Ten ways Microsoft could aid Linux

• Tags:
• Standards,
• Windows,
• Linux,
• Open Source

Jack Wallen

Published: 08 May 2009 15:05 BST

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Rather than remaining locked in a struggle, Microsoft and Linux should form an alliance and work together for the benefit of all, says Jack Wallen.

I confess I never thought I would ever consider suggesting Microsoft could help Linux. I always firmly believed Microsoft and Linux would remain mortal enemies and hoped that one — Linux — would rise above the other. That has not happened.

In fact, it seems Windows and Linux are determined to coexist. With that status quo in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to list the ways Microsoft could help Linux consolidate its position as a viable enterprise and end-user operating system.

1. Standards
Recently, I have become a champion of standards. Without standards, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Linux to progress from its present plateau. Obviously, Microsoft is influential in this area because it has been the de facto provider of standards for such a long time. Microsoft could help Linux by joining the Linux Standards Base (LSB), so that some semblance of standards could be agreed.

Why would Microsoft's involvement help? Simple: if Microsoft helped create a Linux standard that worked alongside the current and future Windows standard, the LSB and Linux community would gladly accept it.

Think about it. No more having to reverse-engineer Office document formats or media file formats. Perhaps Microsoft could help Linux arrive at a standard that would be better suited to the average user. With Microsoft backing a Linux standard, the Linux operating system would certainly gain more acceptance once that standard was adopted.

2. Code sharing
In the past year, the Linux community has realised that Microsoft does in fact use code from open-source software — and why not? Apache code could only make the Windows Server code better. I am sure that among the millions upon millions of lines of Windows code, there are elements that could help Linux.

Shared code would allow these two operating systems to function better together, giving them an edge. Instead of fighting against one another, they could work together.

Linux loyalists have always had a problem adopting Windows. It just seems to go against their nature. But if Microsoft and Linux worked together on code, that animosity would dissipate. Microsoft could also capitalise on this collaboration in many ways. More on that later.

3. Microsoft Linux
Yes, I am advocating a Microsoft Linux. If Microsoft put its weight behind a Linux distribution, there is no way the enterprise could deny the operating system's validity and value.

Furthermore, the general public considers anything produced by Microsoft to be synonymous with computing. If Microsoft created its own distribution, Linux would become a household name. Hardware companies would start creating drivers, and vendors would quite possibly start pre-installing Linux in serious quantities.

How is that a win-win situation? Microsoft would be able to sell its version of Linux. The income would probably be small compared with that generated by Windows, but it would still generate revenue. By selling the operating system, Microsoft would be selling support for the operating system. Win-win.

4. Applications
Applications are an area where Microsoft could seriously capitalise on Linux. If Microsoft really wanted to help itself and Linux, it would port its applications to Linux. That porting would bolster Microsoft sales — all those Linux users would be potential buyers of Microsoft software — and it would bolster Linux by removing the final hurdles for adoption by more people.

If Office, Outlook, Publisher and Money were ported, Linux adoption would soar. All those copies of Microsoft software would not be given away, so that would mean revenue for Microsoft.

This development could also play out in another way: Microsoft could port open-source applications to Windows. How does that benefit Linux? More people becoming familiar with open-source applications means more people familiar with the tools of the Linux trade. Again, a win-win situation.

5. Marketing
One of the biggest problems the Linux operating system has faced is poor visibility. Ask IT professionals what they know about Linux and you will probably get a litany of information. Put the same question to average users and you are lucky if they even know Linux exists. Why? Inadequate marketing.

Everyone knows about Windows because it has the Microsoft marketing juggernaut behind it. If Microsoft decided to become Linux's bedfellow, it could bolster the Linux IQ of the average user simply by making people aware of its existence.

Here is another idea. If Microsoft were serious about supporting the penguin, it could ship free or trial versions of its own Linux distribution with every version of Windows.

I realise most people would ask, "why would Microsoft want to market its competition?" It wouldn't. But if Microsoft positioned itself in such a way that the marketing of Linux would bolster its own sales — see point 4 above — the benefit becomes obvious.

6. Development
There are numerous open-source Linux applications. Many are outstanding pieces of software that may never gain much traction...

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