Former Microsoft CEO No Longer Negatively Attacks Linux

Back in 2001, Steve Ballmer who was leading Microsoft at the time called Linux a "cancer", but now he no longer has those views.

Ballmer commented this week at a Fortune magazine event:

Ballmer said the position was right for the time, but the threat from Linux was now "in the rearview mirror."

"The company made a ton of money by fighting that battle very well," he said. "It's been incredibly important to the company's revenue stream" to maintain its position with its own Windows operating system.

These days Microsoft is softening its anti-Linux position, including announcing earlier this week that it would sell a Linux-compatible version of its SQL Server database software.

Ballmer said he "loved" seeing the announcement, which prompted him to email current Chief Executive Satya Nadella in support.

In case you missed that other news item, Microsoft is bringing SQL Server to Linux.

You can read more of Ballmer's recent comments via Reuters.com.