I've heard, that microsft has revealed some parts of code, has this been revealed to the general public, or what ? if so where can we see these bits of code ...



[ This Message was edited by: sg on 2002-09-03 00:49 ]

afaik they just released some interface and api specification, and nothing that wa some way or the other not already available... but i could be wrong of course...

Afaik you can get the source codes of the released things (look at the news on the YPN's front page) at MSDN. I don't know where and how, but you can get it there according to some articles.
[addsig]

Does anybody know why they were (indirectly) forced to release to open the code? I know that I could read up on all that legal stuff, but maybe somebody can summartize it very concisely? [addsig]

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnapiover/html/api-overview.asp

It give a description of why there.
Anti trust thingy,

very shortly summarized:
M$ had a monopoly on the desktop computer market, which is disallowed by law, and therefore a crime. Maybe it's not their fault, but it is a crime in _any_ country afaik. So they have been forced to do things like letting the user take out IE of Windows and use their preferred browser, same for media player, outlook etc.
There first also was a discussion of splitting M$ up into several parts, which was dropped afaik, without any results worth to talk about.
The other discussion was, that M$ has to Open the complete sources of windows. This was the initial topic, but after a time it changed to "M$ has to open several parts of the windows code", so that 3rd party companies or freelance hackers can take a look how things work. For example all the Protocols used by windows to communicate with each other or with server have been opened recently.
That's how things are looking at the moment.
I hope it was short enough, big parts missing tho
[addsig]

It is illegal in USA, thats all that matters, since Microsoft is a USA based company.

yeah, that it is illegal in all countries was more something like a addition
[addsig]

1) You can get the source code for Windows in different ways. One is buying a source license. Another is attending a university where they have it (MS gives its code to unis free of charge, IIRC)

2) MS doesn't have a monopoly anymore than Apple does.

1) Is it also allowed to modify it and use/distribute the modified code? If not, then you don't have any of the advantages of OpenSource.

2) Interesting point. But usually monopolies are defined by their market shares. Where I live there's about one of twenty computer stores which sells apple products. I would call that a monopoly. [addsig]

1) I never claimed it was open source. The question was is the source code viewable. The answer's yes.

2) If there's anyone else selling something, that's not a monopoly. They're pretty close, but this site in itself (and the huge percentage of people on here running linux...) is evidence it's not a monopoly. It's not like there's not plenty of monopolies out there already. Let's say I want cable TV. Guess how many places I can get it from? 1. Let's say I want local telephone service. Guess how many places I can get it from? 1. Let's say I want electricity. Guess how many places I can get it from? 1. That's because those are all regulated industries. Maybe that'd be something for MS to push towards.

Heh. I think of my room as dark when I turn the lights off, even if there are still some photons flying around.

Yeah, even if there was one shop left, selling his OSes on the surface of the moon, MS could in no way be called a monopoly.

You're totally right. Microsoft is no monopoly, but very close to it, having an influence on the market that is simply too stong.



_________________
--moxx

[ This Message was edited by: MoX on 2002-09-04 06:39 ]

ok, if you don't call M$' market share a monopoly on the desktop, what is it then?
[addsig]

As long as your happy with the source code being ASM nothings closed source
(-:

I think its more of a fact they are tring to stop Microsoft becoming a Monoply, thats how i understood it.
Considerin how many ppl buy/own Windows, if the include certian programs with the OS, it is very hard for competing software makers to enter the market since everyone already has an app for doin that task, why get another one (Thats their views)

So, they are trying to stop microsoft becoming a monopoly.

Anyone agree?
(-;

agreed [addsig]

yeah, I kinda agree too
[addsig]

Boy would I like to see Win 98 code. They're probably missing oh, about 2,000 error handlers. [addsig]