Microsoft Launches First Shared Source Contest

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft has launched its first-ever shared source programming contest. With several XBox 360's and an HDTV on the line, hackers will download 120-day trial versions of Windows CE and associated tools, and create 'cool, real-world' apps using designated shared source components. Judging criteria include originality, real-world practicality, feature-extension of the Shared Source components, project documentation, and a short video that demonstrates the successful operation of the project. The Grand Prize is a complete Xbox 360 dream setup consisting of the Xbox 360 console, a 34-inch HDTV, games, and accessories. Three other winners will be awarded Xbox 360 game consoles."

Brilliant Move

[Enderandrew]

Despite comparisons to Google's Summer of Code (which is far more generous to the community on the whole) this is in fact a smart move for Microsoft. They get code on the cheap, and PR at the whole time.

If I ran a business like Microsoft, I'd be doing the same type of things.

amazing...

[advocate_one]

does this include GPL???

rules [windowsfordevices.com]

However, we encourage you to make the source code available under a license that offers users very broad use rights, with few restrictions, and so would enable a larger community to come together for learning, collaboration, and reuse based on your Project. For an example, see the Microsoft Permissive License.

odd, SoC...

[deander2]

odd that they would announce this the very day google announces the summer of code winners...

For legitimate homebrew...

[halfcuban]

For legitimate homebrew, I would wait for the PS3 and its inclusion of Linux. Why waste your efforts on something thats only for a contest, when you could build long-term projects for the PS3, and possibly see them arrive for the larger Linux community?

Speaking of which, am I the only one who see's the PS3 as the world's greatest way to sneak Linux in the backdoor into homes? Imagine the possibilities of turning a PS3 into a fully functional desktop, except with the massive horsepower of the Cell architecture behind it. The possibilities could be endless.

Re:amazing...

[Whiney Mac Fanboy]

Also from the rules

In order to participate in the Contest, you must be a professional or amateur embedded developer and 18 years or older; however, residents of the following countries are ineligible to participate due to legal constraints: Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.

Why is iraq included on that list? I thought Iraq was now a peaceful democracy, and iraqis should be able to work for free for MS just like everyone else!

Oh! - and the MS-PL doesn't sound too permissive [microsoft.com] to me!

This license governs use of the accompanying software. If you use the software, you accept this license. If you do not accept the license, do not use the software.

What! You have to accept the license to use it? Not too permissive....

And I can't find it on either the OSI's license page or the fsfs license page [fsf.org]

So does Google...

[Anonymous Coward]

Taken form Google Summer of Code Policy:

"In addition, all program participants agree to cooperate with Google's publicity efforts, without further compensation. This includes the agreement to use their name, address (city and state or country only), likeness and project deliverables for publicity purposes, where legal, for this or similar future programs, and to use the statements made by, or attributed to, the participants relating to Google and any and all rights to said use, without further compensation."

Tainted Youth

[NickFortune]

Oh, lovely!

Offer prizes with kiddie appeal to get the young 'uns in. Get formal agreement to a Shared Source NDA, so Microsoft have a paper trail for future use.

Then, if at some future date, one of these bright sparks decides to do some open source coding, or even just to work for anyone who dares compete with microsoft for that matter, MS can say: "That's our IP! They signed an NDA!" and steal the rights to the code.

Not of course that they'd be unprinicpled as to do anything like that. Why, I bet it never even occured to them...

Re:in other words

[ookaze]

What do you think SourceForge is?

And you ?
For sure, SourceForge is NOT a place where the dev tools stop working 120 days after you started coding.

Complaining that developers don't get paid for MS's shared source software while many FOSS developers also develop for no pay is obtuse

But complaining that developers can't even keep the dev environment unless they pay the company making the contest is not obtuse at all.