What is Longhorn”?
Microsoft’s high level description of what Longhorn is can be found here. Some of my impressions of each piece include: Microsoft has defined there to be four main parts to the new OS. Presentation, Data, Communication, and Fundamentals. That is how they are now talking about all their OS’s and how their current product plans migrate to the new architecture. In each bucket, the migration paths are roughly: Presentation: Today Smart clients, Webforms, 2004 Whidbey Visual Studio, 2006 Avalon in Longhorn Data: Today SQL Server, application specific data stores (Exchange, etc.), 2004 Yukon for SQL Server, 2006 WINFS in Longhorn Communications: Today application specific protocols (IM, email, application) and middleware, 2004 a bunch of patches and little things, 2006 Avalon in Longhorn. Fundamentals: Today API’s in Windows and core stuff, 2004 various subsystem updates, 2006 Longhorn new kernel and Service Oriented Architecture. Presentation: What is the problem today? There is no standard
Longhorn” was the codename for the release of Microsoft Windows following Windows XP, which officially now is “Windows Vista”. Microsoft often uses codenames to refer to unreleased products until a final commercial product name is determined. For comparison, Windows XP was codenamed Whistler during its development.
