Re: Another tool in the kitbag
dogged - "Yeah because using the Apache license means MS retain TOTAL CONTROL"
An Apache licence means that they can return to a closed source model again if they want to without having to purge any community contributions. They may not do that, but then again we don't know what some future CEO might have a brain wave over and it's happened before with other software. You just have to trust them not to do that.
They couldn't do that with GPL licenced software without purging all contributed third party code, which would be rather difficult after a while. That's why projects like the Linux kernel use it - it guaranties that everyone who contributes to it gets treated equally.
There is method in Microsoft's madness, and they are keeping their options open in case they ever change their minds about open source. Yes, you'll still have the old versions, but those would get out of sync with new releases within a few years.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
