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Pragmatically, windows runs on a single Architecture. Sure, there's been editions for other architectures, but they're more anecdotal experiments than somethin

Pragmatically, windows runs on a single Architecture. Sure, there's been editions for other architectures, but they're more anecdotal experiments than something usable. I can go out and buy several weird ARM or PPC devices and run Linux or OpenBSD on them, and run the same stuff I use on my desktop regularly (except Steam). The fact that windows relies on a stable ABI is it's major anchor (while Linux only guarantees a stable API).

kjs3 6y ago
they're more anecdotal experiments than something usable Wrong. Microsoft explicitly set out multi-architecture support as a design goal for NT. MIPS was the original reference architecture for NT. Microsoft even designed their own MIPS based systems to do it (called 'Jazz'). There was a significant market for the Alpha port, especially in the database arena, and it was officially supported through Windows 2000. They were completely usable, production systems sold in large numbers. In the end, the market didn't buy into the vision. The ISVs didn't want to support 3+ different archs. Intel didn't like competition. The history is all pretty well documented should one take the time to learn it.
- WhyNotHugo 6y ago
  > Microsoft explicitly set out multi-architecture support as a design goal for NT They set it as a design goal, but that doesn't mean that the achieved it.
  - kazinator 6y ago
    Dec Alpha servers running NT in production used to be a thing.
  - kjs3 6y ago
    Except they did, though apparently you missed it. MIPS was the original port. Alpha was supported from NT 3.1 through Windows 2000, and only died because DEC abandoned the Alpha, not that Microsoft abandon Alpha (it was important to their 64-bit strategy). Itanium was supported from Windows 2003 to 2008R2. Support for Itanium only ended at the beginning of this year, once again because the manufacturer abandoned the chip. I'm sure you can redefine "achieve" to exclude almost 17 years of support (for Itanium), if you're that committed to being right. Heck, x86-64 support has "only" been around for 20 years or so. Doesn't make it right.
kazinator 6y ago
Linux has ABI guarantees.

kjs3 6y ago

they're more anecdotal experiments than something usable Wrong. Microsoft explicitly set out multi-architecture support as a design goal for NT. MIPS was the original reference architecture for NT. Microsoft even designed their own MIPS based systems to do it (called 'Jazz'). There was a significant market for the Alpha port, especially in the database arena, and it was officially supported through Windows 2000. They were completely usable, production systems sold in large numbers. In the end, the market didn't buy into the vision. The ISVs didn't want to support 3+ different archs. Intel didn't like competition. The history is all pretty well documented should one take the time to learn it.

WhyNotHugo 6y ago
> Microsoft explicitly set out multi-architecture support as a design goal for NT They set it as a design goal, but that doesn't mean that the achieved it.
- kazinator 6y ago
  Dec Alpha servers running NT in production used to be a thing.
- kjs3 6y ago
  Except they did, though apparently you missed it. MIPS was the original port. Alpha was supported from NT 3.1 through Windows 2000, and only died because DEC abandoned the Alpha, not that Microsoft abandon Alpha (it was important to their 64-bit strategy). Itanium was supported from Windows 2003 to 2008R2. Support for Itanium only ended at the beginning of this year, once again because the manufacturer abandoned the chip. I'm sure you can redefine "achieve" to exclude almost 17 years of support (for Itanium), if you're that committed to being right. Heck, x86-64 support has "only" been around for 20 years or so. Doesn't make it right.

kazinator 6y ago

Linux has ABI guarantees.