# A perspective: developers vs Microsoft

DevFeed: [A perspective: developers vs Microsoft](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/a-perspective-developers-vs-microsoft-32984.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://reactos.org/blogs/perspective-developers-vs-microsoft/>)

Published: 2013-05-11T00:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/front-page-on-reactos-website.md>)

Topics: [Microsoft](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/microsoft.md>), [Windows](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/windows.md>), [API](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/api.md>), [Development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/development.md>), [win32](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/win32.md>), [deprecated](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/deprecated.md>), [C++](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/c-plus-plus.md>)

Tags: [api](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/api.md>), [c-plus-plus](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/c-plus-plus.md>), [deprecated](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/deprecated.md>), [developers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developers.md>), [development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/development.md>), [free](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/free.md>), [microsoft](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/microsoft.md>), [open-source](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open-source.md>), [os](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/os.md>), [react](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/react.md>), [reactos](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/reactos.md>), [win32](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/win32.md>), [winapi](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/winapi.md>), [windows](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/windows.md>)

## AI overview

The article examines the tension between Windows developers and Microsoft. It explains that developers need APIs and platforms to evolve while preserving compatibility, but deprecated or unstable interfaces can require costly rewrites. It uses the aging, verbose, C-centric win32 API as an example of a platform that may eventually require a clean break because of technical debt and architectural limitations.

## Source excerpt

Most people understand that Windows is used by a variety of people who have a variety of needs, ranging from corporate server to workstation to POS terminals to home PC and beyond. Most people accept that whenever Microsoft updates Windows, it has to balance the competing requirements to find some kind of workable compromise. There is however another set of competing requirements that many do not really register, even those that call themselves power users or are IT admins.