The .NET platform, a closed environment

For many years, .Net developers were only able to code their applications on a Windows computer. The technology was designed to work on other Operating System (O.S) such as macOS or Linux.

It was a strategic move by Microsoft! They were able to grow that technologies on the back of their OS.

Microsoft was known for its closed-sourced approach when building softwares.

It all changed when Satya Nadella became their new CEO in 2014.

.NET Core: .Net platform as an open environment

First, Let's define a few terms:

Cross-platform: It is the ability for a technology to work on different environment. In this case, .NET Core allows developers to work from a macOS or Linux as if they were on Windows.

Open source software: OSS is source code that is made freely available for possible modification and redistribution by anyone. It is a model that allows open collaboration and accelerate innovation.

By adopting a cross-platform and open source approach, .NET Core allowed developers to work from any platforms. To extend the framework at will. This led to a soft of renaissance for Microsoft.

The benefits of open-sourcing .NET Core

Not only the Framework became available to use everywhere but the tools that were only available under Windows became available everywhere as well. For example, the famous Microsoft Studio could be used on a MacOS.

People that were NEVER Microsoft started joining the teams to work on this open source projects. Because the code is open and visible by anyone, some developers got jobs offers based on their contributions to this framework.

Takeaways and tips

Not all technologies are open-sourced but the benefits of open-sourcing technologies is tremendous.

Often, developers make their code available on Github so they can be found by recruiters or companies hiring.

I personally got approached by company such as Google for this exact reason.

This was NET versus .NET Core: Open Source often wins

I hope you've learned something after reading this. Don't forget to take the test to evaluate your progress.

Until next time, take care