To me, what matters most is privacy and freedom. -> Open-source transparency of code, data, and all that happens with it. (Including the ability to fully control and see what's happening in your system at the network level, like OpenSnitch - https://github.com/gustavo-iniguez-goya/opensnitch).
I don't see any of MSFT's actions threatening this on a really big picture level. It's always been and always will be up to 'the community' to build and make Linux and free software what it is.
Linux, especially Linux Desktop, is wonderfully flourishing right now, and I don't think it's because 'MS hasn't offered a more compelling alternative to Linux' in the cloud. More largely, it's because we've built what we've wanted. Maybe I'm naive about what we've been ungratefully depending on. If so, I'd settle for a mildly cautious and watchful neutral ground. All I can say is, please contribute to Linux and FOSS if you can. I do.
> Linux, especially Linux Desktop, is wonderfully flourishing right now [...] because we’ve built what we’ve wanted
I agree, but it has to be said that this has also happened because desktop features across the board have stagnated.
There has been little evolution of desktop features in the last 15 years on Windows and Mac; MS and Apple are focused on other things, namely services integration to increase revenue and convergence with mobile OSes to reduce costs. This has allowed the Linux desktop to catch on and solidify, by not having to constantly chase feature-matching. Same for hardware support: new devices and ports for the desktop and laptop market have been few and far between; if anything things are getting simpler (USB-C for everyone, no cd, no modem, etc).
I have no doubt that both Apple and MS could destroy the attractiveness of Linux desktops very quickly if they focused a bit more resources on evolving their desktops.
I don't see any of MSFT's actions threatening this on a really big picture level. It's always been and always will be up to 'the community' to build and make Linux and free software what it is.
Linux, especially Linux Desktop, is wonderfully flourishing right now, and I don't think it's because 'MS hasn't offered a more compelling alternative to Linux' in the cloud. More largely, it's because we've built what we've wanted. Maybe I'm naive about what we've been ungratefully depending on. If so, I'd settle for a mildly cautious and watchful neutral ground. All I can say is, please contribute to Linux and FOSS if you can. I do.