Re: Microsoft: Source Code Leaked Through Internet
"Aaron S. Hawley" <[email protected]>
| Newsgroups | gmane.org.ballistichelmet.heads |
|---|---|
| Organization | University of Vermont |
| Message-ID | <[email protected]> |
On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 cpratt-UYko1UTVIqz2fBVCVOL8/[email protected] wrote: > I have a professor who swears there are vast portions of the OS and Office > suite code that no one at Microsoft understands. probably because it's not written in VB. ohh! i'll be here all week. ---- "Why is this a problem for Microsoft? "For several reasons. "Firstly, it is yet another security lapse during a month that has seen the appearance of the fastest spreading virus ever as well as the discovery of yet another critical vulnerability in the Windows operating system. "Secondly, Microsoft's growth has come about because of its tight control of its intellectual property - the source code of its products. This has helped it maintain a stranglehold on the desktop computer market. That hold has been demonstrably loosened now. Rivals could use it to get a better idea of how Windows works and help them compete against Microsoft. "Thirdly, it might be the last straw for people tired of the security headaches that Windows creates. "Fourthly, for Microsoft to have this code paraded in public is hugely embarrassing. Not least because the code is littered with profanity and might show that many Microsoft programmers do not do a very good job. "In the past independent programmers that have deconstructed other Microsoft applications have been shocked at what they found within the code. Rivals and critics will be able to see exactly how Microsoft staff do their work. "Q&A: Microsoft source code leaked." BBC News World. 13 February, 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3485545.stm _______________________________________________ heads mailing list [email protected] http://ballistichelmet.org/mailman/listinfo/heads/ http://ballistichelmet.org/donate/