Exclusive: What's Microsoft doing with Longhorn?

Exclusive: What's Microsoft doing with Longhorn?
Posted by Tom Warren on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:35 | 44 comments Forums

Since May this year we've heard dribs and drabs about Microsoft's much
hyped next generation Operating System. According to the internal
calendar Longhorn is due to hit Beta 1 on February 16th 2005 and hit
RTM May 22nd 2006. Don't be surprised if the Beta 1 date slips let
alone the RTM date.

Currently builds aren't what you'd expect. Labs have been re-arranged
to ensure that separate parts of the OS can be tested and compiled in
different scenarios. Such a re-organisation prevents information leaks
too. Microsoft are currently compiling 501x builds which have
effectively started from the ground up, built on Windows Server 2003
SP1 code. As far as I understand the code was getting sloppy in main
builds. Main no longer resides in build tags and Lab6 is just a
memory. As the labs are componentised it's less likely that a winmain
build will contain a feature set like WMP11 or any kind of new
interface changes until they are ready.

Build 5014 is the latest compiled build internally at time of writing.
Early in September Microsoft made the new changes. The new builds only
contain the Luna theme, look and feel like Windows XP and they mark
the beginning of .NET Framework 2.0.

For now don't expect a public debut of a new build on MSDN, the next
public build is likely to be Beta 1 in February 2005.

Screenshot: Current Longhorn Builds




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#1 Posted by Larney on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:37 Quote this comment Reply
to this comment
Nice, thanks Tom


#2 Posted by EduardValencia on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:41 (1 reply) Quote
this comment Reply to this comment
yah nice,i'm testing .NET framework 2.0 with visual basic 2005 beta
though,and a huge progress has been made


hurrayyyy longhorn

Last Edited by EduardValencia on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:56


#2.1 Reply by Jugalator on 10 Nov 2004 - 22:40 Quote this comment
Examples...?

I never got what's new with 2.0 really.

Must be something big for them to bump the version number like that,
or?


Reply to this comment

#3 Posted by Rudy on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:43 Quote this comment Reply to
this comment
im curently testing mSH and i cant wait untill it comes standard with
windows


#4 Posted by joshtheowl on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:44 (1 reply) Quote this
comment Reply to this comment
Longhorn is going to be built on windows server 2003!?


#4.1 Reply by theh0g on 10 Nov 2004 - 22:37 Quote this comment
Just the core...Windows Server 2003's kernel in newer than XP's. Don't
worry, the "server" mark only stands that the Windows version includes
some server software.


Reply to this comment


#5 Posted by Darryl on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:44 (3 replies) Quote this
comment Reply to this comment
QUOTE
Microsoft are currently compiling 501x builds which have effectively
started from the ground up


Isn't that a bit worrying?


#5.1 Reply by Jugalator on 10 Nov 2004 - 22:39 Quote this comment
Yes, if I take it literally it means no work on Longhorn we've seen
earlier might still be there.
And people starts commenting about "oohh.. not Luna!" of all things.


#5.2 Reply by kronik on 10 Nov 2004 - 22:47 Quote this comment
screw Luna, im sure the final version of this Windows will have plenty
of far more dazzling things to drool over

#5.3 Reply by y_notm on 11 Nov 2004 - 00:06 Quote this comment
I have a feeling that only applies to the overall Operating System.
Components like avalon and indigo were pretty far along, they've
probably just been reverted to only being included in the labs that
are working on those projects, hence making Longhorn more
componentized, which I guess they were having trouble before the
restructuring. Personally, I think this is a great thing to happen.
Longhorn did seem pretty disorganized in the builds we've seen.


Reply to this comment


#6 Posted by Rudy on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:45 (1 reply) Quote this comment
Reply to this comment
QUOTE
Build 5014 is the latest compiled build internally at time of writing.
Early in September Microsoft made the new changes. The new builds only
contain the Luna theme, look and feel like Windows XP and they mark
the beginning of .NET Framework 2.0.

i wonder if the sidebar is still part of main on only available in the
specific lab build


#6.1 Reply by kronik on 10 Nov 2004 - 22:50 Quote this comment
well I hope not, worrying to much about cosmetics when it comes to a
product this big is just plain dumb, arent there more important things
we need to consider?


Reply to this comment


#7 Posted by ThePDW on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:46 (2 replies) Quote this
comment Reply to this comment
How do you get your hands on a build of Longhorn? And why would you
want to use it for that matter? Not that I would want to, but I'm
curious.


#7.1 Reply by kronik on 10 Nov 2004 - 22:53 Quote this comment
Russian websites, ppl want to use it so they can show their friends
how uberleet they are, either that or theyre just plain old
beta-whores.

#7.2 Reply by XoureZ on 10 Nov 2004 - 23:04 Quote this comment
Developers like to get their hands on a beta platform to begin test
development so they can have a Longhorn "certified" product by the
time of Longhorn's release.


Reply to this comment


#8 Posted by cjrciadt on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:48 (2 replies) Quote this
comment Reply to this comment
cutting and pasting a current project midway and putting it back
together with new pieces from somewhere else will surely make ms
timeline next to impossible. Though W2k3 is not a bad idea to build a
foundation on.


#8.1 Reply by joshtheowl on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:49 Quote this comment
Yes building on win2k3 isnt a bad idea at all. I hope win2k3 sp1 is
better than xp's sp2 though lol.

