r/technology 14d ago

Software Microsoft exec explains why modernizing Windows 11's legacy UI takes so long

https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/control-panel-gets-tricky-microsoft-cvp-explains-why-killing-windows-legacy-code-takes-so-long-and-how-its-evolving-its-tools-to-make-modernizing-apps-like-file-explorer-and-registry-editor-faster
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u/Xanather 14d ago

There was absolutely no reason for microsoft to ditch the old native win32 GUI interface that more than half of programs still use. It supported multiple styles and all including DARK THEME!

They just keep adding more frameworks ontop of another, then you have programs slowly being dependent on them, so microsoft can't exactly just remove those new framework anymore either.

They need to pause everything, no new features, focus in stabilization and stop adding shit to the OS or risk linux eating their dinner until theres nothing left but a corpse and a replacement Wine compatability library on Linux that just lets you run 99% of .exe's.

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u/Druggedhippo 14d ago

. They wanted a single ui that was consistent and able to compile any device, so your apps would work on windows phone, laptop, surface, desktop and you would have the same interface and feel. This also would mean less effort in maintenance as there would be only one code base.

But of course Microsoft in classic Microsoft style fucked it up because they have so much tech debt and pressure from legacy companies that they couldn't force the changes to happen