Microsoft doesn't need to purchase Electron for $7.5B of stock in order to write an Electron app. They already write Electron apps, one of which is used by many people who read HN.
But not sure if they had control over Electron's future direction which they seem to clearly have atleast now.
V8 can also be replaced with Chakra in Electron i think.
True. I'm not necessarily against that position. 100% of the purchase is scheduled to happen in stock, so this may not be a direct cost for MS, even for a benefit that shouldn't be valued anywhere near $7.5B in cash. There is nothing wrong with a win-win deal for everyone involved.
If this is a $7.5B purchase of Electron, my gut tells me that it isn't an arm's length transaction. I doubt that would happen in the US for Microsoft today, so I can't help but think there are other reasons than Electron for the purchase.
The announcement from MS didn't really spell out the reasons for the prospective purchase other than to support developers. When I see the filing for the purchase, there may be additional reasons listed in that.
But not sure if they had control over Electron's future direction which they seem to clearly have atleast now.
V8 can also be replaced with Chakra in Electron i think.
In that light, GP might be right.