How much work Microsoft puts into ensuring backwards compatibility

[pne]

From the recent installment of Joel on Software, which is really on something else but starts with a section on Microsoft and backwards compatibility which I'm finding a fascinating read. (It's where he describes the "Raymond Chen camp" at Microsoft.)

Make sure you read the two entries in the "The Old New Thing" blog that Joel linked to as well.

Comments

[bicoherent.livejournal.com]

The "Raymond Chen" vs. "MSDN Magazine" split's present for Linux too. Certain individuals with initials M. de I., and H. P., and others are suggesting that the entire Linux desktop be reimplemented using bagbiting technologies like C#...

And according to them, that's the best route to world domination!

I hope Joel is right in this case, and H. P. and friends are wrong, because I'm an oldskool3r. :-)

[pne.livejournal.com]

M de I = Miguel de Icaza, I suppose, but who's HP? Not Harry Potter, I take it...

H. =

[bicoherent.livejournal.com]

Havoc......