The full story is at japantoday, and the site is as slow as custard (guess what it runs? ) but some of the Japanese language press are under the impression that Microsoft are showing their code - all of the Windows code - to the Japanese government (and only to them) to gain inclusion in a new study of OSS systems.

Traditionally, Japan and the Japanese government are slow on the uptake of new technology and conservative in their outlook (mobile phones are the exception).

This is a gambit on the regulation hungry government - the Diet parliament recommended OSS for consideration to replace their Windows systems and earmarked some cash for the study, and eager to impress that they can do OSS too, Microsoft Japan said they would release code. The regulation probably specifies that the OS code is released in it's entirety (token gestures such as Shared Source Initiative won't do) which is why Microsoft's first full disclosure of their source code may happen in Japan.

PS. This is very good news for me personally - just thought I'd share it.

Microsoft news needs to go in just the General forum. Thanks.

Did I put it somewhere else?
Sorry.

hehe, can you imagine all the mind control there gonna find in there? Why else would a person continue to use windows? :lol

On the page I got it only talks about obandoning MS software in favor of open-source alternative - linux . And read the commets I like the one about BG is not being evil 'cause he donated 1 billion dollars and computers to some charities, I read about it somewhere here and these money as I can comprehend are not comming from BG or his wife directly so the fund is a bogus one just for the checkmark of it, sure it is a good cause to donate a billion dollar but to claim responsibilities for it is lieing through teeth. He-he. Well MS is loosing big time, and I don't think they will be able to change it even if they release all their code to everyone - just as a linux community some other community (maybe the linux one, who knows) would make it THE WORKS and there wouldn't be any credit for MS in such a case.

But economically and in general sense, what would happen if Microsoft released all their source to the public, like Linux? Would Windows die, or would all the hackers jump on to hacking Windows code to that point that Linux becomes irrelevant?
I'm very curious to hear what you think would happen. And do you think MS would EVER release all their source to the public? With some clever licenses and such things windows could really hit hard or kill Linux if it released their source, and still find a way to gain money and have volunteer hackers doing all the work...
-NSKL

I don't think that releasing there source would work... imagine wading through all that crap. It's a buggy OS, besides, releasing the source would prolly prove that win XP ripped a bunch of stuff off from UNIX. But I unconditionally hate windows, so maybe I'm biased.

One thing for sure they will never release the code for a public's eye, maybe for developers on highly restricted licenses and crap, but the general audience will never see it unless somebody cracks the windows repository and give it away, remember a few years ago somebody had broken into one of the microsofts networks and highjacked some code (I beleive a beta of IE or something like that)

I bet the code is realy crappy, hehe Lots of tech channels will pick this apart if they find out.

Yep! That was funny! I love their standard response, too:
'It's a shame that this happened, because this version is very buggy and won't paint a good picture of the final product' - like the final product won't be buggy!

Greetings all,

Well, I may not be a Linux expert.....heh.....i'm about as "Newbie" as they come in the Linux department. But as a 10+ year user of everything from MS-Dos 5.0 and up, I can tell you one thing for certain:

Microsoft will never releace *all* of it's source code for MS Windows. I say this for a number of reasons:

A) Microsoft is renouned for their love of "Proprietary" data types and formats.

B) Microsoft will never give up their strangle hold in the licencing department (NT Licencing, EULA's...etc)

C) Even if, by some incredeble stretch of ones imagination, Microsoft did releace their OS Source Code, it's just as was mentioned by previous posters. The Windows Source code would be disected and hacked to bits within a week of going public. How would Microsoft make money then?


Bottom line: Anyone who approches this subject must ensure that they keep one fact in the forefront of their thoughts at all times:


A) Microsoft will never give up their stranglehold on the IBM-Compatible computer market.

B) Microsoft will never do *anything* that would put their cash supply in jepardy.


Yes, Windows is the average users "Dream OS". Yes, Windows is the optimal choice for "Newbies" (and or) those who simply want to fire up thier computer and surf/play games.

No, Windows is not the optimal choice for security,privacy, licencing issues, spyware, and price. That's where Linux beats Windows every time. Building a server? Linux is your "Bread and Butter"! Need an OS that is robust and Sysadmin-friendly but doesn't cost as much as Windows NT/2000 (and or) Unix? Again, Linux comes to the rescue every time.

Final Thoughts: If it's a Server Environment that your conserned about, then use Linux, you'll be glad you did. If it's a Home User enviroment your talking about, wait another 10 years until Linux becomes more Unified and User Friendly. Until that happens.....Windows will rule the Home User market......


DKnight2066

The latest of these "Halloween" missives talks about the Microsoft response to what the Japanese government is asking for.

Then again, some people on slashdot seem to think the emails aren't genuine. I think ESR's comments sound a little puerile though. Can he be excused? Probably. The industry wishlist he's ranted about for years is actually coming true ...