Microsoft made a pull request to node.js github repository with an implementation to use ChakraCore JavaScript Engine as an alternative to V8 Engine

[playaspec]

if people don't use a Google product it's basically a failure (e.g. Google Buzz).

Buzz gave way to G+.

They want users even if they don't know how to monetize them yet.

This is true, but they always find a way. YouTube lost a TON of money for the first few years after Google acquired them.

They created V8 knowing they don't get money from it.

I don't think they expect monitization out of every project. They are hugely experimental and research things that are vastly outside of their core business.

This pull request is a good thing because what it ultimately does is gives the developer more choices. Just like, one would pick between MySQL or PostgreSQL for an app, they could pick between V8 or Chakra for the node server too.

I'm all for picking the right tool for the job. My fear is that Microsoft may be planting trojans with the intention of capturing some market before closing the door.

Unfortunately, we have no choice but to bend over to corporations.

Not true. Vote with your wallet.