#8.2 Reply by EduardValencia on 10 Nov 2004 - 21:05 Quote this comment
lol u don't know what are you talking about


Reply to this comment


#9 Posted by nw_raptor on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:49 (1 reply) Quote this
comment Reply to this comment
lol, can't wait to see fake screenshots of >5014


#9.1 Reply by lare2 on 10 Nov 2004 - 23:32 Quote this comment
very true


Reply to this comment


#10 Posted by _Pablo on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:51 (2 replies) Quote this
comment Reply to this comment
The screenshot suggests Build 5000 was compiled on 8th September 2004
- now if they have restarted from a Server 2003 SP1 base, dropped
WinFS, split off Avalon, generally cut down the scope and have a
couple of months until Beta 1 feature freeze then it's beginning to
look as if Longhorn Beta 1 is going to end up as Windows XP
Reloaded...

Much like Cairo, it seems as if Longhorn is going to loose it's status
as a product and become a set of technologies to creep into windows
over the next 10 years. Microsoft must be based not in Seattle but in
the middle of the Atlantic because the Road to Longhorn appears to be
as long as the Road to Cairo.


#10.1 Reply by Dan C on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:55 Quote this comment
Avalon is staying.

#10.2 Reply by _Pablo on 10 Nov 2004 - 21:04 Quote this comment
I understand it's staying, but the way I understand it, Avalon is also
going to appear on XP - in which case it's no longer an integral part
of Longhorn but another technology - that's why I said "split off
Avalon" as opposed to "dropped WinFS".


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#11 Posted by Jugalator on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:52 Quote this comment
Reply to this comment
OMG it's a screenshot of Windows Explorer on Tom's box
Ah well, we have to let him brag a little.

Anyway, interesting they started from 5000 there.
Right now it seems like Longhorn may end up as something we didn't
expect, though.

But thanks for the dates. I like dates.

Last Edited by Jugalator on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:58

#12 Posted by Webgraph on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:57 Quote this comment
Reply to this comment
Makes me wonder how they are going to re-implement the styles
witnessed in the WinHEC (4074) build! But by the time Beta 1 is
released, I'll be back to Linux again.


#13 Posted by Jedimark on 10 Nov 2004 - 20:59 (2 replies) Quote this
comment Reply to this comment
Ohhhw:






#13.1 Reply by EduardValencia on 10 Nov 2004 - 21:08 Quote this
comment


#13.2 Reply by lare2 on 10 Nov 2004 - 23:34 Quote this comment



Reply to this comment


#14 Posted by BigCheese on 10 Nov 2004 - 21:06 (2 replies) Quote this
comment Reply to this comment
It only contains the Luna theme?
That sucks. Are they gonna put back the Longhorn Inspirat theme or a
new theme in a later build?


#14.1 Reply by noyb on 10 Nov 2004 - 22:21 Quote this comment
"Lets just make sure she floats before we start polishing the brass"

It might not have been a good idea to quote Thomas Andrews but you get
my drift, sorry if anyone is superstitious.

#14.2 Reply by Jugalator on 10 Nov 2004 - 22:32 Quote this comment
Jeez... I'd be concerned about other things than a damn theme right
now.

I mean, NO there will probably not be alpha skins included, just like
Watercolor wasn't with XP.

However, YES, you can probably add new visual styles like you can now,
so big deal...



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#15 Posted by JabbaPapa on 10 Nov 2004 - 21:11 Quote this comment
Reply to this comment
Thank you, that scenario makes a lot of sense.

I am SO glad that the XP SP2 code base for LH is a thing of the past.

#16 Posted by Cryptic_Night on 10 Nov 2004 - 21:43 Quote this
comment Reply to this comment
No leaks? Poo. I was hoping for a leak to come out by december so I
can test it on my laptop.


#17 Posted by Lasker on 10 Nov 2004 - 22:10 (1 reply) Quote this
comment Reply to this comment
that sucks, the feel of windows XP in the luna theme and icons, I hope
that they will change this by february 15, because no make sense, if
you have already the Windows XP with the Luna theme.


#17.1 Reply by Jugalator on 10 Nov 2004 - 22:35 Quote this comment
lol... What's up with so many talking about a theme?
You can most likely add your own theme when it's out. Big deal?

Doesn't make sense? What doesn't make sense? Why can't they keep the
style in a beta?


Reply to this comment

#18 Posted by neostyle on 10 Nov 2004 - 22:12 Quote this comment
Reply to this comment
beta 1 is due to q2 2005 , server 2k3 sp1 is due to q1 2005 .
make your own story ...
still wondering what lh will be ?

#19 Posted by Mr. Dee on 10 Nov 2004 - 22:32 Quote this comment
Reply to this comment
I believe the beta 1 will actually be late June 2005, with a second
beta in January 2006 and a final release October or November 2006.

#20 Posted by Cephas on 10 Nov 2004 - 23:18 Quote this comment Reply
to this comment
Maybe they're just some old misplaced Neptune builds? =)

#21 Posted by KeR on 11 Nov 2004 - 00:09 Quote this comment Reply to
this comment
wow they fell far behind


#22 Posted by Jestermask on 11 Nov 2004 - 00:35 (1 reply) Quote this
comment Reply to this comment
Anyone have any thought on what they might call this beast when it
gets released in the retail world?



#22.1 Reply by quick on 11 Nov 2004 - 00:45 Quote this comment
How about Windows 2008 ?

j/k


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#23 Posted by todd` on 11 Nov 2004 - 01:00 Quote this comment Reply
to this comment
so wait... why arent they using XP SP2 as a base anymore? and how come
they felt the need to restart again? if they wouldve just built on xp
sp2, it wouldve turned out to be a great product..

#24 Posted by patseguin on 11 Nov 2004 - 01:12 Quote this comment
Reply to this comment
I can't help but wonder how advanced the rest of the OS's will be by
the time LH comes out.

#25 Posted by Mav Phoenix on 11 Nov 2004 - 01:30 Quote this comment
Reply to this comment
Funny that the ss shows Royale and not Luna.


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