After nearly 5 years with the company, Engineering Director Mark Lucovsky is leaving Google for a role with VMware, we’ve learned. Lucovsky has been an integral part of Google’s APIs, including the all-important Search APIs.
Before Google, Lucovsky worked at DEC and then Microsoft for 16 years, eventually gaining the title of “Distinguished Engineer.” He had been the principle architect on Windows NT, which would eventually evolve into Windows XP. “I wrote most of the kernel executive, kernel32, and the Windows API,” he told StoneTemple Consulting in an interview two years ago.
Lucovsky was also the architect of Microsoft’s Hailstorm project to port older Microsoft products into .NET. It’s a project that’s been named as a precursor to the current open web movement.
But Lucovsky may be best known for the role he played in a complete and utter meltdown that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer once had. As the NT architect, Lucovsky was clearly pretty vital to Microsoft, so when he went in for a meeting with Ballmer in 2004 to let him know he was leaving, you can be sure the CEO was a bit on edge.
“Just tell me it’s not Google,” Ballmer reportedly said according to court documents (for a case surrounding another Google ex-Microsoft hire). When Lucovsky said it was Google, Ballmer allegedly picked up a chair and threw it across the room.
What he apparently said next, will live on forever in Internet history.
“Fucking Eric Schmidt is a fucking pussy. I’m going to fucking bury that guy, I have done it before, and I will do it again. I’m going to fucking kill Google.”
Schmidt, is of course, Google’s CEO. When Lucovsky still wasn’t convinced, Ballmer alledgedly went on to say, “Google’s not a real company. It’s a house of cards.”
A house of cards that still stands. And one that will presumably keep standing after Lucovsky’s departure.
At least he’s not leaving to join Bing!
LOL, that’s true. Had he been shunting from Google to Bing, would have Eric Schmidt said the same? Think!
What is exactly so interesting about VMWare that this guy leaves Google for it? And incident regarding Steve’s reaction to Lucovsky’s exit, is that true? Or just one those famous Internet anecdotes?
>> What is exactly so interesting about VMWare that this guy leaves Google for it?
Um… The guy wrote huge parts of the Windows NT kernel. I’m sure VMWare can find a use for him.
as if you know what a kernel is.
kernels duuude, who woulda thunk?
Good question. I mean, VMWare is doing some important stuff. What would the world do with out virtualization??? However, I seriously doubt that it’s any more interesting that Google. At least not any justification for leaving Google!
Yes, that’s what I too felt. VMware and Google are somehow not on the same plane – at least to many like me.
Google may be sexy from the outside, but on the inside, at your desk…its just another job. A company like VMware can offer Mark the autonomy and flexibility to be part of something again.
Simple: Paul Maritz. Most senior technical folks at MS in the 90’s cringed when we heard Bill chose Ballmer over Maritz.
Now that Martiz is running VMWare, you can bet there will be a migration of senior MS (and ex-MS) talent migrating there.
I think virtualization is going to be even more important than it is now a bit down the road. You can do some pretty amazing stuff with virtualization. I think Lucovsky sees this and what is coming in the near future.
As for VMware being on the same level as Google.. In 10 years you are going to look at virtualization and be like “How did we live without this?” I think it’s going to be that important.
Google does pay shit for salaries. The stock has run up and I sure this guy has made his money by now.
Time to move on.
Besides his intimate understanding of windows client (NT being the precursor to XP) – the next battle is how best to provide services to a world of thin clients – many on hot selling netbooks and a new generation of smartphones. NOt to mention the mounting battle for the virtualized desktop. This could be a very strong marriage.
That’s hilarious. Well, whatever he is doing next, I am sure he will continue to make an impact.
- Darren at AdExcel dot Com
The guy essencially redesigned a crappy OS, to something usable you have to give him credit for that,..but given Google’s adage of “Dont be Evil”, iam sure there where no had feelings as he left..though they will definately miss him. And true enough this guy has an eye for the future…vitualization!!!
You guys talk about virtualization like it’s something new….People have been using it for a long while now. BTW — it’s totally overrated.
LOL.. if he joined bing, we would think he’s suffering from Alzheimer’s or something.
If he joined, we can interpret in 2 other ways also:
1. Either, he found Bing to be VERY MUCH LIKE Live and so, out of nostalgia, he wanted to be back.
2. Or, he found Google to be a house of cards, finally.
Yet another possibility is, he is too much into Windows that Google wants to dispel him with Chrome OS. LOL.
Congrats to VMware. I’m a big fan of their products right now, and it’s good to see them attracting some bright folks.
perfect example of GOOD vs EVIL, ERIC vs STEVE, GOOGLE vs MICROSOFT
Oh, you mean Google = Good? But I feel Eric and Evil rhyme well.
It’s more like the lesser of two evils. I doubt Eric Schmidt’s wife thinks he’s all that good considering his active social life and monkey boy speaks Jackassery for itself.
Edit: switch jackassery and speaks. LOL. Too many beers.
Edit: switch speaks and jackassery, lol. Too many beers.
VWWare? Gernan maker of fine Virtual Machines
You have typed VWare instead of VMware in the first line, but the link is correct. I first thought Vware was some new company till i looked at the URL
heh, yes. thx.
See, throwing chairs work…even if it takes a while.
