Microsoft Releases Moodle Plugin under GPL

Jul 22, 2009

Microsoft has again released code under GPLv2, this time the Live Services plugin Moodle.

Microsoft's contribution follows close on the heels of the release of its Hyper-V driver to the Linux kernel under GPLv2. The free Live Services Moodle educational website builder for teachers and students can now be tied in with the Live@edu service for email, calendars and IM. Teachers and students can use their Windows Live IDs to sign in to Moodle, allowing them access to the Live Hotmail, Live Calendar, Windows Live Messenger and, finally, the Bing search engine.

Moddle inventor Martin Dougiamas announced the module in a way quite uncharacteristic for Microsoft, thereby also highlighting an option deviating from their customary practices: "Since (from a programming point of view) Live has the same APIs as any Exchange server, I think a lot of Moodlers will be using this code to integrate Moodle closely with their private Exchange servers as well."

Microsoft linked the plugin from its Education Labs site, about which corporate VP for the Education Products Group, L. Michael Golden, posted a blog. The current OSCON conference in San Jose CA also provides a video about the plugin.

Related content

  • Moodle CMS

    The Moodle course management system is useful for e-learning and for practical work in the computer room.

  • New ODF Plugins for Microsoft Office

    Version 1.1 of Sun Microsystems' ODF Plugin for Microsoft’s Office suite now includes a multi-language package. A new version of the OpenXML-ODF Translator is now available for downloading from Sourceforge.

  • Educational Linux

    The fact that Linux and its extensive open source ecosystem are free of charge is really a strong argument for financially strapped schools. This article looks at Linux in the classroom.

  • OSCON 2008

    O'Reilly's annual OSCON event attracted a range of open source enthusiasts who were treated to impressive keynotes, a range of "lightening talks," and plenty of in-depth technical sessions.

  • Ask Klaus!
comments powered by Disqus
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters

Support Our Work

Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

Learn More

News