In a landmark event for the tech industry, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Linux creator Linus Torvalds met for the first time during a dinner hosted by Microsoft's Azure CTO, Mark Russinovich. This gathering, which also included software luminary David Cutler, was captured in a photograph shared by Russinovich on LinkedIn, humorously captioned: "No major kernel decisions were made, but maybe next dinner." (tomshardware.com)
The meeting is particularly noteworthy given the historical rivalry between Microsoft's Windows operating system and the open-source Linux platform. For decades, these two systems have represented contrasting philosophies in software development and distribution. Windows, with its proprietary model, has dominated the consumer market, while Linux, championing open-source principles, has been favored in server environments and by developers seeking customization and control.
Linus Torvalds, known for his candid critiques, has previously expressed strong opinions about Microsoft's software. In a 1999 interview, he remarked, "Microsoft does a lot of pretty good programs and they really suck at other things." (softpanorama.org) Such statements underscore the deep-seated competition and differing ideologies that have characterized the relationship between the two entities.
However, under the leadership of CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft has made significant strides toward embracing open-source technologies. In 2016, the company joined the Linux Foundation and has since contributed to the Linux kernel, integrating it into its Azure cloud platform. This shift was symbolized by Nadella's public declaration, standing before a backdrop that read "Microsoft
Linux." (businessinsider.com)The dinner meeting between Gates and Torvalds signifies a potential thawing of past tensions and hints at future collaborations. While the specifics of their conversation remain undisclosed, the mere occurrence of this meeting suggests a mutual recognition of each other's contributions to the tech world. As the industry continues to evolve, such dialogues could pave the way for more integrated and cooperative developments between proprietary and open-source platforms.
Source: inkl Bill Gates just met the creator of Linux for the first time ever — "No major kernel decisions were made" at Azure CTO's dinner
