OMG! Windows Vista source code... leaked!

By Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Sunday, 06 April 2008 11:40

Opinion and Analysis

Yes, it’s mostly, sort-of true – Microsoft’s precious Vista source code is now in the public domain... and while some would say it’s not quite what we were expecting, others say it’s spot on!

An article over at Digg has uncovered the explosive details of Windows Vista’s source code.

Here’s where you’ll find the original image, which shows quite clearly just how complicated – or otherwise – Vista’s source code really is.

Also, I’ve reprinted the code in full on page 2. A picture may well be worth 1000 words, but the source code shouldn’t be forever frozen in an image, it must be indexed by Google. You'd think it would be longer than one page, but the code shows just how clever Microsoft really is!

I’m sure that Microsoft’s lawyers will be sweating in their boots, as the DoJ and the EU finally get to see why Vista has been such a debacle. I’ll bet that the investigations will now crank up once more, potentially seeing untold hundreds of millions more of Microsoft’s money at stake.

Meanwhile, Microsoft’s enemies now get access to the valuable code which could well be easily copied... could pirate Vista versions with open source tweaks be too far off? 

Perhaps Linux developers could learn a few lessons... but hopefully the Ubuntu people will steer well clear, however, lest Hardy Heron become Hellish Heroff or Hardly On instead.

Now, I’m sure some of my readers will be most annoyed at the fact I’ve helped to spill Microsoft’s beans, while others still will moan at the fact this story could be a lot more factual.

But hey... it’s from Digg. I’m just the messenger in this case. Go and vent in the comments section of this story, or over at Digg.

Also – I can’t be sure if this source code includes any of the SP1 improvements – it looks to me like it’s just Vista RTM. Perhaps the leaker of the code will see fit to find SP1’s code and leak it too.

For all the shocking Vista source code details, either click the links above – or scoot on over to page 2.