<OT> Micro$oft to license source code

[Alma J Wetzker]

Bill Campbell wrote:
> On Wed, Jan 25, 2006, Rick Sivernell wrote:
> 
>>On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 16:40:31 -0500
>>HarryG <hg57 at sc.rr.com> wrote:
>>>http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06025/644032.stm
>>>
>>>Guess we will see what happens.  Personally, I think they will squirm out of 
>>>it somehow.
> 
> 
>>Another reason MS does not want outsiders seeing there code, If you saw it,
>>you would puke your guts at had badly written it is. They do not follow
>>their own guide lines.
> 
> 
> I've never seen any MS code (that would involve signing an NDA and having
> my mind permanently polluted :-), but given what one can see from the
> outside, I have to think it's horrible.
> 
> I do have a book here in the Microsoft Programming Series that hast to have
> the funniest title I've seen in years ``Writing Solid Code: Microsoft's
> Techniques for Developing Bugg-Free C Programs''.

I worked with a programmer that had very deceptive code.  Is was 
visually structured well and had clear names for functions (methods) and 
variables.  It was the logical organization that caused the whole thing 
to fall apart.  The functions seldom did what the name suggested, and 
never did the complete task.  Variables were used wherever they were 
free for any purpose.

I picture M$s code in a similar way.  You have some very intelligent 
programmers trying to be "efficient" doing all sorts of things with the 
same code fragments.  Individually, the programs all work.  When they 
get put together, the whole mess just kind of sags.  Like building a 
skyscraper with spaghetti noodles, it works fine until you have a hot, 
humid day.

I actually picture M$ code like lego bricks.  Except the bricks are not 
always square, and they do not have flat sides.  I have heard that Vista 
is supposed to take a shot at fixing that.  I suspect that backwards 
compatibility will continue to cause problems.

I would not like to work on M$ code.  I doubt that this will satisfy the 
EU.  Granted that some folk in the EU government are beholden to big 
money, but I can't see that much enthusiasm in Europe to help out a US 
bully and monopolist.

     -- Alma