Google exec says it's OK Microsoft nabbed GitHub
Countless programmers use GitHub to cooperate on projects. Google's cloud chief says she wouldn't have minded being the buyer.
Diane Greene, Google's head of cloud development
Microsoft grabbed GitHub, but Google may've been eyeing an acquisition too.
Diane Greene, head of Google's cloud development, said at a San Francisco event Wednesday she "wouldn't have minded buying [GitHub], but it's OK," according to Bloomberg. Google hasn't confirmed if it bid on GitHub, a site countless developers worldwide use to cooperate on programming projects.
Earlier this month, Microsoft agreed to acquire GitHub for $7.5 billion in a deal expected to close by year's end. The move could help Microsoft expand its focus on developing AI, tools and services that work across devices. Founded in 2008, GitHub currently hosts 27 million software developers working on 80 million repositories of code.
Greene also said two Google products are very popular on GitHub and she hoped Microsoft would "keep them totally neutral," Bloomberg reported.
Microsoft has said GitHub will keep operating independently and will provide an open platform for all developers.
Google said it didn't have any additional comment.
"We are committed to being stewards of the GitHub community, which will retain its developer-first ethos, operate independently and remain an open platform," said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, in a statement.
First published on June 28, 10:29 a.m. PT.
Updates, June 29, 6:42 a.m. PT: Adds CEO Microsoft Satya Nadella statement.
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