3 ms·

I recall story of leaked Win2k source code which was filled with profanity and ugly hacks. Surprising fact was how much effort was put in to make software suite

I recall story of leaked Win2k source code which was filled with profanity and ugly hacks. Surprising fact was how much effort was put in to make software suites work with windows [1]. Although these are ugly hacks but it is a general reminder that people who will buy the software won't see why some obscure bad pointer in MS Office is causing this but something that used to work perfectly fine in previous Windows doesn't work in the current. [1]: http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/2/15/71552/7795 http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/2/15/71552/7795

anonbanker 11y ago
that source code is still available in torrent form. I have a copy somewhere.
mrspeaker 11y ago
It's so strange you mentioned the Win2K source leak - I was just thinking about this yesterday. I remember at the time there was warnings about it on Slashdot along the lines of "Don't download/read the source code, else you'll be 'tainted' and won't be able to commit code to Open Source projects!" Has it been long enough that I dare peek at it now? ;)
- Analemma_ 11y ago
  You're probably fine, unless you ever want to commit to ReactOS. From what I've heard, they're very serious about not letting anyone with exposure to Microsoft's code touch the project, because the clean-room implementation requirements are so strict.
  - MichaelGG 11y ago
    I never contributed to Mono because they didn't allow it if you had MS source code access. That was probably prudent, though should be OK now I'd guess.
- stephengillie 11y ago
  What's funny is Microsoft had some of the same ideology. The belief was nobody could look at Open Source code, or they risked applying the GPL to, like, Windows Vista. The fear was real, if unrealistic.
PaulHoule 11y ago
I dunno, that tabs to spaces problem makes me pretty angry too, particularly if your tooling is weak. Tab wars can drive your version control system crazy managing changes that don't matter unless they are using python.

anonbanker 11y ago

that source code is still available in torrent form. I have a copy somewhere.

mrspeaker 11y ago

It's so strange you mentioned the Win2K source leak - I was just thinking about this yesterday. I remember at the time there was warnings about it on Slashdot along the lines of "Don't download/read the source code, else you'll be 'tainted' and won't be able to commit code to Open Source projects!" Has it been long enough that I dare peek at it now? ;)

Analemma_ 11y ago
You're probably fine, unless you ever want to commit to ReactOS. From what I've heard, they're very serious about not letting anyone with exposure to Microsoft's code touch the project, because the clean-room implementation requirements are so strict.
- MichaelGG 11y ago
  I never contributed to Mono because they didn't allow it if you had MS source code access. That was probably prudent, though should be OK now I'd guess.
stephengillie 11y ago
What's funny is Microsoft had some of the same ideology. The belief was nobody could look at Open Source code, or they risked applying the GPL to, like, Windows Vista. The fear was real, if unrealistic.

PaulHoule 11y ago

I dunno, that tabs to spaces problem makes me pretty angry too, particularly if your tooling is weak. Tab wars can drive your version control system crazy managing changes that don't matter unless they are using python.