It's fascinating how the Windows kernel is the only mainstream desktop or server kernel that stood the test of time without being either a Unix system or derive

It's fascinating how the Windows kernel is the only mainstream desktop or server kernel that stood the test of time without being either a Unix system or derived from a Unix clone. That alone makes it a great case study. Of course it stood on the shoulders of giants too. But today it stands alone with many design decisions. Some turned out great, some less so. But the design philosophy and quality of the kernel is very solid (something I wouldn't say about the userland work Microsoft did over the last two decades)