Microsoft Expands Access to Windows Source Code

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Those MVPs living within the already 27 countries that have signed up with Microsoft's Windows Source code program can now see it for free (limited source code of course). Specifically the programs cover Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and future Windows releases.

Microsoft Corp. has expanded the Source Licensing Program under which its Most Valued Professionals get access to the source code for the Windows operating system. The Redmond, Wash., company said on Monday that all the MVPs within the Microsoft platforms community and living within the 27 eligible countries worldwide will now be able to access Windows source code at no cost.

The source code provided under the program covers Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and future versions of Windows operating systems, including all released versions, service packs, betas and subsequent releases. MVPs, who are chosen for having a "unique set of expertise and passion" around Microsoft technologies and who are recognized for their contributions to online and technical communities, already have access to the source code components for Windows CE .Net, ASP .Net, Visual Studio .Net and Passport Manager.

News source: eWeek

Updates

According to the article at MSNBC, the new iPod will also contain the following features:

Longer battery life (50%) through more efficient method of power conservation.

Increased averaged play time, now at 12 hours.

Multiple On-The-Go playlist support

Ability to delete songs off the playlist

Users will now be given a choice to play their tunes at 25% slower or faster.

Lower price: $399 for 40GB, and $299 for 20GB. The 15 GB model has been discontinued.

Personally, I am hoping that some of these new features will be made available to existing users through firmware updates. I guess we will just have wait and see...

(4 replies) #1 moua on 19 Jul 2004 - 21:56

They can access to the whole source code ?

What if one of thems publish it by "accident" ?

#1.1 neufuse on 19 Jul 2004 - 22:01

like that hasn't happened before

#1.2 Sawyer12 on 19 Jul 2004 - 22:02

I doubt it would happen but if someone did they did and got found out then they would never get a job anywhere ever again and get there arses sued to hell and back. I would like so much to be able to see the source code. Then again who on Neowin wouldnt. Are there any MVP's on Neowin who have access to the code ?

#1.3 GwaRGuITaR on 19 Jul 2004 - 22:08

people who don't know what they're looking at?

#1.4 Techo on 20 Jul 2004 - 04:06

Not all the code

QUOTE

Those MVPs living within the already 27 countries that have signed up with Microsoft's Windows Source code program can now see it for free (limited source code of course).

(1 reply) #2 Hankyone on 19 Jul 2004 - 22:13

wooooowww i would like that

#2.1 MrRogers on 20 Jul 2004 - 14:03

I agree, that would be really interesting and helpful to see. I've always wondered what Microsoft code looks like.

(8 replies) #3 ednogg on 19 Jul 2004 - 22:57

I have no desire to see the source. I'm sure it's not spectacular code anyway. Lots of buffer overrun vulnerabilities, very few comments, etc. Not worth my time.

#3.1 InnocentKiller on 20 Jul 2004 - 00:55

Yep. I'd put $20 on it. It's probably nasty coding...

#3.2 STV on 20 Jul 2004 - 01:14

can you say that for sure? if not, then dont criticize what you havent seen.

STV

#3.3 StarSabers on 20 Jul 2004 - 01:43

Well, have you made a program that's in use on more computers than Windows?

I would love to see it. It'd probably have to have some comments. =P That have to know a little of what they're doing, haha. But ... my own 19,000 line code project ... well ... it's without a lot of comments itself, lol.

#3.4 ednogg on 20 Jul 2004 - 05:34

Without comments, your code has less worth than a pile of dog crap.
Imagine if the architect of the building you work in didn't bother making blueprints.
Would you really want to be in there during an earthquake?

BTW, I have seen some Windows code. Like I said, it's less than spectacular.

#3.5 STV on 20 Jul 2004 - 06:34

sure you have.

STV

#3.6 dismuter on 20 Jul 2004 - 13:34

Windows 2000 source code was leaked, so yes he might have seen some.

#3.7 Sawyer12 on 20 Jul 2004 - 14:52

Was it realy

#3.8 T-Metal on 20 Jul 2004 - 20:36

Now you know? Ahahahahahaha!!!!!!

