Microsoft's open source strategy is grounded in recognition of the value of openness to working with others including open source communities to help customers and partners succeed in today's heterogeneous "world of choice." This includes, for example, increasing opportunities for business partners regardless of their underlying development model, and increasing opportunities for developers to learn and create by combining community–oriented open source with traditional commercial approaches to software development.

Microsoft Open Source Projects

Microsoft is a sponsor of the Apache Software Foundation, is a contributor to the Linux kernel, and contributes to the PHP Community. Microsoft has participated in Apache projects, including Hadoop, Qpid, and Stonehenge. Microsoft also participates in various open source community events, such as the O'Reilly Open Source Convention (OSCON), Open Source Business Conference (OSBC), EclipseCon, OpenWorld Forum, and the Moodle Conference.

Microsoft-Novell Partnership

Since 2006, Microsoft has been working with Novell to foster greater interoperability between Windows® Server 2008 and SUSE® Linux Enterprise. Based at our campus here in Cambridge, the Interop Ability Lab is where Microsoft and Novell engineers can work side by side to create customer ready solutions in the areas of virtualization, systems management, identity management and document compatibility. Take a virtual tour of the lab to learn more about the types of solutions being developed.

The Microsoft Interoperability Web site

For information about Microsoft's commitment to solving the real-world interoperability challenges of customers, developers, partners, and independent software providers, with specific resources for IT professionals, government, and developers.

Interoperability Bridges & Labs Center

Dedicated to technical collaborative work to improve interoperability between Microsoft and non-Microsoft technologies; containing a live directory of freely downloadable technical interoperability bridges, labs, and related content such as demonstrations, technical guidance and articles.

Interoperability @ Microsoft Blog

Covers interoperability scenarios, the technologies enabling them, and the community at large.

Microsoft Interop Vendor Alliance

A community of software and hardware vendors working together to enhance interoperability with Microsoft systems on behalf of our mutual customers.

CodePlex.com

CodePlex.com is Microsoft's open source project repository that currently hosts over 13,000 open source projects built by individual developers as well as roughly 500 projects built by Microsoft employees. Open source developers can use CodePlex to create new projects to share with the world, join others who have already started their own projects, or use the applications on the site and provide feedback.

Port 25

Port 25 is home to the open source community at Microsoft; facilitating an open conversation dedicated to Linux, Windows, and open source interoperability among Microsoft's internal open source community as well as members of the many external open source communities and industries.

Document Interoperability Initiative (DII)

A global program of technical vendor discussions, labs, and solution enablement programs to develop solutions for effective data exchange between product implementations of document format standards.

Microsoft Partner Program

Microsoft offers a number of partner benefits to help open source-based businesses develop and sell more effectively. To get started, sign-up as a registered member of the Microsoft Partner Program to receive free sales, marketing, and technical resources.