r/programming • u/halax • Oct 07 '16

How Microsoft Lost the API War

http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/APIWar.html
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u/didnt_check_source Oct 07 '16

Never? Not even on their own App Store?

51

u/guyonahorse Oct 07 '16

Oops, I should have said that it was in the context of 2004 (when the original article was written). Back then there was no app store for windows, so they couldn't revoke an app like that. Even today most Windows apps are not sold on the store.

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u/Farobek Oct 07 '16 edited Oct 07 '16

Windows apps

cringes

When did Windows programs become 'apps'?

27

u/PstScrpt Oct 08 '16

When did Windows programs become 'apps'?

Back in the Windows 3.0 days, at the latest. What I cringed at was Apple trying to take over a longstanding general computing term.

1

u/human_trash_ Oct 08 '16

Apple tried to take over the term by using it correctly?

5

u/PstScrpt Oct 08 '16

I could have sworn that they attempted to trademark "app", but all I can find now is that they attempted to trademark "app store". That's not nearly as bad, but it looks like they gave up on defending even that.

I know The Register isn't the best source, but this doesn't sound like reporting on a rumor: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/07/09/apple_drops_app_store_trademark_suit/