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What’s different this time? Microsoft has been on a years-long journey to unify the APIs in Win32 and UWP, adding more common APIs and interoperable code betwe
by ourmandave 6y ago
What’s different this time?
Microsoft has been on a years-long journey to unify the APIs in Win32 and UWP, adding more common APIs and interoperable code between the two. Still, every time Microsoft tries to improve the situation, developers have to wait for the latest version of Windows.
This time, Microsoft is borrowing an idea from the web — polyfill — with the introduction of packages. A polyfill is a piece of code that provides modern functionality on older browsers that do not natively support it. As Microsoft introduces new APIs, developers link against a package, and if you’re on an older version, Microsoft will polyfill the functionality as best it can to use in the new version. The best part is that these packages will work from a Win32 or UWP app. The collection of packages thus becomes a common API service between Win32 and UWP. Best of all, Microsoft can do this across its 1 billion devices, immediately. Microsoft EVP Rajesh Jha explained the result in a briefing ahead of Build 2020.
From this article:
https://venturebeat.com/2020/05/19/microsofts-project-reunion-bridges-win32-and-uwp-divide-again/ https://venturebeat.com/2020/05/19/microsofts-project-reunio...
- WrtCdEvrydy 6y agoPolyfills are a problem since you have to bundle them even if your version supports the new features... unlike the web where you can use the user's browser info to send them the correct polyfill these new applications will get larger and larger.
- nicoburns 6y agoHmm... it works pretty well for android (Android Support Library). I think it only compiles in the bits you use which helps keep the app size down.
- applecrazy 6y agoI believe that’s the case for modern JS polyfills (if you use a bundler)
- lallysingh 6y agoAnother DLL? Does it matter?
- HelloNurse 6y agoUnlike the web, Microsoft can distribute "polyfills" efficiently and without silly bundling: either preemptively as Windows updates and/or by downloading them and making them permanently available the first time the user installs or runs an application that needs them.