Microsoft Mulls Expanding Source Code Access To Applications, ISVs

Microsoft is also in serious talks to extend the Shared Source Initiative program to ISVs.

In an interview with CRN, Microsoft Shared Source Product Manager Jason Matusow said expanding source code access to the applications--and to ISVs--will enable the development of better Windows applications and enhance the ability of technology integrators and corporate sites to support their customers.

Under its Shared Source Initiative, unveiled last May, Microsoft currently makes available source code for Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows.Net Server beta, Windows CE 3.0 and Windows CE.Net.

"We're looking at moving into the applications space. We're evaluating that right now for the application servers and on the desktop side," said Matusow, though he declined to say when a final decision will be made. "We are in fact looking at it. These are ongoing conversations."

The Microsoft official also noted that the company is considering extending the shared source program--and access to Windows and applications--to a wide range of ISVs, although the company is very concerned about the risks of releasing intellectual property to the software development community.

"We have been looking at it actively," Matusow said, acknowledging that opening up more of the source code and APIs to ISVs is a central issue in the antitrust case and is being advocated by the nine dissenting states opposed to Microsoft's proposed consent decree with the government. "That is the community that would most benefit [from having Microsoft source code, but it can do the most damage [to Microsoft's intellectual property.

In contrast to the open source software license, Microsoft's Shared Source initiative allows customers and partners to view the source code, but they can't change it or share the code with others.

Microsoft has made available most of the Windows source code--about 97 percent of the total base--to research and academic organizations for more than a decade and last May said it would be extended to more than 1,400 enterprise customers and governments. Currently, about 40 large corporations have requested access to the Windows source code, he said.

In late February, the company said the program would be extended to technology integrators as well. Currently, Compaq Computer and Avanade are in the process of gaining access to the Windows code base and Microsoft is in negotiations with 15 other top systems integrators, Matusow said.