188 replies to this topic 6 votes

[+GreenMartian]

In case you're wondering, I believe this is the editorial that Notch was responding to.

Update: Notch updated the post to say Goat Murderer (source on OP)

[HawkMan]

The article is about the technical feasibility of certifying Minecraft, which is largely irrelevant for Notch's stance on the matter.

He just doesn't want to certify his app for an OS whose direction he doesn't agree with.

Noit wasn't that was a different article. The article was about a lot of things, but not that, and he ignored like 90% of it.

[Dan~]

No one is going to be raping goats, hang o!!

[Mackster]

It's not hard to see the direction Microsoft is going, which is slowly but surely towards a more closed platform. Notch simply doesn't want to contribute to that. He wants his PC to be open and free. Which is good, in my opinion.

It's also not hard to see the direction Apple has taken over the years. Slowly but surely towards a more closed platform. They introduced their App Stores, and now with their latest OS they by default restrict what software you can install. The next step is natural. They'll remove the option to still install arbitrary software, and only allow 'certified' software, from their App Store or registered developers.

As far as I can see, Microsoft has nothing better to do than to copy Apple here. They introduce App Stores, and you'll see more and more restrictions on the software you can install. Why would it go the opposite way?

[HawkMan]

Disrespect how?

Notch is under no obligation to support the latest Windows OS version, let alone certifying the app. AFAIK you were never promised any kind of support on future Windows releases... and yet Minecraft will anyway be running on W8, just not certified.

By the way, has Minecraft any kind of certification at all for any Windows version? If not, why is it suddenly such a big issue? Just because Notch went vocal about his reasons?

I'd take bigger offence over the fact that as far as 1.3.2 Minecraft still has problems with chunks not loading, resulting in holes in the map and/or being able to see distant mines through the floor.

One of the steps that fail certification is that his "game"requests UAC elevation... Something which is totally unnecessary and really bad programming to start with.

Pushing that kind of old win9x programming practices on your users is disrespect, and also puts your customers at risk.

[Randomevent]

It's not hard to see the direction Microsoft is going, which is slowly but surely towards a more closed platform. Notch simply doesn't want to contribute to that. He wants his PC to be open and free. Which is good, in my opinion.

That's certainly what everyone wants to believe, and MS hasn't confirmed or denied.

People are taking an assumption and running with it.

[Javik]

I get the feeling that WinRT and the app store is the start of a move to try and turn Windows into a walled garden as well. Granted, Windows 8 still works with traditional applications but it's clear Microsoft are trying heavily to push developers towards developing exclusively for the app store, and once they get to a stage where everyone's doing it for the extra financial incentives it gives the opportunity to close the traditional desktop off. Microsoft may gain a few friends amongst the app junkie crowds but power users will start looking elsewhere.

[Max Norris]

once they get to a stage where everyone's doing it for the extra financial incentives it gives the opportunity to close the traditional desktop off.

So basically Windows won't run Windows software anymore? I'm sure that's going to make their investors very happy, never mind the millions of customers. /s

[+CrossCheck]

who's this "Crotch" guy eveyone is talking about?

[Aethec]

So here's Notch's logic:

Microsoft controls WinRT apps.
People can use WinRT apps.
Thus, Windows is becoming a closed platform.

[Javik]

So basically Windows won't run Windows software anymore? I'm sure that's going to make their investors very happy, never mind the millions of customers. /s

Nope, it will still run software, but once they've conned everyone into releasing their software to the app store the traditional desktop won't be necessary

[HawkMan]

In case you're wondering, I believe this is the editorial that Notch was responding to.

Update: Notch updated the post to say Goat Murderer (source on OP)

He's such a mature well articulated person...

[ichi]

Noit wasn't that was a different article. The article was about a lot of things, but not that, and he ignored like 90% of it.

That other article was pretty much about a how releasing Minecraft on closed platforms while not wanting to certify it on Windows8 made Notch an hypocrite.
That much is actually addressed in Notch's reply.

Regarding the bit about Windows8 not being closed, it seems to me that Notch just doesn't like the path that Microsoft seems to be following, no matter if Windows8 itself is not actually closed. That's also addressed in the third paragraph.

What's the 90% he ignored?

[Randomevent]

I get the feeling that WinRT and the app store is the start of a move to try and turn Windows into a walled garden as well. Granted, Windows 8 still works with traditional applications but it's clear Microsoft are trying heavily to push developers towards developing exclusively for the app store, and once they get to a stage where everyone's doing it for the extra financial incentives it gives the opportunity to close the traditional desktop off. Microsoft may gain a few friends amongst the app junkie crowds but power users will start looking elsewhere.

The walled garden approach makes sense for Windows for RT, as it needs to be a secured platform. You can't exactly rip and replace the guts on a tablet when something goes wrong. It doesn't make sense at all on the traditional Windows, and I would expect Microsoft is aware of this.

Just not willing to assume either way, At any rate, not much else for me to say.

[Max Norris]

Nope, it will still run software, but once they've conned everyone into releasing their software to the app store the traditional desktop won't be necessary

Ah, so it's just preference then, not closed at all since the developer can still design whatever he bloody well pleases just like the past couple decades. I fail to see the point of his whole "problem" then. I used to hear similar arguments about dotNET killing off Win32 applications back in the day. Microsoft's going to stop supporting it, etc etc. Same goes with WPF.. WinForms apps will die, developers are being forced into using that instead. Now it's this.