Woah! Just in. Mircosoft going open-source!

[LastActionHero]

Microsoft has decided to release the source code for Windows CE. Now we will exactly know how Microshaft writes those buggy programs. Atleast I will be interested.

[LastActionHero]

I think I got tooo excited. Strings attached as usual .


Microsoft released the code, with the Shared Source License, on Friday. It is available on the company's Web site and can be accessed through an evaluation or full version of the Platform Builder development tool



In addition to the prohibition on using or distributing modified versions of Windows CE for commercial purposes, people must sign up for Microsoft's Passport service before getting access. Passport, an authentication system that can keep track of personal information, is used for Microsoft's programmer resource site and instant-messenger software as well as for its MSN service.

website where you can get the source code -> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce/tools/source/default.asp

[zazoo]

how long do you think it will take hackers to get this?

[Todd]

Originally posted by zazoo
how long do you think it will take hackers to get this?
I might have missed something as I haven't read the story yet but if they released it for developers to use it why would "hackers" have to get it? If it's released it's released by them and isn't an issue where someone cracked the server, found the code, and released it.

If your using the term hackers in the programmer sense then I'm sure the parties who are interested already have it. Personally I think this has the potential to increase Windows CE device sales and support while Palm may take a major hit as a result. It really depends on who backs them, right now the Palm OS is more or less the favored OS but if Windows CE was created in a sort of open source style of environment where anyone can modify the OS then it really has potential. That's if they can shake the Microsoft name off of it as many people may not work on anything made by Microsoft even if open source just because of their own principals / beliefs.

[whatevah]

wow... only took me 3 minutes to find that stupid bug.... ;)

I'm wondering why they did this.

[Owen]

Someone please tell me what the use of this open source is to nontechies, if you can not use it for "commercial purposes." :rolleyes:

[Coolin]

Absolutely nothing.

They just want to "look good" by being open source.

In other words: They will do anything to kill Palm and their OS then they become evil again.

[rmsharpe]

Windows CE isn't open-source, it's "Hope Diamond" kind of open-source. Look, but no touch.