Open source developer at Microsoft, Garrett Serack announced today plans to bring a native running open source platform to Windows.

In a blog posted today, Serack announced the Common Opensource Application Publishing Platform (CoApp). The post outlines the challenges of developing open source applications in a Windows environment and the differences between developing on UNIX and Linux and Windows.

From the site:

CoApp will:

• Provide a distributed, community driven package management system for open source applications on the Windows Platform

• Handle multiple versions of binaries using WinSxS (I know, even the mention of side-by-side components evokes fear, anger and the desire to go off-diet, but bear with me, I think we’ve got a solution), including multiple copies of the same version of the same library, compiled with different compilers.

• Support 64 bit and 32 bit systems, without hassle or collisions.

• Place binaries, libraries and header files in a logical and consistent location.

• Have tools and methods for handling dependencies.

• Create reliable installer packages (MSIs) for installing open source software.

• Facilitate sharing of components and allow multiple projects to easily both participate and consume them.

• Allow for upgrades and patching of both libraries and applications.

• Be Windows developer friendly. No forcing of building using ‘make’, but rather taking advantage of the nifty IDEs we already have.

• Also be Windows admin friendly. Even if it’s open source, you shouldn’t have to be a developer to put Open Source applications on Windows.

• Use advanced optimization techniques like Profile Guided Optimization to produce optimized binaries.

• Support future technologies as they come along.

• Aid in the adoption of Windows Error Reporting (WinQual) to assist in making software run better on Windows.

• End the eternal struggle between Green and Purple. Unless of course you’re a Drazi and are conducting elections.

This announcement is one of the most notable steps toward open source development Microsoft has made. During an interview with The Chicago Sun-Times in 2001 Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer likened Linux to a cancer saying that it, "attaches itself in an intellectual property sense to everything it touches."

The one thing Serack's exceptionally detailed post does leave out? A timetable. Though he does softly hint at a target in comment response. "I hope that you'll be pleasantly surprised a year from now."

Additional details can be found on Launchpad with a wiki at CoApp.org.