Microsoft Acquires GitHub for $7.5 Billion in Stock

The acquisition of GitHub by Microsoft is now official. The $7.5 billion stock deal has closed, and GitHub will operate as an independent subsidiary within Microsoft, led by former Xamarin CEO Nat Friedman. Microsoft has committed to keeping GitHub open, developer-friendly, and independent in its product philosophy. The GitHub brand will be maintained, and the company's engineering team will remain largely intact in San Francisco.

Will Microsoft Keep GitHub Independent? What Developers Are Watching

For developers, the central question remains whether Microsoft will follow through on its commitment to keeping GitHub neutral and independent. The early signals are encouraging - Microsoft has maintained the GitHub brand, appointed a well-respected developer as CEO, and has publicly stated there are no plans to force Azure integration or change the platform's fundamental openness. The developer community will remain watchful, but initial indications suggest Microsoft understands exactly what makes GitHub valuable and intends to protect that value rather than extract from it.