In 2015, Google made a strategic investment in GitHub, a web-based hosting service for version control using Git. The investment was part of a funding round that raised $250 million for GitHub, with Google as one of the primary investors. Many people questioned why Google would invest such a significant amount in a company that was not a direct competitor or complementary to its core business. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind Google's investment in GitHub.
Firstly, GitHub was growing rapidly and had become the most popular code-hosting platform in the world, with over 40 million registered users and 100 million repositories. Google recognized the potential of GitHub as a platform that could support developers and enable them to work on projects more efficiently. By investing in GitHub, Google was positioning itself to take advantage of the growth in open-source software development and the increasing demand for cloud-based development tools.
Secondly, Google was interested in gaining access to GitHub's large repository of open-source projects. Open-source software is an important part of the technology ecosystem, and Google has a long history of contributing to open-source projects. By investing in GitHub, Google was able to gain access to a vast library of code and developers who were actively contributing to open-source projects. This access allowed Google to identify new trends and technologies early on and stay ahead of the competition.
Thirdly, the investment in GitHub allowed Google to strengthen its relationship with developers. Google has a strong developer community, and by investing in GitHub, it was able to provide developers with a platform that was easy to use and could help them collaborate more effectively. This investment allowed Google to demonstrate its commitment to the developer community and provide them with the resources they needed to be successful.
In conclusion, Google's investment in GitHub was a strategic move that allowed the company to position itself as a leader in the growing open-source software development market. By investing in GitHub, Google gained access to a large repository of code and developers, strengthened its relationship with the developer community, and demonstrated its commitment to supporting open-source projects. The investment has proven to be a valuable addition to Google's portfolio and has helped the company stay ahead of the competition in the fast-paced world of software development.