Saw this posted elsewhere and thought it was interesting:
Microsoft Plans Windows API Cleanup
By Paula Rooney, CRN
New Orleans -- Microsoft plans a major cleanup of the Win32 API set
and XML application markup language (XAML) to make its next version
of Windows, code-named Longhorn, as friendly for developers as it is
for users.
First, the software giant aims to slash the number of API calls in
the Win32 API set in order to help developers better exploit the next-
generation Windows shell, user interface (code-named Aero) and .Net
framework components in Longhorn, according to sources familiar with
the Longhorn plans.
"Win32 has like 76,000 APIs, and they're taking it down to 8,000 with
Longhorn technology," said one source familiar with the plans.
Also in Longhorn, Microsoft plans to integrate a replacement for the
Windows graphics device interface (GDI), code-named Avalon, that
replaces the need to do manual coding with prebuilt, extensible XAML
scripts. That means developers wouldn't have to access many APIs
directly and instead can modify XAML scripts, sources said.
The Windows GDI currently interacts with device drivers on behalf of
Windows applications. The next-generation XAML has new metatags and
extensible schemas for user-interface structures and behaviors that
are designed to simplify and increase the customization of
the "jazzed up and 3-D oriented Longhorn GUI, code-named Aero,"
sources said.
"It's hard to use the shell now for an application," said another
source familiar with the Longhorn plans. "Anything a shell can do, an
application can do. So now a Windows application can inherit the
behavior of the operating system with zero lines of code."
In addition to the XAML engine, Microsoft plans to integrate an XAML
visual designer in the next release of Visual Studio. Net, code-named
Whidbey. The company also is slated to ship a Longhorn software
developer kit (SDK) that consists of out-of-the-box UI components and
behaviors. Microsoft said the new Longhorn SDK will combine the once-
separate tools, kits and technical content to enable end-to-end
Windows client development.
Microsoft executives are expected to detail a number of developer
improvements planned for the next major Windows upgrade at the
Windows Hardware Engineering Conference in New Orleans this week.
For example, on Tuesday, Microsoft is expected to launch Microsoft
Windows Hardware and Driver Central--a Web portal for developers--and
plans for the first Windows Driver Developer Conference in November.
And this week, Microsoft also plans to unveil better synergies
between Windows Longhorn and processors and peripherals. For example,
the 3-D-capable Aero interface in Longhorn is slated to be fine-tuned
to better exploit the unused processing power available on Intel
Pentium 4-based PC desktops. Microsoft also is expected to introduce
a more consistent user experience as part of its Xeel demonstration
at the launch.
The technical beta for Longhorn is due to be launched at the
Microsoft Professional Developers Conference this fall.
This article appears courtesy of CRN, the newspaper for builders of
technology solutions.
