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Remove ancillary discussions or put them in footnotes.

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Nathaniel Beaver
2015-09-14 11:12:47 -05:00
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@@ -1090,13 +1090,70 @@ Lack of control over desktop environment.
Windows has many ways to customize its appearance;
there are many `alternative shells`_ and `visual themes`_,
and it's possible to `change the login shell`_
or `run without explorer.exe at all`_.
or `run without explorer.exe at all`_. [#KDE_on_Windows]_
.. _alternative shells: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_alternative_shells_for_Windows
.. _visual themes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theme_%28computing%29#Operating_systems
.. _run without explorer.exe at all: http://lightquick.co.uk/running-windows-without-explorer.exe.html
.. _change the login shell: https://superuser.com/questions/108265/how-do-you-replace-the-logon-shell-with-iexplore
There is Windows software for
tiling window managers, [#tiling_window_managers]_
virtual desktops, [#virtual_desktops]_
focus follows mouse, [#focus_follows_mouse]_
and special effects to rival Compiz. [#cube_desktop]_
.. [#tiling_window_managers] https://github.com/fuhsjr00/bug.n
.. [#virtual_desktops] http://virtuawin.sourceforge.net/
.. [#focus_follows_mouse]
http://milosophical.me/blog/2010/03/10/ms-windows-focus-follows-mouse-registry-hacks.html
https://superuser.com/questions/368688/on-windows-7-is-there-any-way-to-make-the-scrollwheels-focus-follow-the-mouse
.. [#cube_desktop] http://www.thinkinbytes.com/en/products/cubedesktop
Given all these choices and customization options,
what functionality could Windows possibly lack?
Here is the problem:
the Windows API determines the behavior of libraries like
``user32.dll``, ``gdi32.dll``, and ``comctl32.dll``.
Everything in hardware goes through the Windows API,
including keystrokes, mouse clicks, and graphics.
However, Windows must obey licensing requirements,
such as copyrighted content protection.
This means that there are artificial barriers
to writing certains kinds of programs,
such as something similar to Flip3D.
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3848558/what-is-the-api-to-create-applications-like-flip3d
To give another example of limited user control over the Windows desktop,
on Windows 8 it is impossible to disable the dwm window compositor.
In Windows Vista and Windows 7, desktop composition is disabled in a number of
scenarios. In Windows 8, DWM desktop composition is a core operating system
component and cannot be disabled. With a few exceptions, desktop composition is
always on; it’s started before the user logon and remains active for the
duration of a session.
--- Windows Dev Center documentation
This was not without controversy.
I understand the choice and it improves the overall experience, but it is
going to force us to retire some of our older software, and it tool [sic]
many years to overcome the problems caused.
--- Dan Ritchie
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/hh848042%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
Linux also has an API,
but it is not tied to the desktop environment,
and is not controlled by a single corporation
in the same way that the Windows API is.
.. [#KDE_on_Windows]
It's even possible to run the KDE desktop environment on Windows,
since KDE uses the cross-platform Qt framework.
@@ -1127,69 +1184,6 @@ This is not without difficulties, however.
http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/79007/
There is Windows software for
tiling window managers, [#tiling_window_managers]_
virtual desktops, [#virtual_desktops]_
focus follows mouse, [#focus_follows_mouse]_
and special effects to rival Compiz. [#cube_desktop]_
.. [#tiling_window_managers] https://github.com/fuhsjr00/bug.n
.. [#virtual_desktops] http://virtuawin.sourceforge.net/
.. [#focus_follows_mouse]
http://milosophical.me/blog/2010/03/10/ms-windows-focus-follows-mouse-registry-hacks.html
https://superuser.com/questions/368688/on-windows-7-is-there-any-way-to-make-the-scrollwheels-focus-follow-the-mouse
.. [#cube_desktop] http://www.thinkinbytes.com/en/products/cubedesktop
Given all these choices and customization options,
what functionality could Windows possibly lack?
Here is the problem:
the Windows API determines the behavior of libraries like
``user32.dll``, ``gdi32.dll``, and ``comctl32.dll``.
Everything in hardware goes through the Windows API,
including keystrokes, mouse clicks, and graphics.
However, Windows must also obey licensing requirements,
such as copyrighted content protection.
This means that it is difficult to, say,
replicate the Flip3D program.
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3848558/what-is-the-api-to-create-applications-like-flip3d
Something like `Wine`_ could, in principle, work around this,
since it provides an open-source implementation
of libraries such as ``user32.dll``.
Perhaps that's why `Windows rejects a registry with the Wine configuration key`_.
.. _Wine: https://www.winehq.org/about/
.. _Windows rejects a registry with the Wine configuration key: https://www.winehq.org/pipermail/wine-devel/2005-February/033868.html
Another example: on Windows 8,
it is impossible to disable the dwm window manager.
In Windows Vista and Windows 7, desktop composition is disabled in a number of
scenarios. In Windows 8, DWM desktop composition is a core operating system
component and cannot be disabled. With a few exceptions, desktop composition is
always on; it’s started before the user logon and remains active for the
duration of a session.
--- Windows Dev Center documentation
[ . . . ]
I understand the choice and it improves the overall experience, but it is
going to force us to retire some of our older software, and it tool many years
to overcome the problems caused.
--- Dan Ritchie
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/hh848042%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
Linux also has an API,
but it is not tied to the desktop environment,
and is not controlled by a single corporation
in the same way that the Windows API is.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Non-resizable dialog boxes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~