# ReactOS weighs the compatibility costs of adding Windows shell features

DevFeed: [ReactOS weighs the compatibility costs of adding Windows shell features](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/the-cost-of-progress-33025.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://reactos.org/blogs/the-cost-of-progress/>)

Published: 2013-05-21T00:00:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

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

Topics: [ReactOS](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/reactos.md>), [win32](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/win32.md>), [Microsoft PowerToys](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/powertoys.md>)

Tags: [free](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/free.md>), [improvements](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/improvements.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>), [shell](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/shell.md>), [win32](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/win32.md>), [winapi](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/winapi.md>)

## AI overview

A ReactOS project article examines requests for Windows shell enhancements, focusing on fullscreen support and an alternate text-based Alt-Tab view. It argues that forcing fullscreen support could create behavior outside the Win32 API and increase compatibility responsibilities, while the alternate view appears more feasible.

## Source excerpt

The project often gets suggestions for what people consider to be "improvements" over how Windows does something. Nothing wrong with that, save for the fact people rarely consider the implications of what they are asking for. The most recent spurt was in "enhancements" for the shell, some of it due to the renewed attention I started drawing to it. We'll take the request for "full screen" application support to start with.