MS Proposes Disclosing Windows Source To India

raghuram writes "Interesting news from Economic Times of India, I found an interesting story, Microsoft Planning to Share Code with India." He excerpts from that article: "Microsoft has already made a proposal to the ministry of information technology (of India) for sharing the Windows source code with one government body. The nature of the body has not been spelt out; it will presumably be worked out after discussions between the company and the government officials. Interestingly, the offer comes at a time when state governments are showing interest in rival Linux operating system as the latter's source code is free and downloadable from the internet."

Comments

Re:Sweet...

[TheWhaleShark]

6 hours? The minute this was announced, the source showed up in sidewalk kiosks in China.

They don't specify the version...

[BuhSnarf]

... it could be Windows 3.11 that they're gonna release the source for.

Re:Sweet...

[Anonvmous Coward]

"6 hours? The minute this was announced, the source showed up in sidewalk kiosks in China."

Actually it was Linux with a Windows logo set as the wallpaper.

[ My Friend Got The Code Already! ]

[ekrout]

/* Source Code Windows XP */
#include "win31.h"
#include "win95.h"
#include "win98.h"
#include "workst~1.h"
#include "evenmore.h"
#include "oldstuff.h"
#include "billrulz.h"
#include "monopoly.h"
#include "backdoor.h"
#define INSTALL = HARD
char make_prog_look_big(16000000);
void main()
{
while(!CRASHED)
{
display_copyright_message();
display_bill_rules_message();
do_nothing_loop();
if (first_time_installation)
{
make_100_megabyte_swapfile();
do_nothing_loop();
totally_screw_up_HPFS_file_system();
search_and_destroy_the_rest_of-OS2();
make_futile_attempt_to_damage_Linux();
disable_Netscape();
disable_RealPlayer();
disable_Lotus_Products();
hang_system();
} //if
write_something(anything);
display_copyright_message();
do_nothing_loop();
do_some_stuff();
if (still_not_crashed)
{
display_copyright_message();
do_nothing_loop();
basically_run_windows_31();
do_nothing_loop();
} // if
} //while
if (detect_cache())
disable_cache();
if (fast_cpu())
{
set_wait_states(lots);
set_mouse(speed,very_slow);
set_mouse(action,jumpy);
set_mouse(reaction,sometimes);
} //if /* printf("Welcome to Windows 3.1"); */ /* printf("Welcome to Windows 3.11"); */ /* printf("Welcome to Windows 95"); */ /* printf("Welcome to Windows NT 3.0"); */ /* printf("Welcome to Windows 98"); */ /* printf("Welcome to Windows NT 4.0"); */
printf("Welcome to Windows 2000");
if (system_ok())
crash(to_dos_prompt)
else
system_memory = open("a:\swp0001.swp",O_CREATE);
while(something)
{
sleep(5);
get_user_input();
sleep(5);
act_on_user_input();
sleep(5);
} // while
create_general_protection_fault();
} // main


(Hehe. Code courtesy of this funny site and reproduced here for your enjoyment.)

Re:Wild...

[vsprintf]

Really, what would you want the code to Windows for? There are already bootleg binaries for those so inclined. The source code for all that bloat has to be reams and reams of bad hackery, worse patches, and blatant bandaids.

I suppose there would be the humor factor of being able to point out the lines that say,

// Leave commented out until appeals are over.
// remove( "C:\Program Files\Netscape\Netscape.exe" );

Re:Wild...

[gclef]

I mentioned this the last time someone asked what I'd want the windows source for:

grep -r /home/archives/windows strcpy

It would teach me tons about finding overflows, I'm sure....

SETI@India?

[TeknoHog]

Quote from the article, emphasis mine:

When contacted by ET, Microsoft India president Rajiv Nair was somewhat cagey. Although he didn't deny the move, he merely said, "We are evaluating the idea."

I guess giving the Windows source to aliens would confuse them enough to not want to invade Earth.

#include ba_doom_ching.h

Re:Wild...

[starseeker]

They have correct source code??