3 ms·
Microsoft does this too, though I can't find the article right now. There are hundreds of special compatibility hacks for various software baked into Windows t
by forgotmypw 8y ago
Microsoft does this too, though I can't find the article right now.
There are hundreds of special compatibility hacks for various software baked into Windows to make things run smoothly.
Edit: The links are broken now, but a paragraph from the article is quoted here:
https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2004/06/13/how-microsoft-lost-the-api-war/ https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2004/06/13/how-microsoft-lost...
> Look at the scenario from the customer’s standpoint. You bought programs X, Y and Z. You then upgraded to Windows XP. Your computer now crashes randomly, and program Z doesn’t work at all. You’re going to tell your friends, “Don’t upgrade to Windows XP. It crashes randomly, and it’s not compatible with program Z.” Are you going to debug your system to determine that program X is causing the crashes, and that program Z doesn’t work because it is using undocumented window messages? Of course not. You’re going to return the Windows XP box for a refund. (You bought programs X, Y, and Z some months ago. The 30-day return policy no longer applies to them. The only thing you can return is Windows XP.)
- LoSboccacc 8y agowindows hardly changes a function contract. most their patches are to support bugged programs that used the api in undocumented ways, not because they changed an api functionality http://ptgmedia.pearsoncmg.com/images/9780321440303/samplechapter/Chen_bonus_ch01.pdf http://ptgmedia.pearsoncmg.com/images/9780321440303/samplech...
- pieterr 8y ago> The links are broken now https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20031223-00/?p=41373 https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20031223-00/?p=...
- ygra 8y agoBack when I looked at the compat fixes in Vista there were about 6000 applications listed there. Granted, a lot of them were games, where the only effect was that they would be added to the (then-new) Games folder. Still, I guess the list has only grown since then.
- Angostura 8y agoI think the thing is that MS is well-known to do this, but I hadn't heard that Apple bothered before.