60% Of Windows Vista Code To Be Rewritten

Alien54 writes "Up to 60% of the code in the new consumer version of Microsoft new Vista operating system is set to be rewritten as the Company "scrambles" to fix internal problems, according to this report. In an effort to meet a deadline of the 2007 CES show in Las Vegas Microsoft has pulled programmers from the highly succesful Xbox team to help resolve many problems associated with entertainment and media centre functionality inside the OS. Much more at the link."

Please Don't Interpret this Incorrectly

[eldavojohn (898314)]

Ok, we all know how the majority of Slashdot feels about Microsoft. It's not a positive feeling. I myself don't like them.

But please don't use this 60% figure as proof that Vista will suck. Because it doesn't necessarily mean that.

Once again, we have the Slashdot spin to deal with:

Up to 60% of the code in the new consumer version of Microsoft new Vista operating system is set to be rewritten as the Company "scrambles" to fix internal problems, according to this report.

Scrambling to fix problems? If they're saying their release date is sometime in 2007, I don't think they need to scramble. They actually seem pretty lax about when this is going to be released. Hell, I heard about Longhorn years ago and they sure haven't been "scrambling" to do anything with that. Stop making it sound like Microsoft is running around with their heads cut off. Because I highly doubt it.

I interpret this to mean that Microsoft is stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility. They have identified so many problems that it needs major revision and good for them.

Do you remember Windows 98, first edition? Do remember how much better second edition was? I do. Why the hell they didn't just wait on the release is simple. Money.

They could release Vista prematurely but now we wait until 2007. And if you hate Windows, like I do, why do you care? We're still going to be using Linux anyways.

So please, look at this move as a gesture to try and release a quality product and not slop out some POS OS that they are only releasing for the sake of income.

Re:Please Don't Interpret this Incorrectly

[spaztik (917859)]

I'd rather they wait and get it right before releasing Vista rather than going through the excruciating process of installing security updates/service packs/second editions on a hastily released product. Or even better yet, having to go out and spend money on security software to fix the holes that shouldn't exist in the first place. Please get this one right Microsoft.

The Mythical Man Month.

[khasim (1285)]

A good book and it discusses how adding MORE programmers to a task means the project will take LONGER to complete.

So, adding more programmers to a late project, and not slipping the date even more to account for them, [b]probably[/b] means that the final result [b]will[/b] suck.

Re:Please Don't Interpret this Incorrectly

[bperkins (12056)]

I don't think they need to scramble.

Are you kidding?

Let's put aside the possibity that the 60% figure is probably total hogwash, because that's not what you're arguing.

Rewriting over half the code of a project that you've spent years working on and are supposed to release in about a year is a desperate situation. It's not possible to acomplish. If they said they had to rewrite 10% of the code, I'd say they were in a bad situation, since that last 10% of the code often takes the most time.

I don't believe the 60% figure, because if it were true, the project leaders would be looking for new jobs already.

60%?

[(1+-sqrt(5))*(2**-1) (868173)]

I've scanned TFA an ungodly three times: “60%” occurs in the title and summary, but nowhere else; can anyone divine its provenance? I'd wager it hails from the statistical nether-æther of sensationalist journalism.

That said, I think there's trouble brewing for any company that chants “innovation” like some apotropaïc mantra: you have it or you don't (and it tends to go hand in hand with testosterone).

Come on

[Serapth (643581)]

When has Smarthouse.com.au steered you wrong in the past????

Seriously, some of the shit that gets posted on Slashdot is the geek equivelant of a tabloid.

Re:Come on

[general_re (8883)]

When has Smarthouse.com.au steered you wrong in the past????

Never. Not one single time. Who the fuck is smarthouse.com.au?

Re:Come on

[Dystopian Rebel (714995)]

Slashdot is the geek equivelant of a tabloid.

This is simply not true.

If Slashdot were like a tabloid, we'd have poorly written diatribes everywhere and a picture of a naked woman on Page 2.

Cowboy Neal, I'm waiting for Page 2.

Wow! 60%??!!

[by Anonymous Coward]

That's a lot of GoTo statements!!!

Re:Wow! 60%??!!

[birder (61402)]

That's what they get for giving it to their "goto guy".

Third Rule of Software Development

[Error27 (100234)]

Always add gaming programmers late in the project and to improve security and reliability.

Re:Third Rule of Software Development

[maxwell demon (590494)]

Always add gaming programmers late in the project and to improve security and reliability.

Of course. For example, the programmers of FPS games are likely good at writing AI which fights against the user. Just the thing you need for a secure OS, because you know, the biggest security problem often sits in front of the screen.

What is it, Bash Microsoft Day at the press core?

[soren42 (700305)]

Wow, does it suck to be Microsoft today... just look at the homepage of Slashdot:

• 60% of Windows Vista Code to be Rewritten [slashdot.org]
• Forbes Says Vista Not People Ready [slashdot.org] (do people really run Windows? I thought it was more for computers... kidding...)
• Office Delayed, Too [slashdot.org] (Why was the title of this article "Too" when it was posted before the Windows delay articles???)
• Highly Critical Hole Found in IE [slashdot.org]

The hits just keep coming... I'm no Microsoft supporter, but that's a lot of bad PR for any company in one day - makes you feel sorry for them.

