Joel On Microsoft's API Mistakes

AceMarkE writes "Joel Spolsky of Joel on Software has posted an article entitled "How Microsoft Lost the API War". He covers why the Win32 API is important to Microsoft, what they've done to keep it working, why Microsoft's switch to the .Net platform is both a good and bad idea, and why he feels the browser will be the real future of application development. Definitely worth a read no matter what your opinion of Microsoft is."

Comments

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[DRWHOISME]

He says...

Microsoft's crown strategic jewel, the Windows API, is lost. The cornerstone of Microsoft's monopoly power and incredibly profitable Windows and Office franchises

Not exactly. How about the fact that that every computer maker makes Bill'$ O$ the standard.

If the GOV would do their job and stop this COLLUSION and force people to buy Bill'$ O$ at Compusa for $100 bucks then there would be REAL tangible change for the better.

Re:Hard to be a Mac user?

[jwcorder]

"But Mac users keep and use their machines for a _lot_ longer- they're actually more like 10% of users"Alot longer then what? Oh I forgot, my windows machine self destructs after 3 years. I just can't take all this MAC washing. The world according to a MAC user:

1. My MAC is better then your Windows XX machine.

2. MS apps run better on my MAC then your Windows XX machine.

3. The silicon that makes up my MAC is high value, so it will last so much longer the the silicon in those Windows parts.

4. My MAC is faster then your Windows XX machine

5. Because I use a MAC, my penis grew 4 inches and I can screw for hours and I couldn't do that before.

I have to leave this thread now. Getting....a...migraine.

Well...

[RAMMS EIN]

``This old argument about Mac having no apps is very old, very tired, and very tiresome.''

Well, to be fair about OS X:

1. Windows apps don't run on it.
2. Classic apps don't run on it.
3. Quite a few apps developed for the GNU system don't run on it.

That is, unless you emulate/virtualize the system those apps do run on. Also, there are plenty of apps for any purpose that do work under OS X. I am just pointing out that migrating to OS X can hurt, as you will likely have to abandon some of your favorite apps.