Wow, latest big exit from the Googleopoly. Yikes. So, pretty soon Google is going to be run by Matt Cutts and a few janitors…
Leaving Google for VMWare, considering he’s a kernel guy may be he feels more at home with VMWare than “a search company”
Ballmer — such a maniac. I like him.
schmidt is a pussy
Larry Page for Google CEO President 2009! Page is so thugged out
Are these individual employees really all that important anyway? Seems they are all pretty interchangeable.
You’re not an engineer, are you? Great engineers aren’t really interchangeable.
nailed it. don’t doubt google has some great talent to fill in some gaps but if too many great minds leave, that’s a huge drain that’ll slow any company down.
even the great Google.
At the end of the day, they are all replaceable sooner or later.
Wrong no two engineers are the same. You always get something different not the same. Idiot.
Some people are irreplaceable but no one is INDISPENSABLE.
Ballmer was right of course.
Google is a house of cards. A shift could come from anywhere to change the online advertising market, and Google would be out. Everything they do is based on a single revenue source, search ads.
You really echoed my thoughts.
But now there are signs of Google trying other things…
Congrats to Mark, he did an excellent job at Google and was very responsive.
Unlike so many high profile people, he would actually take the time to listen and respond to people on the API Forums and Blogs.
Perhaps it’s an espionage move. Maybe he wants to see what they’re up to over there at VMware ahead of a Google takeover.
I kid, of course.
Why he is not joining ‘Bing’ again. I don’t understand what’s going on in his mind
.
The real issue here is why isn’t he become part of the Google OS (or whatever it is called). He has mass amount of experience in building OS (according to this article). Even if it is not based on Windows, you would guess, Mark will be a great addition to this effort. Maybe Mark actually want to leave the G-ship before it will MS him up. Or maybe it is true- Google is like MS and not using its best people.
Because it’s NOT any ‘OS’ it’s just a hype vehicle.
I was wondering the same thing. Would be interesting if techcrunch looked into where all those OS experts Google recruited some time back are now. Are they working on Chrome OS, have left the company, or working on something else? But that might require real reporting…
‘Principle architect’? Good to know MSFT had somebody working on its principles…
Hey folks,
There could be many reasons behind Mark Lucovsky leaving Google. One reason could be familiarity with Paul Maritz. Other reason could be a better pay , work environment and new challenges
All we have to say about this is…WOW!
Well it looks like good old Google has arrived at the point where key people don’t find it compelling to work there.
Google has officially reached middle age,
“Principal architect” – no, that would have been Dave Cutler. Dave and Lou hired Mark while they were at DEC and then brought him along to MS. Mark wrote the API manual and managed source check in.
Lol so true!! Dave Cutler was the principal architect behind Windows NT not Mark.
Love Ballmer, love the maniacs, that passion is the only way to be! And I have a feeling Ballmer is going to bury Google. Google is looking like a House of Cards: 10 years and just one great project. Google Apps is joke, no one with any serious spreadsheet or wordprocessing needs uses it. They wasted 10 years fiddling around with Javascript and building “cool” products like Google App engine, instead of launching stuff like Cloud Hosting (which Amazon did) and moving strongly into the enterprise space with real enterprise products, instead of all the Javascript nonsense.
JavaScript nonsense? That’s a good one.
I guess you must not know that Google App Engine is gearing up to support Enterprise apps?
And you seriously must not understand that Google App Engine is essentially “Cloud Hosting“?
Duh…
Nobody has mentioned the obvious – maybe VMWare offered him lots of money!
Came here for the chair story. Leaving satisfied.
I think he got the right choice. VMware is a good company and technology.
Nintendo was originally a house of cards and look where that led them.
Same with (insert company name here).
TechCrunch is just a house of cards I tell u. it’s all coming down MG. All. Fall. Down. as soon as Laguna leaves, it’s all over.
This is like the story of Snoop Leaving Death Row od the Game pissing off 50cent. once again MG has got a bit of ganger in his blood. You and MA are TechThugs. I’d like to point out also that MA threw a party then invited the a top notch tech chick. Then spit game to her. Then swept her off her feet. Then posted pictures…. pimpin For real. Since you joinded the team these stories have the kind of edge I like. an MA is stepping up.
Great news; VMWare needs him. Use it every day and haven’t seen much updating or innovative from them in the past 2 years. More problems creeping into the systems as we use them more vigorously.
Maybe he had something to do with Google Voice Noise?
Prabably not.
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I don’t know what he was doing in Google Ajax API. AJAX Api’s are a joke and he was under utilized doing that. When he could be working on Android OS or on Chrome OS. Its interesting he is leaving when Google made a major play into OS market. Wouldn’t he have the right experience to contribute in Chrome OS.
very good point!
?
If you consider google a deck of cards, consider MSFT just being a two trick pony and with the cloud-computing coming (actually already here) and more of a push towards open-source Windows and Office could lose their monopolies. MSFT would be a $10 stock without Office and Windows monopolies.
One thing to note MSFT kept him happy for 16 years and google could keep him only for 5 years. It will be interesting to see how Google reacts to all these talented guys leaving.
I’m curious to know what’s so interesting at VMware.
vmware have good technology but junk work environment.Their culture changes from team to team.Vmware not for techies only for arrogant people.Not all teams are good in VMW
VMWARE writing new desktop OS..