SteveJ-restore-test

Microsoft doesn't understand Software , or at least how to build it at-scale and the people who create it. All software and systems have a design life. As the world and platforms change, what was once a good design degrades. The classic example of "bit-rot" was "Y2K". The code and applications didn't change, but time showed up fundamental design limitations or flaws. Some organisations resolved the issue by setting the date back 28 years and "screen-scraping". It's a temporary solution that amplifies the point. On top of that, complexity is your enemy:  a lot of "undergrowth" develops over time and has to be cleared or it chokes the forest. Which means that at some point we all have to start again... [Hint: Apple did that with OS/X] A neat demonstration/proof comes from the world of Windows protocols:  SAMBA, a portable reimplementation of the Windows SMB protocol for "File and Print". The SAMBA team is up to its fourth comp...

Richard Waters published a piece, " Ballmer's opportunity to prove his worth ", on 12-Jan-2011 in the Financial Times. It's been picked up and reprinted - I become aware of this through an investment newsletter.  Microsoft's performance is now a concern/topic for mainstream investors. That can't be good. Waters starts: Some members of Microsoft’s board of directors feel the need to keep their chief executive under closer scrutiny. That does not mean that Steve Ballmer’s job is on the line – at least, not yet. But it does show that some on the board are getting restless about the company’s performance under his 11-year watch. And there may be few catalysts that will make things look any better in the short term to make his position any more comfortable. Please respect FT.com's ts&cs and copyright policy which allow you to: share links; copy content for personal use; & redistribute limited extracts. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rig...