#4 Andareed on 19 Jul 2004 - 23:17

This is a great move on microsoft's part.

#5 Mister Lamar on 19 Jul 2004 - 23:34

Way to go Microsoft

#6 iCeFuSiOn on 19 Jul 2004 - 23:52

Awesome. Wish I was an MVP...

#7 $ick on 20 Jul 2004 - 01:28

Source will be released to everyone by pirates. I bet.

(3 replies) #8 d.thornton on 20 Jul 2004 - 01:46

I've seen a lot of the code of .NET 2.0 ( you can view any library inside the Whidbey Products. Literally ) and it looks pretty clean and well written. I would be suprised if Windows source code was 'that' messy. It has to be manageable or else it wouldn't exist.

I'll bet Broderbund has pretty sloppy source code. And Hewlett Packard's stuff.

Seriously, Windows isn't as much of an error machine as it used to be. You don't hear of Windows crashing as often, it's all security risks now.

#8.1 Andareed on 20 Jul 2004 - 02:03

Windows API's can be screwy sometimes. If you look at public symbols alone you can see "odd" (to say the least) conventions. But this is for code that has been around since the 80's. I would guess they just build new stuff on top of the old stuff, and it gets pretty sloppy/confusing. .Net is pretty new, so it doesn't suffer from "old age" yet

#8.2 smoke on 20 Jul 2004 - 03:28

Age is a bad excuse for "odd" code, after all... Unix has been around longer than that. But people don't refer to it as suffering from old age, they call it "mature".

#8.3 dotnetjunkie on 20 Jul 2004 - 05:47

It's not age that is the problem, but the compatibility that they have to maintain.

(6 replies) #9 Starcom826 on 20 Jul 2004 - 06:29

Heh, Microsoft's solution is always to buy people away from the competition. I say take advantage of all their free stuff and change platforms anyway.

#9.1 STV on 20 Jul 2004 - 06:32

what would be the point of that? you know nobody is gonna do that. unless they just "hate microsoft" for the hell of it.

STV

#9.2 slapnuts_ox on 20 Jul 2004 - 10:50

i dislike MS cause Ifeel they make a crappy unsecure bugridden products and they try and stomp out their competition but thats just my 2 cents.

#9.3 kingbob on 20 Jul 2004 - 13:19

Ehh...I don't see how you can say that XP is buggy, you can run it for months with nary a crash.

#9.4 STV on 20 Jul 2004 - 13:38

please stop living in 1999.

slapnuts: you obviously dont visit this site, right?

STV

#9.5 slapnuts_ox on 20 Jul 2004 - 14:20

oh i do visit those sites.....however bugs in linux are typically fixed very quickly....last time I checked there are still IE bugs that have been out 1+ yr that haven't been fixed.....

XP, while better is still pretty buggy when you get down to it. it may be relativly stable but it can still be buggy.

edit/update: just for the record you guys are way too serous. STV: im just busting your balls because you get all worked up everytime anti-MS talk gets tossed around.

My personal view is that I don't like MS's business pratices and I find that for my needs linux fits what I want best. If Longhorn comes out and blows me away I would have no problem (espcially if MS does not try and inhibit competition anymore) with installing longhorn on a pc and if I like it switch to it. I am actually glad MS is using .net and think that MS made a great product there. I still don't like XP but I think that 2k3 is a nice server OS. I do like a lot of the ideas behind open source and will always plan on using linux on at least 1 of my pcs if not all. Even fanoys need to remember competition drives innovation and drops prices which im sure no one (except the companies) could be upset about.

Last edited by 8005 on 20 Jul 2004 - 14:35

#9.6 T-Metal on 20 Jul 2004 - 20:38

Don't mind STV, he's a Microsoft fanboy/troll (depends on the mood).

#10 Nichotin on 20 Jul 2004 - 17:02

Well duh. Shared Source is not anywhere near Open Source, remember that. Shared Source is not about freedom.

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