It has been a little over 15 years since Microsoft unveiled Windows 8, a momentous event that took place on June 1, 2011. The software giant ceased support for this operating system on January 12, 2016. Recently, Raymond Chen, a veteran software engineer at Microsoft, shared an intriguing anecdote from his ongoing series, The Old New Thing, shedding light on the code name used during the development of Windows 8.
Behind the Code Names
During the early stages of Windows 8’s development, the team faced the challenge of naming their creation. In a candid revelation, Chen noted that the developers opted for the straightforward moniker of “the modern experience” to differentiate it from its predecessor, Windows 7, which was dubbed “the classic experience.” This approach, while lacking in creativity, effectively captured the essence of the new operating system.
Chen also elaborated on the team’s penchant for abbreviations. For instance, the new shell was referred to as the “modern shell” or simply “MoSh.” In contrast, the old shell was known as the “classic shell,” with some team members playfully shortening it to “ClaSh.” However, this latter term did not gain much traction.
In instances where the team struggled to find appropriate names for components of the modern experience, they often resorted to the prefix “Mo.” The Start menu, for example, evolved from earlier concepts called the “Go page,” reflecting its function as a gateway for users to search and navigate. This led to the new code name “MoGo.” Other components followed suit; the settings control panel became “MoSet,” and the ListView control, initially known as the “modern collection control,” was eventually shortened to “MoCo.”
Over the years, Microsoft’s internal terminology has transformed significantly. A recent development is the introduction of Windows K2, the internal codename for a comprehensive project aimed at addressing the most pressing issues within Windows 11. At the start of the year, Microsoft committed to tackling major pain points as part of a broader strategy to enhance user satisfaction. The company has already begun to fulfill this promise by reducing the visibility of Copilot and its integrations in response to user feedback.
Additionally, Microsoft is granting Windows 11 users the ability to postpone updates indefinitely, a feature reminiscent of the flexibility offered during the Windows 8 era. For those interested in tracking the progress of Microsoft’s rehabilitation project for Windows 11, a dedicated status tracker for Windows K2 is available.
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