Microsoft is considering an open source approach to one of its software libraries, following heavy pressure from developers and sharp competition in the growing mobile device development arena. The decision would be a radical one for Microsoft, a fierce opponent of the open source model of making intellectual property available for modification and redistribution. The surprise move to open source is being considered for the Windows Template Library (WTL) – an enhancement of the C++ language.
Microsoft Eyes Open Source View
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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Open Source != Shared Source
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I hope, I PRAY that WTL goes open source! WTL is the only non-bloated (i.e. not something like MFC or wxWindows) and complete library for Windows GUI programming, and it will be just GREAT for it to go open source!
Does this mean Microsoft is going communist?
Just today i had the fun of coding COM event-handling using VC++. Anyway you slice it, it is not funny. The ongoing “go managed” song in a C# tune is not making me laugh. I´ve already set up 2 linux servers at a client-side and hopefully can make him switch completely, even on the client side. The minute Microsoft stops pure C++ support is the minute i drop Microsoft support.
I don’t think MS would have any reason not to go opensource with this, and get more input in it, it benefits MS and everyone.
The source for WTL is already available – since it’s made of c++ templates..that’s the source right there. I guess it is interesting that they’re considering community input, though.
Rich is right, and the article is misleading. Microsoft will not be making anything open source. The writer apparently doesn’t understand the difference between shared and open source.
I can’t see why MS would be so bothered if they are so confident that all desktop programs will be “managed” in the future. There’s no reason not to give away something they are (apparently) no longer interested in.
it is funny that you see Microsoft praise the BSD license and scorn the GPL one, yet, on the other hand they release their code under an even more restrictive license than GPL.
Why don’t they simply do what Trolltech has done and release it under the same terms and conditions as qt is, if you want to close source development, you pay a small royalty to Microsoft, if it is opensource, you get to use it for free.
Why don’t they simply do what Trolltech has done and release it under the same terms and conditions as qt is, if you want to close source development, you pay a small royalty to Microsoft, if it is opensource, you get to use it for free.
Probably because the largest number of people currently using WTL are using it for free, now, regardless of whether they are releasing their source code.
As for extensions to the library, well, I don’t think there are a lot of people out there rushing to buy closed-source templates…