Let’s stop whining about Microsoft, Mmkay?

This is an uncharacteristic thing for me to say. For a long time now I have been a proponent of open source software, the GNU foundation and Linux based operating systems. I also have this habit of complaining loudly any time someone mentions Windows.

But now is the time for a change of attitude. From this point on I have decided to rant equally about Windows, Linux and Mac OSX (freeBSD gets off lightly), in fair proportions. Why is this, Dominic? I hear you ask. Well, keep your shoes on and don't get your socks in a twist, because I am going to tell you.

The answer is simpler than you might think – Microsoft appears to actually be trying. Most of my prejudices against Windows and Microsoft software come from the fact that so much of it is, well, terrible. Take Windows through the ages, for example. It has basically been bolted together from lots of different components – every time something new needs to be added, it's added on top. Microsoft offers simplicity to the users, but the price uncontrollable complexity underneath; this is why there is such a large attack surface for the creators of malware to exploit. But now, Microsoft is making changes. Recent details about Windows 8 and the underlying technologies that Microsoft is looking to use suggest that they are at last moving towards a more modular, distributed and well managed operating system. There is even tell of an operating system that is not Windows at all! Insanity!

In a more immediate sense, Microsoft has created the ".net" architecture for application developers. To a user, this looks like a hefty download that allows applications to provide the same functionality, seemingly slower. Even to a power user it looks like a clone of Java – a way in which Microsoft hopes to steal a little market share off an open source company. But if you're an application developer, ".net" represents consistency, simplicity and a better way of looking at code and the way it is written. For the first time ever, the same code can be executed on a PC and on a games console! This is something that has been sorely lacking in the past for Windows, a really easy way to develop object orientated programs that work exactly how the developer expects them to (Linux has got a really good standard for this in the form of Python and Perl. Mac OSX provides X-code, which is based around Objective C and supposedly fulfils a similar role).

So why are Microsoft making all of these changes? I am sure that I cannot possibly hope to fully understand, me being a speculating student with a D in AS business studies; Microsoft is a really large business and hundreds of economical factors have an effect on every single decision made on their part. I have a gut feeling though, I think it's...

Fear!

Ahem. Sorry about that. But yes, I think that Microsoft is genuinely worried about its competitors. It's getting to the point now where there's really not much differentiation between OSX and Linux and Windows. At the moment Microsoft is living on borrowed time – if they do not improve then soon enough people will realise that they can get the same product for free. This is at last forcing Microsoft to write some really awesome software that really kicks the shit out of that n00b Torvalds! :D