Gartner analyst Ray Valdes said there are two ways to view the decision to fuse the developer programs.

"The first is that this represents consolidation and cost optimization, joining together in an uneasy fashion two developer communities with differing needs," he said via e-mail.

The other possibility is that the combination is "synergistic" and capitalizes on a good market opportunity through a broad, integrated offering.

"I think there is a kernel of truth in both interpretations, and the final result depends upon how well the combined team executes," Valdes said.