[Info-vax] RMS intro

[Dan Cross]

In article <umujck$282li$1 at dont-email.me>,
Arne Vajhøj  <arne at vajhoej.dk> wrote:
>On 12/31/2023 11:51 PM, Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:
>> On Sun, 31 Dec 2023 22:35:34 -0500, Arne Vajhøj wrote:
>
>>> It stands for Linux, but that does not mean that they are trying to move
>>> the general Windows user to a Linux experience.
>> 
>> That seems inevitable, though. At some point it is going to become a
>> mandatory part of any Windows install. I’m not saying it was Microsoft’s
>> conscious intention when they introduced it, but it will become the path
>> of least resistance.
>
>MS could roll it out to every Windows user tomorrow if they
>wanted to.
>
>But why on earth would they want to do that??

To pave a way for MSFT to jetison Windows in favor of Linux.

Maintaining an OS like Windows is expensive and requires a
steady stream of talent.  There is more talent working on that
kind of thing outside of Microsoft than inside, just not on
Windows: most of the work is happening around Linux.  Being able
to leverage that investment would be a strategic win.

>For servers the preference is real ESXi/Hyper-V/KVM not WSL.
>
>For desktop/laptop the vast majorities of users has no interest
>in Linux at all. Windows are facing serious challenges, but not
>from (traditional) Linux. Windows usage is dropping because
>people are switching to Android/iOS phones/tablets.
>
>People are switching from a GUI centric OS (Windows) to
>GUI only OS (Android & iOS) for casual use. Expecting them
>to use WSL command line utilities is a non-starter.

This conflates two things: WSL as a path for moving to Linux
as the kernel substrate for Microsoft's OS offerings, and using
WSL as an end user.

The latter is likely never going to happen outside of developer
communities.  The former could well happen; WSL gives MSFT a
low-cost way to dip their toe into the waters and explore
interoperability between the traditional Windows API and Linux.

	- Dan C.