure, expensive model?

L4L

0
By JuPac (not verified) on Sat, 05/16/2009 - 1:29pm.

Linux 4 Life!

False Dichotomy

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By Bob (not verified) on Sun, 05/17/2009 - 11:43pm.

There is a false dichotomy in saying that PHP users are open source zealots. This is not necessarily true. I am a Windows programmer, but have a very important (to me) website programmed in PHP running on Linux. There is no issue with this, nor do I have any qualms about it. I use open source/free software when it works for me, and I use and program Windows when it make sense as well.

It is foolish and simple-minded to create a dichotomy when there isn't one. In an effort to reduce the issue a religious one, you lose all of the nuance involved in the decisions. I would consider moving my PHP application to Microsoft's platform if it allows me to work as easily or easier than I currently do. There is nothing for Microsoft to "extinguish", as one commenter mentioned. If it stops working for me, I can easily move on. I have moved providers more often than I care to remember.

I agree, from an Open Source zealot

0
By Bill (not verified) on Fri, 05/22/2009 - 2:30pm.

I agree completely, although I come from a slightly different angle. I make my living specializing in the LAMP stack and building highly scalable web applications.

I use LAMP almost exclusively and with great success. I have no problem adding another tool to my toolbox if there is a reason to do so.

The PHP userbase is a more pragmatic community. Anybody who knows PHP well knows it is not the prettiest or most elegant language, and it certainly isn't consistent and well formed like Ruby or Perl, yet we use it because it is very easy to use and has native functionality that makes certain types of applications easier to build. I think most outsiders would be surprised to know that even our most popular PHP magazine runs articles introducing proprietary technologies like FLEX and talks up PHP and FLEX integration.

If Microsoft can bring something to the table that solves a problem or makes things easier for me and my clients, then I will gladly take the time to check it out.

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About Converging on Microsoft
Mitchell Ashley is principal consultant at Converging Network LLC where he provides product, technology and social media consulting to emerging technology companies. A successful CTO and product innovator, Mitchell has created many successful, award winning products in the networking, security, convergence, Internet and IT industries. In addition to blogging for NetworkWorld, Mitchell regularly blogs at TheConvergingNetwork and co-hosts the widely popular StillSecure After All These Years podcast.
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