Skip to main content

Microsoft to acquire GitHub developer platform

by Jason Gumpert
Editor, MSDynamicsWorld.com

Msft computing world viewFollowing several days of rumors, Microsoft confirmed today that it plans to acquire development platform GitHub for $7.5 billion in Microsoft stock.

GitHub will retain its independent operating model, according to Microsoft, including support for languages, tools, and operating systems that developers expect.

Microsoft Corporate Vice President Nat Friedman, founder of Xamarin, will become GitHub CEO after the deal closes. GitHub's current CEO, Chris Wanstrath, will become a Microsoft technical fellow, reporting to Microsoft Cloud + AI Group Executive Vice President Scott Guthrie, to work on strategic software initiatives.

Microsoft outlined 3 priorities after the deal closes, which they expect later in calendar year 2018.

First is the promise to continue to keep the platform open and extensible for developers.

Second, Microsoft plans to "accelerate enterprise developers' use of GitHub, with our direct sales and partner channels and access to Microsoft's global cloud infrastructure and services." For a sense of what that "enterprise" perspective might look like, refer to the graphic at the top, from Microsoft's investor presentation today, which bears a striking resemblence to Microsoft's business solutions world view.

Third, the company plans to "bring Microsoft's developer tools and services to new audiences." That goal includes plans for a new "developer's marketplace", and a new integrated developer experience between GitHub and Visual Studio Code (VSCode).

With Microsoft's promise to be a good steward of GitHub, the company also ensures that the platform's future, to which the company is now tied through more than a thousand project repositories, is not compromised. As one veteran ...

FREE Membership Required to View Full Content:

Joining MSDynamicsWorld.com gives you free, unlimited access to news, analysis, white papers, case studies, product brochures, and more. You can also receive periodic email newsletters with the latest relevant articles and content updates.
Learn more about us here

About Jason Gumpert

As the editor of MSDynamicsWorld.com, Jason oversees all editorial content on the site and at our events, as well as providing site management and strategy. He can be reached at jgumpert@msdynamicsworld.com.

Prior to co-founding MSDynamicsWorld.com, Jason was a Principal Software Consultant at Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC), where he implemented solutions, trained customers, managed software development, and spent some time in the pre-sales engineering organization. He has also held consulting positions at CSC Consulting and Monitor Group.

More about Jason Gumpert