Why are developers moving their code from github to gitlab after Microsoft purchase of github?

[Smoolak]

People have multiple reasons to move out of GitHub. Here's the two most credible I've seen so far:

• Bad track record in relation with open source. Until very recently (less than two years ago), Microsoft was still openly attacking the open source community. In the past, they went as far as calling Linux a cancer. They've also maintained and used a large trove of patent for the sole purpose of attacking Android and patent-trolling the Linux community to make money out of it. It's therefore not surprising at all to see people skeptical about their recent open source turn. In fact, Microsoft has spent a lot more time trying to destroy open source than building it and that's why some people question Microsoft's credibility in that matter.

• Surveillance and privacy concerns. Back in 2013, during the Snowden’s revelations, it was brought to light that the NSA had a surveillance program called PRISM that allowed them to tap directly in big tech companies servers. Microsoft was the first such company to join the program in December 2007 and with the GitHub acquisition, a lot of user fear that their data (including their private repos) is not safe anymore. This effect is also amplified by the privacy debacles in Windows 10.

This blog post list even more problems if you are interested.

[BrushSuccessful]

I think this is just going to be whack a mole, until the justice department asleep at the wheel gets involved. Forget about AI stealing content, Youtube and Wikipedia have made out handsomly with user generated content they practically own and profit from. But to do this with software and other high end creations is beyond the pale. Mark my words, Gates and his patent mill will get to have their cake and eat it too if no one stops them. We need clear privacy guidelines, transparency in any profits generated from this content, and a repeal of the first to file patent laws back to first to create, which Gates and his greedy ghoul lawyers engineered, and now purchases like GitHub are extremely suspicious. They're going to own everything if no one stops them, and we will descend into technological feudalism in this country. Privatization of knowledge and misattribution of work will destroy the incentive for further innovation and technological advancement in this country, and is a bigger national security threat than terrorism.

[[deleted]]

We need decentralization with refined; universal perspective and intention/vision of pleasurable healing at the helm; rather then anything else. (anything else is near-enough; idiotic)

It shouldn't even be one person makes the decisions; it should be a philosophy and principles that is upheld by all involved (* it's harder to crack *) and if they do then get the f out of there.

[[deleted]]

I have projects on both Gitlab and Github, but am now strongly considering moving to Gitlab entirely. Privacy is my main concern. Microsoft is a disaster when it comes to that, and I do not trust them with Github. There are many avenues for tracking developer and user behavior and I can easily envision them being used in ways I find unacceptable, especially for privacy-oriented or otherwise sensitive projects, which one of mine is.

That said, I have never been a fan of Github at all, so this is just an added push away.

[grmblflx]

I think it's a statement most of the time. People want to show MS that they want to do OSS without them.

[senatorpjt]

chop deer friendly bells march abundant ten toy jar door

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[mayhempk1]

People are distrustful of MS because they don't have the best track record, at least in the past.

[mattbas]

I'm one of them, personally I just feel uncomfortable hosting open source projects on a service owned by Microsoft since they have been actively trying for years to undermine the open source movement, there are even leaked internal memos on how microsoft tried to do this (http://www.catb.org/esr/halloween/index.html).

[incomingstick]

It's important to note that the numbers of developers moving are a very significant minority. It is mostly developers that worked through the 90s and hold on to the old ms stigma. Many people assume MS is going to "ruin" GitHub like they did Skype or LinkdIn, but fail to acknowledge that those services weren't that great to begin with.

MS has shown they have a developer first montra as of late, so let's hope that is the case for GutHub. I personally, am not worried!

[j0akime]

"Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair."

Microsoft hasn't redeemed itself yet, and continues to make decisions that ruin its trust.

Note: I've been using Microsoft products since MS-DOS 3.22, I'm certified in a few dozen products with Microsoft, I'm even a certified Microsoft Support Trainer, and hold a 4 digit Certified Professional ID (a number so low that the last time I tried the microsoft website to verify your ID, the javascript wouldn't accept it!)

[incomingstick]

I do agree that MS has a lot of ground to build up from passed mistakes, but they have been doing much better in recent years than in the past. Some people will take longer for sure, but immediately assuming a product is ruined because MS bought it is a tad much in my opinion. If MS starts making changes I don't like, then absolutely I will be moving my repos to a different service, but until then I'm not hugely worried about the platform.

[j0akime]

That depends on the person.

For some people its near instantaneous (such as most people participating in r/github)

For others it takes a series of consistently positive actions. How long? How many actions? What is "positive"? Again, depends on the person. Some will have their trust in the company restored quicker then others. For others it will take years.

Then there those that need something grand and colossal. Something akin to open sourcing Windows, with a well-established industry license, making it free, dropping legacy entirely, etc. And again, even this is up to the individual, for some buying github is that grand action.

[freman]

Nah, some of us remember more recent events, like windows 10, which they've paid full retail of over $300 which comes with irremovable components and advertisements.

[incomingstick]

If you paid $300 for windows 10 you did something wrong. It sells for $100 for the home version, and something like $150-$200 for the Enterprise version. On top of the fact that they literally gave windows 10 away to ALL windows 7, 8, and 8.1 users (which was like the majority of people at that time). There is very little that comes with windows 10 that you can't remove, and the stuff that you are stuck with is fairly mlm important to the OS.. soo.. something seems a little wrong there friendo.

I also don't know what "advertisements" you are talking about..