I wonder if all this negative press will affect their stock price [yahoo.com] in trading today. (Makes you feel sorry for their shareholders!)

classic managment mistake

[geekoid (135745)]

When you run into a large issue, you don't pull people off another project to help.

It's like getting 3 women pregnant so you can have a baby in 3 months.

You need to define your new schedule and stick to that. otherwise you end up with a slower schedule and a different set of bugs.

Am I the only one...?

[BitterOak (537666)]

Microsoft has pulled programmers from the highly succesful Xbox team to help resolve many problems associated with entertainment and media centre functionality inside the OS.

Am I the only one who thinks that things like media and entertainment should not be core parts of an OS, but rather should be handled by applications that run on the OS? We're not buying a television, after all.

Slow news day?

[paeanblack (191171)]

Microsoft is pulling some staff from an finished project and assigning them to an unfinished project...targeting a similar market, no less...

Brilliant!

60% Is NOT IN THE ARTICLE

[ThinkFr33ly (902481)]

Go ahead. Do a find on the page. The only place where the number 60 is even in there is in the article's title and in a link back to the SAME article at the bottom of the page.

In fact, this 60% number is made up. Not only would this be impossible in less than a year, 60% of the code in Vista isn't even new to Vista.

Hey Slashdot editors... I know you guys are really into MS bashing and you want to satisfy the thirst that most Slashdotters have for MS blood, but at least check to make sure that articles your posting have a shred of truth in them.

So what?

[helix_r (134185)]

Shut up, fools, 99+% of you are going to end up using Vista anyway.

Re:So what?

[fatted (777789)]

Shut up, fools, 99+% of you are going to end up using Vista anyway.

I think you'll find that the answer is merely 98.2%. Who's the fool NOW!!

Xbox code

[Rob T Firefly (844560)]

Microsoft has pulled programmers from the highly succesful Xbox team to help resolve many problems associated with entertainment and media centre functionality inside the OS.

Xbox code in Vista! Think of the possibilites!!

When we get the Blue Screen of Death we can simply wait a few seconds and respawn somewhere nearby our original desktop.

We can use a Gameshark to hack ourselves more time or chances to get our work done.

We can whip out a plasma rifle from "Halo" to frag Clippy with.

Sounds like "Telephone"

[overshoot (39700)]

Frankly, I doubt it. It sounds like something that mutated from either:

• 60% of modules require some change (as distinct from "rewritten") or
• 60% of <insert section> needs to be rewritten (as distinct from "Vista).

You can think as little as you like of Microsoft's management (and you'd have to go pretty low to match me) but I can't see even them being so flagrantly (stupid|dishonest) as to promise a 2007Q1 delivery of a 60% rewrite of something that took five years to get this far.

Sad, Bad Reporting!

[cyberjessy (444290)]

I have been installing and testing Vista since the early betas. To the last one, build 5308. I have seen things getting better all along the way, from better graphics, speed and more reliability. It looked like a mess earlier, but then they cut features and made schedules more realistic.

Build 5308 is feature complete, and has not crashed even once. It supports all the devices on my machine. Now why the hell would they rewrite 60% of a perfectly well running system??? Microsoft has said that most of the work remaining is related to security and performance. I trust them, because I have seen it.

I read the article, I could not find the source of this information. The memo that was included does not speak about this 60% figure. They have not mentioned any other sources. Now why is this making news!!!??

so lets make a list..

[naelurec (552384)]

1. Internet Explorer 7 still has major security issues that plague Internet Explorer 6

2. Microsoft Office is delayed

3. Vista is delayed.

4. Microsoft restructures the Windows division before a major OS release

5. Daniel Lyons from Forbes is underwhelmed with the Vista presentation and finds it complex and of little added value.

6. Microsoft elected not to utilize its .NET tools in developing bundled applications that will ship with Vista, instead opting for lower level languages that are more suspectible to security issues.

7. Throughout all of this, the security team at Microsoft decided to school Apple on security (I wonder if no one at Microsoft was paying attention?)

8. Businesses sold on the "Software Assurance" and other licensing gimmicks are getting very aggervated at was could be considered bait-and-switch (get SA, get updates .. oh wait, we don't have updates because we are delaying ALL of our major products..)

9. There is the possibility of major rewrites to Vista (though until it is confirmed by another source, I'll take it with a grain of salt..).

Interesting.

I have access the vista code!

[hsoft (742011)]

It went from:

#import <WinXP.h>

WinXPApplyTheme(PRETTY_THEME);
WinXP RunLoop();

to:

#import <WinXP.h>

WinXPApplyTheme(PRETTIER_THEME); //To "Impact people" better
WinXPApplyPolicy(DISALLOW_GATOR); //For improved security
WinXPRunLoop(); // We're going to f___ing kill google!

Re:Apple, "MacOS W", & the real reason for the

[Mr Z (6791)]

Darn it, I read this post without my tinfoil accessories. [lessemf.com]

--Joe