From: furballs@sequent.com (Paul Penrod)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.advocacy
Subject: Re: Discovered: Microsoft using undocumented calls in Windows NT
Date: 14 Dec 92 01:54:11 GMT
Article-I.D.: sequent.1992Dec14.015411.9618
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc.

In article <1992Dec12.173406.19125@netcom.com> msmith@netcom.com (Martin P. Smith) writes:
>In article <1992Dec12.071059.2337@fcom.cc.utah.edu> brian@jaguar.cs.utah.edu (Brian Sturgill) writes:
>>In article <1992Dec11.054414.7325@zooid.guild.org> Mark Kovarski <kovarski@zooid.guild.org> writes:
>>>
>>>There is evidence that Microsoft continues to use undocumented calls in
>>>Windows NT, which is part of the FTC investigation. Outside developers
>>>have discovered that Microsoft uses undocumented calls in their own
>>>utilities that compete with software competitors utilities. Microsoft's
>>>Win32 Software Development Kit includes a utility called Pview. The
>>>utility uses calls such as:
>>>
>>>NtQuerySystemInformation
>>>NtQueryPerformance Counter
>>>NtQueryInformationThread
>>>
>>>The functions, although contained in NTDLL.DLL (will be included in the
>>>shipping version of NT) are all undocumented.
>>>
>>>Microsoft uses undocumented calls for their own advantage in order to
>>>enhance performance even further. This matter is part of the on-going
>>>FTC investigation.
>>>
>>>Mark K.
>>
>>
>>What is the source of this information?
>>
>>Why do you believe they won't be documented?
>>Do you really believe that all calls in a beta should be documented in advance?
>>Should Microsoft not document these after release, why do you believe
>>this will give them an unfair advantage?
>>Why do you believe that this matter is part of "the on-going FTC investigation".
>>You do realize that there are a number of undocumented calls in OS/2... does
>>this mean that IBM is unfair?
>>
>>
>>   Brian
>
>
>Firstly if you are aware of undocumented OS/2 2.0 calls please detail them.     
>
>The Beta and the DEVELOPERS SDK were released to allow developers to build 
>products for the market not to test the software ( you stated this many times)
>If this is the case then surely all calls should be documneted to allow 
>developers to develop the best prodyucts. 
>
>Martin smith
>msmith@netcom.com
>
>

One other point that is being missed here. Microsoft has never made
a secret of the fact that there have been and will be undocumented
calls in their software. It started with DOS 1.0 and continues to
this day. They have also made it a point to advise people NOT to
use these calls, because they are subject to change on the whim,and
were never intended for release.

IBM has had similar instances in their products as well, and the
same advice holds true.

Does this give Microsoft an unfair advantage ? Possibly, but I
don't think so. If they use their undocumented calls, then they
have to rewrite their code when it breaks, AND it forces
incompatibilities with other software products or flavors of the
OS. I prefer to roll my own, using documented features, so I will
have less of a headache, come next OS upgrade time.

You can snivel about it all you want, but MS has forewarned people
about the use of undocumented features. I would too if it were my
software.

JMHO...

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Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.advocacy