Microsoft CTO: Windows 11 still relies on 30-year-old code

By PulseAugur Editorial · Summary by gemini-2.5-flash-lite from 2 sources

Microsoft's Chief Technology Officer, Mark Russinovich, revealed that Windows 11 continues to rely heavily on 30-year-old code from the 1990s, specifically the Win32 API. Despite expectations of more futuristic advancements by 2026, this foundational code remains essential due to the vast ecosystem built upon it. Russinovich highlighted its persistence, noting that even tools he developed in 1996, like Sysmon and ZoomIt, are now integrated into Windows 11 and PowerToys, underscoring the enduring relevance of this legacy technology. AI

Summary written by gemini-2.5-flash-lite from 2 sources. How we write summaries →

IMPACT Highlights the deep integration of legacy systems in modern OS, potentially impacting AI development and deployment timelines.

RANK_REASON Commentary from a high-ranking executive about the enduring relevance of legacy code.

Read on Tom's Hardware →

other

Microsoft CTO: Windows 11 still relies on 30-year-old code

COVERAGE [2]

Tom's Hardware TIER_1 · Mark Tyson · 2026-05-08 12:54

Microsoft CTO confesses that 30-year-old code from the mid-90s still forms the bedrock of Windows 11 — ancient Win32 API still the backbone, but CTO says it's 'more relevant than ever in 2026'

A top Microsoft exec has admitted that Windows 11 still relies on a bunch of old code from the 1990s.
Mastodon — mastodon.social TIER_1 · [email protected] · 2026-05-09 01:18

Microsoft CTO confesses that 30-year-old code from the mid-90s still forms the bedrock of Windows 11 — ancient Win32 API still the backbone, but CTO says it's '

Microsoft CTO confesses that 30-year-old code from the mid-90s still forms the bedrock of Windows 11 — ancient Win32 API still the backbone, but CTO says it's 'more relevant than ever in 2026' A top Microsoft exec has admitted that Windows 11 still relies on a bunch of old code f…

COVERAGE [2]

Microsoft CTO confesses that 30-year-old code from the mid-90s still forms the bedrock of Windows 11 — ancient Win32 API still the backbone, but CTO says it's 'more relevant than ever in 2026'

Microsoft CTO confesses that 30-year-old code from the mid-90s still forms the bedrock of Windows 11 — ancient Win32 API still the backbone, but CTO says it's '

RELATED ENTITIES

RELATED TOPICS