4 ms·

> Who says they won't simply pivot and make Windows run on their own flavor of Linux or a defined distribution? Sounds crazy but... I don't think it sounds cra

> Who says they won't simply pivot and make Windows run on their own flavor of Linux or a defined distribution? Sounds crazy but... I don't think it sounds crazy at all. I've had the same feeling since WSL was released. And that feeling has gotten stronger since they showed of the Duo.

ChrisSD 7y ago
They could, but why? Microsoft already has a kernel. It works for them. If they did pivot to Linux, they'd still need to support NT for a long time to come. They'd also need to write a win32 layer for Linux (WINE, as it is, wouldn't be enough) as well as compatibility shims for Windows drivers, etc. And after they'd done all this work, while still supporting the NT kernel, what have they gained? Little that can't be done already. More likely is that they continue to port .NET and/or UWP so applications built with those technologies will be cross platform. This may eventually mean they no longer need Windows but could maintain a Microsoft branded Linux distro. But that wouldn't be "Windows" by any sensible definition of the term.
- Someone1234 7y ago
  The NT kernel itself has fallen from one of the best kernels technologically to significantly behind Linux. The design is still solid, but after tens of years of under-investment and little internal political willingness to make substantial improvement (they're a very conservative company at heart) it has just been allowed to rot. I think WSL (V1 and V2) has been showcasing just how bad it has become. From locking issues, to small file performance, to scheduler problems, and beyond. Everyone said Microsoft would never dump the Trident rendering engine either (used in IE/Edge/WebUI Controls). And that was true, until it wasn't. They may not move to Linux tomorrow, but ten years from now as NT continues to get little love, and Linux sails ahead? We'll see...
  - sfgweilr4f 7y ago
    Windows on Linux is completely possible. But... not yet.
    - sfgweilr4f 7y ago
      It IS possible. Anyone saying otherwise is asserting Microsoft have no experience in writing OS at all and that is absurd. The only sticking point is corporate strategy - for which I currently see no evidence. But possible. Wine shows it is possible.

ChrisSD 7y ago

They could, but why? Microsoft already has a kernel. It works for them. If they did pivot to Linux, they'd still need to support NT for a long time to come. They'd also need to write a win32 layer for Linux (WINE, as it is, wouldn't be enough) as well as compatibility shims for Windows drivers, etc. And after they'd done all this work, while still supporting the NT kernel, what have they gained? Little that can't be done already. More likely is that they continue to port .NET and/or UWP so applications built with those technologies will be cross platform. This may eventually mean they no longer need Windows but could maintain a Microsoft branded Linux distro. But that wouldn't be "Windows" by any sensible definition of the term.

Someone1234 7y ago
The NT kernel itself has fallen from one of the best kernels technologically to significantly behind Linux. The design is still solid, but after tens of years of under-investment and little internal political willingness to make substantial improvement (they're a very conservative company at heart) it has just been allowed to rot. I think WSL (V1 and V2) has been showcasing just how bad it has become. From locking issues, to small file performance, to scheduler problems, and beyond. Everyone said Microsoft would never dump the Trident rendering engine either (used in IE/Edge/WebUI Controls). And that was true, until it wasn't. They may not move to Linux tomorrow, but ten years from now as NT continues to get little love, and Linux sails ahead? We'll see...
- sfgweilr4f 7y ago
  Windows on Linux is completely possible. But... not yet.
  - sfgweilr4f 7y ago
    It IS possible. Anyone saying otherwise is asserting Microsoft have no experience in writing OS at all and that is absurd. The only sticking point is corporate strategy - for which I currently see no evidence. But possible. Wine shows it is possible.