Comment Re:What's an API? (Score 4) 256
And that exposes yet more ways MS keeps the advantage. Like you said they can take internal shortcuts and use bad design, but also they can release enhanced DLL's or even NEW DLL's for the underlying system with an application release. Their exclusive knowledge and control of Windows internals gives them an advantage to do this.
If Corel wanted feature X in Windows to use in WordPerfect, say a rainbow scrolling title bar, they don't have the option to add that to the GDI in Windows, but if Microsoft wanted this for Office they could walk over to the GDI department and get it added, then release a new version of GDI on the Office CD; still preventing WordPerfect from having it because you've got to buy Office first. Big advantage. And they don't have to document the new API until later or not at all: it's not part of a Windows release.
These techniques I'm sure have been used many times in the past.
Competing with your app on top of somebody else's closed software platform is a losing proposition, API documentation or not. You're OK until the platform vendor decides he wants to make his own version of your app. The best you can hope for then is to be bought out or allowed to survive, otherwise you'll be fighting for your life as he uses the platform, which he owns and you don't, to his advantage.
Thank God for free software.
If Corel wanted feature X in Windows to use in WordPerfect, say a rainbow scrolling title bar, they don't have the option to add that to the GDI in Windows, but if Microsoft wanted this for Office they could walk over to the GDI department and get it added, then release a new version of GDI on the Office CD; still preventing WordPerfect from having it because you've got to buy Office first. Big advantage. And they don't have to document the new API until later or not at all: it's not part of a Windows release.
These techniques I'm sure have been used many times in the past.
Competing with your app on top of somebody else's closed software platform is a losing proposition, API documentation or not. You're OK until the platform vendor decides he wants to make his own version of your app. The best you can hope for then is to be bought out or allowed to survive, otherwise you'll be fighting for your life as he uses the platform, which he owns and you don't, to his advantage.
Thank God for free software.
