Open Source Windows. What do you think?
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Open Source Windows. What do you think?
I was just reading up on how there should be two main categories for operating systems. Open source and not. Then I started thinking of how if Windows was open source there would probably be less bugs. Sure at the start a few more security wholes would probably found but I figure it would be better for the future.
What do you guys think? I know it probably won't happen but with the right security measures it might just give linux a little more competition in the future for stability.
I hate to say it but I'm personally a Windows fan and would love to see it more stable. The best of linux in Windows.
What do you guys think? I know it probably won't happen but with the right security measures it might just give linux a little more competition in the future for stability.
I hate to say it but I'm personally a Windows fan and would love to see it more stable. The best of linux in Windows.
- Ambush Commander
- DevNet Master
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Releasing the source code for Windows will not suddenly make it "secure", in my opinion. Open source does not solve code complexity, and there is nothing more complex than an operating system. It'll take years for a developer to come up to terms with the architectural decisions made internally. 
Besides the fact that it will never happen. Oh well, we can go back to our theorizing...
Besides the fact that it will never happen. Oh well, we can go back to our theorizing...
I know it won't make it secure right away. Infact it would probably make it less secure for the first little while.Ambush Commander wrote:Releasing the source code for Windows will not suddenly make it "secure". Open source does not solve code complexity, and there is nothing more complex than an operating system. It'll take years for a developer to come up to terms with the architectural decisions made internally.
I think in the long run microsoft would benefit a lot more.
- feyd
- Neighborhood Spidermoddy
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A massive amount of the code is there are legacy reasons (being able to run old windows apps without issue).. there's a huge compatibility layer that alters behaviour of the internal API when certain applications are detected as running.. There's also a lot of VB in there too.. 
Last I saw, it took a mere (haha) 17 hours to build Windows CE, so I can only imagine how long it takes to build Windows itself..
Last I saw, it took a mere (haha) 17 hours to build Windows CE, so I can only imagine how long it takes to build Windows itself..
The windows source, as pointed out by feyd, is a big mish mash of compat layer stuff.
In other words, a lot of the old stuff is still in there, even for DOS.
So add to that they advances in source engines etc. you will also see a CRAP load of Assembly code in there (Oh joy) and you'll also see a lot of it in completely different styles simply because it isn't one person who has created everything that is Windows
A Friend of mine who runs a server provider was contacted by Microsoft and to his surprise they were requesting that one of his clients be disconnected and their server blitzed due to the client storing Windows 2000 source code.
My friend then also learnt that MS had launched something in the region of 250+ legal cases against people all round the globe who had shared and/or looked at the Win2k source code within 2 weeks of the code leak.
In other words, a lot of the old stuff is still in there, even for DOS.
So add to that they advances in source engines etc. you will also see a CRAP load of Assembly code in there (Oh joy) and you'll also see a lot of it in completely different styles simply because it isn't one person who has created everything that is Windows
A Friend of mine who runs a server provider was contacted by Microsoft and to his surprise they were requesting that one of his clients be disconnected and their server blitzed due to the client storing Windows 2000 source code.
My friend then also learnt that MS had launched something in the region of 250+ legal cases against people all round the globe who had shared and/or looked at the Win2k source code within 2 weeks of the code leak.