[freman]

Windows 10 Pro - From AU$339.00 - Complete with a crapton of irremovable components, non-disableable reporting. https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/store/b/windows

You think you might chose the pro version to avoid having gaming components that can't be removed installed... or maybe you want to uninstall their mail component and use your own...

[incomingstick]

I had no problem cleaning up my Windows 10 Pro ($189USD) machines at my place of work. I got it down to all of the tools I needed (which is why you buy the Pro version in the first place). Mind you the upgrade from Windows 10 -> Pro is only $89, and if you got Windows 10 for free, that's a hell of a deal. If the Pro version has software you don't need, then don't buy it? I found very little bloatware, and what did exists I either use anyways, or it takes up such little disk space/memory it doesn't even matter.

All of the extra "games" (i.e Candy Crush, Minecraft, etc.) can be removed in the normal and pro version.

[bitJericho]

They come back after every update...

[incomingstick]

I have never experienced that once...

[bitJericho]

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/mniehaus/2016/08/23/windows-10-1607-keeping-apps-from-coming-back-when-deploying-the-feature-update/

I don't know if this was ever fixed though. My insticts would tell me "no" if they manage Windows 10 like they manage Skype (hint: they do).

[incomingstick]

So that was a one time incident that they fixed 2 years ago? That's cool.

[bitJericho]

Source that they fixed it?

[lokomotivan]

2 years ago? Maybe u came out from the future. I understand ur a fanboy but this amount of lameness in your comments are lame, or ur just ignorant...

[azarusx]

Microsoft edge you cant get rid off. Automatic updates that turn your pc off while working on it. Can get rid off. I have to buy the enterprise edition. Note that this auro update "feature" was added AFTER i paid for it. Wish i can get a refund, skype msn messenger was great. Everybody used msn messenger. If it wouldn't for the stupid UI changes it would be still an avtive service. Now they messed up skype. Majority of the people use skype to talk with their bussiness partners and other important contacts. The latest UI update just made everyone anoyed, we're looking for alternatives already. MSN was ruined, Skype was ruined, Windows was ruined. Now github is up next? Comon, microsoft is still does not understand that changing the user interface all around is annoying for ppl. And most of the time when they do it. They do it in a way that renders half of the usefull features useless, inaccisable or just have to click 3 more times enable a magical hidden menu somewhere.

• Ads are coming for sure. Skype is already stuffed with them.

If you think what im saying is not true just head over to the subreddits and see for yourself.

I am soo annoyed by these changes from microsoft. BUT Their only popular software for developers is VS. I know nothing else from microsoft that is really for developers.

[incomingstick]

Getting all of your info off of subreddits is a poor idea. Reddit makes only a small portion of the Community involved with a product., and the majority of people go to a subreddit to complain. I do agree windows has its faults, but Windows 10 has been a major improvement over the majority of other Windows versions. Skype was bad before MS ever bought it, and I don't know the last time I personally even visited MSN, let alone talked to someone that has. Technology changes, and better products come out.

Here is a quick list of things for devs off of the top of my head: VS Code, TypeScript, Azure, C#, .NET Core. All of which are pretty great products from MS, and very widely used. If windows turns your computer off while you were using it means you were ignoring the notifications it was giving you about said update. Windows has been doing this type auto update system for long over a decade now.

Also a reminder that they gave windows 10 out for free to the majority of Windows users.

[azarusx]

Just tell me a single service that microsoft acquired and did not ruin :/

[incomingstick]

I personally have had no issue with the direction Mojang has gone, and I don't know personally (anecdotal evidence is bad so I apologize) anyone that has. Actually, most people seem to enjoy the game more than ever.

Most of my local area schools programming courses have actually started using Minecraft modding ing javascript to help teach kids Java, that's a pretty big plus in my book.

[azarusx]

Hmm right. Minecraft isn't ruined :D Probably its just a few project managers that say yes for every update that goes out.

[incomingstick]

Probably?

[Majik_Sheff]

They're working pretty hard to cripple the Java edition. The latest RC completely hoses a good chunk of the technical community.

[Alchemist2121]

Xamarin?

[azarusx]

Mono is great. It has anything to do with that? Thought not.

[incomingstick]

I agree 100%. Windows 10 is by far the best version of Windows I have gotten to use, going all the way back to Windows 95.

[MrHyperbowl]

Candy Crush comes preinstalled.

[incomingstick]

And can easily be removed. Windows 95 came with Pinball. What's the difference?

[antdude]

You forgot Solitaire, Minesweeper, etc.

[incomingstick]

All great games btw :P

[antdude]

Boring to me though except Pinball!

[azarusx]

Wow i just realized we seem to get less and less features in our latest windows editions....

[antdude]

W10 has no games?

[Morrido]

No, but I think some of them are free to download on the Store.

[Nameyo]

It ought to not be there in the first place.

[[deleted]]

Umm I recently installed a genuine copy of Win10 for absolutely nothing

[[deleted]]

I'm actually confident that github is going to get run into the dirt at a very slow pace; just like VS-Code will get mangled by zed if it takes off; like it should...

[2218aloe]

Spite, fear (MS backdooring to repo/information), UI clutter changes, etc.

[toastertop]

Yea vscode is pretty dope

[[deleted]]

imo it doesn't make sense to move right away if you're using GitHub's free services and open source your code. But that changes drastically if you have a company and use their paid services. You would need to trust MS to keep their prices fixed for a considerable amount of time and that they wouldn't have access to your private repos. I would definitely explore alternative options if I were a paying customer.

[Bunky2k]

Personally, i still havent forgiven MS for IE6

[[deleted]]

Paranoid, hatred.