The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed $7.5 billion acquisition of GitHub by Microsoft. This significant move is expected to enhance Microsoft’s cloud capabilities and bolster its software development tools, potentially creating synergies that benefit developers around the world. However, amidst the excitement of the approval, Twitter has been flooded with ‘GitHub is down’ memes. Users have taken to the platform to share their frustration and humor regarding the situation.
Apparently, GitHub’s website went down approximately six hours ago, and it remains inaccessible following a failure in its data storage system. According to status reports published by the platform, the problems began around 4 PM US West Coast time on Sunday. Many users have been met with a “What‽” error, indicating that the platform is unable to process requests. In the meantime, GitHub engineers are diligently working to repair the data storage system issue that has frozen the website.
This incident highlights the challenges even major tech companies face when managing complex systems, especially during significant transitions like the acquisition by Microsoft. The disruption has prompted discussions about the reliability of cloud services, emphasizing the need for robust infrastructure in today’s digital landscape. Users are eagerly awaiting updates on the restoration of services, hoping for a swift resolution to the current outage.
The European Commission concluded that effective competition in the relevant markets would continue and that Microsoft would have no incentive to undermine the open nature of GitHub’s platform. This decision reflects the Commission’s confidence in the competitive landscape and its commitment to ensuring that users can continue to benefit from GitHub’s services without interference.
Microsoft announced its intention to acquire GitHub in June, targeting the world’s leading software development platform. GitHub boasts a vast community of over 28 million developers worldwide, making it a critical resource for collaboration and innovation in the tech industry. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of this calendar year, further solidifying Microsoft’s position in the software development ecosystem and enhancing its suite of developer tools. As a result, this merger could create exciting opportunities for developers while maintaining GitHub’s core mission and values.