Image via CrunchBase
This is from the "I can't believe someone would get away with that" files.
Buried in the software that connects the Linux kernel to Microsoft's HyperV virtualization program was the following code string:
0xB16B00B5
In plain English, that stands for "BIG BOOBS".
The string was spotted by programmer Paolo Bonzini, who posted about his discovery to the Linux Kernel mailing list saying "Somone (sic) was trying to be funny, I guess".
Microsoft was made aware of the code and issues the following statement to Network World:
"We thank the community for reporting this issue and apologize for the offensive string. We have submitted a patch to fix this issue and the change will be published in a future release of the kernel."
Linux developer Dr Matthew Garrett is upset by what he sees as "straightforward childish humour". He points out that previously Microsoft used the string 0x0B00B135 (or "BOOBIES" to non-programmers) in a previously submitted piece of code.
"The use of vaguely-English strings in magic hex constants is hardly uncommon," write Dr Garrett. "But it's also specifically male childish humour. Puerile sniggering at breasts contributes to the continuing impression that software development is a boys club where girls aren't welcome".
Dr Garrett points out that the string may be used to connect Linux system to Microsoft's Azure cloud platform, making the problem even tougher to fix.
"So, full marks, Microsoft," says Dr Garrett. "You've managed to make the kernel more offensive to half the population and you've made it awkward for us to rectify it".
This discovery has sparked a big debate about the gender gap in the technology industry.
This is not the first time that Microsoft has made headlines for using offensive language this year. Back in June the company was slammed for a vulgar song and dance routine performed at the Norwegian Developer's Conference. The video below shows the offensive — and cringeworthy — routine.
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