Microsoft open-sources “the earliest DOS source code discovered to date” (arstechnica.com)

Article summary

The article discusses Microsoft's release of the earliest DOS source code discovered to date. The comments reveal that this has sparked interest in the possibility of releasing source code for early Windows versions. Some commenters express hope that this could lead to the release of source code for Windows 2000 or other older operating systems. The discussion also touches on the challenges and potential uses of such releases.

Main themes

• DOS source code release
• Windows source code
• Retro computing
• Software development
• Microsoft legacy systems

What commenters say

• Releasing the source code for early Windows versions, such as Windows 2000, would be a significant event for developers and enthusiasts.
• The release of old source code is of limited interest due to the age of the technology and the lack of relevance to modern systems.
• Porting old operating systems to modern hardware or 64-bit architectures would be a complex task requiring significant development effort.
• Having a deep understanding of low-level computing concepts, such as interrupts and memory management, is essential for programmers, but this knowledge is often lacking in modern developers.
• The release of old source code could potentially lead to the discovery of vulnerabilities and security issues in legacy systems.
• Some commenters believe that Microsoft will never release the source code for relatively modern operating systems like Windows 2000 due to the presence of licensed third-party code and the complexity of the codebase.
• Others think that the release of old source code could inspire new developments and learning opportunities, even if the code itself is no longer widely used.
• The value of understanding the full stack, from low-level hardware to high-level software, is emphasized by some commenters as essential for effective programming and system development.