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Oh, don't worry. It's quite credible. "Users" empowered by the source code do not just simply make changes, they write complete replacements for parts of the s
by qplex 10y ago
Oh, don't worry. It's quite credible.
"Users" empowered by the source code do not just simply make changes, they write complete replacements for parts of the system.
For example:
On an open system you have plenty of choice in WMs (all written by the "users").
On Windows you are stuck with DWM.exe.
- ksk 10y agoYou're conflating modular design, open communication protocols, and open source operating systems.
- qplex 10y agoSo are you saying that Microsoft releases the necessary API specifications for writing a replacement for DWM.exe? My point was that when the source code is available, the users will even write complete replacements, instead of just adding small patches.
- ksk 10y agoThe point you missed is that OS-component-level replacements have more to do with interfaces inside the OS than the inner workings of the entire product. On Windows, for example, as an user you are free to replace and rewrite drivers for any piece of hardware even if you don't have the source for the OS. Another feature of Windows, a defined ABI, allows Wine to continue running Windows code, even when the internals of Windows change. Another feature of Windows, the modular I/O system, lets you to modify behavior the file system through filters (without worrying about how I/O works internally). You can basically write your own file system, or even extend NTFS, using this, all without knowing how Windows works internally. The Linux kernel, historically since it was based on UNIX was not modular. Now it has some of the things NT has, and also some cool stuff that NT doesn't.
- duck2 10y agoI think there are dwm.exe replacements for Windows. See bblean[0]. [0]: http://bb4win.sourceforge.net/bblean/ http://bb4win.sourceforge.net/bblean/
- schaefer 10y agoI have no idea what bblean is, but my goal is now to have it up and running on my home windows box by the end of the weekend. Thanks duck2!
- reitanqild 10y agoYou might also like https://github.com/NathanCastle/BootShellCredentialProvider https://github.com/NathanCastle/BootShellCredentialProvider """BootShellCredentialProvider - Bringing Linux DEs to Windows BSCP lets you boot Windows directly into a Linux desktop experience, using Windows' native Logon UI and a combination of Xming & WSL upon login."""