Microsoft Just Open-Sourced Copilot – Here's What That Means for Developers

GitHub Copilot Is Now Free and Open Source: Microsoft's Boldest Move Yet

May 20, 2025. Remember this day. It’s when Microsoft, out of nowhere, dropped a megaton announcement: GitHub Copilot is now open source under the MIT license. Yep, the very tool that kickstarted the AI coding revolution? You can now fork it, remix it, and build your own billion-dollar startup off it—legally. No corporate lawyers breathing down your neck. No monthly paywalls. No strings attached.

Oh, and in the same breath, they also open-sourced Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). Wild.

Let’s break down what just happened—and why this might be the most significant shift in developer tooling since open-source GitHub repos became résumé gold.

What Did Microsoft Just Give Away?

We’re not talking about a knockoff or a lightweight replica. They gave us the real deal. The engine powering GitHub Copilot. The same tech that’s helped devs write code faster, debug smarter, and sometimes even replace junior engineers in startups.

And they didn’t slap on a weird license either. This is MIT licensed, the holy grail of "do whatever you want with it" in the open-source world. That means you can:

• Fork it
• Modify it
• Sell your version
• Build something better
• Or just peek under the hood for kicks

Also, with WSL now open, Windows is officially the friendliest dev environment it’s ever been. Whether you’re team Ubuntu or team Arch (btw, we get it—you use Arch), now you can go wild inside Windows without compromise.

Why Would Microsoft Do This?

That’s the million-dollar—or should I say, multi-billion-dollar—question.

Some say it’s a jab at OpenAI, especially after their recent acquisition of Windsurf, a VS Code fork turned AI code assistant, for a whopping $3 billion. Had they waited just a few days, they could’ve snagged Copilot’s code… for free. The timing is chef's kiss hilarious.

But this probably isn’t about revenge.

Historically, Microsoft’s open-source bets have paid off big time. Think:

• VS Code – now the dominant code editor worldwide
• TypeScript – basically essential for modern web dev
• WSL – turned Windows into a dev powerhouse
• MS-DOS – they even open-sourced that for nostalgia points

This feels like the next logical step in a long-term game: win over developers, build goodwill, and grow their influence in the AI coding space.

The AI Gold Rush and the New Dev Arms Race

The last couple of years have seen a tidal wave of AI-powered dev tools. Startups are slapping LLMs onto every flavor of VS Code fork and calling it the future.

Cursor, for example? Valued at $9 billion.
Windsurf? Snatched up by OpenAI for $3 billion.
Void Editor? Still cooking but gaining fans fast.

Now that Microsoft has opened the gates, expect the next wave of tools to spawn faster than AI-generated Stack Overflow answers. There’s no longer a paywall or proprietary API barrier. The source code is out there. Anyone can build with it.

And if you’ve got the skills and vision, maybe your project becomes the next Windsurf—just without needing $3 billion to get noticed.

Is Copilot Free Now? Sort of.

Here’s the nuance: the software is free. The service is not.

GitHub Copilot, as a product, charges because of the cloud compute costs needed to generate and refine code suggestions using LLMs. That’s the part that’s expensive. But now, if you can host your own models (or use open weights like Meta’s Llama 3), you can totally recreate the Copilot experience on your own terms.

This could birth an entire ecosystem of Copilot-inspired tools. Think local-first Copilots, privacy-focused Copilots, and maybe even Copilot-as-a-service from scrappy indie devs.

What This Means for You (Yes, You!)

If you're a developer, this is your moment.

You now have access to elite-level tools that used to cost serious cash or were hidden behind corporate firewalls. Whether you're an indie dev, startup founder, or someone who's just been messing with AI code tools in your spare time, you suddenly have:

• Full control
• Massive customization potential
• A chance to build something actually valuable

Combine this with the growing trend of local LLMs and open-source AI stacks, and we're heading into a golden age of developer empowerment.

Microsoft's Win Is Everyone's Win

Microsoft didn’t just throw a bone to the community—they dropped an entire buffet. Copilot being open source means better tooling, faster iteration, and an open invitation to build. And opening up WSL means even more flexibility for developers across every stack.

The AI coding revolution just hit warp speed, and Microsoft is clearly betting that the future belongs to the devs who can move fast, stay lean, and code with the help of AI.

So whether you’re building your own tool, hacking together a side project, or dreaming of launching the next billion-dollar unicorn… the gates are open.

Go make something awesome.

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