The Microsoftification of GitHub

• Microsoft organizational changes suggest that GitHub will receive more direct Microsoft control and oversight.
• The changes will bring GitHub customers several benefits and risks, including possible unified offerings and cost fluctuations.
• Many integration points between GitHub and Microsoft offerings exist, and they will likely arrive at a faster pace.
• Longer term, deeper unification is likely.

Seven years after Microsoft’s acquisition of GitHub, the service for software development has maintained much of its autonomy, escaping a Microsoft rebranding and biases around working exclusively with Microsoft offerings. However, recent Microsoft organizational modifications suggest that the loose coupling of GitHub and Microsoft may be changing to bring GitHub more in line with Microsoft’s corporate initiatives and offerings. This restructuring warrants a survey of how the two organizations have worked together so far, the changes that are expected longer term, and how GitHub customers will be affected.