Visual Studio 2026’s first Insiders build lands as a clear statement: Microsoft intends to make AI the connective tissue of the IDE while simultaneously modernizing Visual Studio’s foundation for the .NET 10 era. At VSLive! San Diego Microsoft unveiled Visual Studio 2026 (internal version 18.0)...
FFmpeg’s new assembly lessons have turned a niche skill into a teachable path: a compact, practical curriculum aimed squarely at developers who want to write the kind of hand-optimized SIMD code that still powers the highest-performance media pipelines. The lessons, published as a public...
Macrohard: Elon Musk’s ‘AI Software Company’ Sets Sights on Microsoft
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On August 22, 2025, Elon Musk said he’s building “a purely AI software company called Macrohard” to take on Microsoft—framing it as tongue‑in‑cheek in name but “very real” in intent. Here’s what he actually announced, what...
ai agents
ai software
autonomous ai
azure ai
copilot
elon musk
enterprise ai
intune
macrohard
microsoft
msix
software governance
trademark
visual studio
vscode
wdac
windowswindowsdevelopment
wsl
xai
On a Windows box I reach for a Linux shell first — not because Windows tooling is broken, but because the Unix-style command line gives me the fastest, most portable path from idea to execution. That preference, which many readers will recognize from long years of using bash, zsh, or other...
bash
cli tools
conpty
cross-platform scripting
dev workflow
interoperability
linux tooling
linux-first workflow
open source
posix
powershell
pwsh
unix philosophy
windowsdevelopmentwindows subsystem for linux
windows terminal
wsl
wsl2
zsh
Microsoft’s decision to openly confirm its intent to open source the Windows App SDK marks a significant pivot in its approach to developer collaboration, transparency, and the future of Windows application development. While a full transition to open source is some months away and involves...
coding and tools
community contributions
developer collaboration
developer ecosystem
microsoft open source
native windows apps
open governance
open source microsoft
open source roadmap
open source strategy
open source windows
public repositories
sdk transparency
software development
third-party libraries
windows 10 and 11
windows app sdk
windowsdevelopmentwindows platform
winui 3
For decades, Windows users have been bewildered by the appearance of an anonymous window that blocks system shutdowns, often marked only with a vague message or a blank space where a program name should appear. This cryptic occurrence has left even seasoned PC enthusiasts perplexed, especially...
background applications
blocked shutdown
bsdr
helper windows
microsoft windows
program windows
shutdown diagnostics
shutdownblockreasoncreate
system processes
system security
system shutdown
user troubleshooting
windowswindows api
windows background processes
windowsdevelopmentwindows forums
windows internals
windows tips
windows troubleshooting
A long-awaited shift is taking shape within Microsoft's Windows ecosystem. The tech giant has committed to eventually making WinUI—a modern user interface framework central to Windows development—“truly open source.” While Microsoft’s intentions are now public, the path to full transparency for...
community contribution
cross-platform development
developer tools
microsoft
microsoft open source
microsoft technology
open source
software development
ui frameworks
uwp
win32 api
windows 10/11
windows app sdk
windowsdevelopmentwindows ecosystem
windows platform
windows ui design
winrt
winui
winui open source
The landscape of Windows app development is on the cusp of a transformative shift as Microsoft publicly details its plan to open up the Windows UI Library (WinUI) framework to broader community engagement. For years, developers and enthusiasts have called on Microsoft to fully open source the...
community collaboration
contribution guides
cross-platform ui
developer ecosystem
developer empowerment
microsoft innovation
microsoft open source
open development
open source roadmap
public repositories
software engineering
software testing
software transparency
ui controls
ui framework
windows 11 ui
windows app sdk
windowsdevelopmentwindows platform
winui
As the decade-long journey of Windows 10 is commemorated, the tech landscape finds itself reflecting on an era that redefined Microsoft's approach to both consumers and enterprise users. From bold intuitive enhancements to controversial shifts in policy, the anniversary comes at a pivotal...
edge browser
microsoft
microsoft edge
open source windows
tech industry
windows 10
windows 11
windows 11 se
windowsdevelopmentwindows ecosystem
windows features
windows gaming
windows hardware
windows migration
windows on arm
windows performance
windows privacy
windows support
windows update
winui open source
A new wave of innovation is quietly building behind the scenes of Windows 11, with keen eyes in the Insider and developer communities noticing a mysterious reference to “Taskbar companions” in recent preview builds. Microsoft appears to be experimenting with readying the taskbar for intelligent...
ai assistants
ai in windows
ai integration
future of windows
microsoft innovations
microsoft windows
smart desktop
taskbar
taskbar companions
taskbar customization
user interface
windows 11
windows ai features
windowsdevelopmentwindows extensibility
windows innovations
windows insider
windows productivity
windows ui
windows updates
Microsoft’s tentative journey toward open-sourcing the Windows 11 user interface framework, known as WinUI, marks a significant shift in the technology giant’s approach to transparency, collaboration, and developer empowerment. For many years, Microsoft’s cultural attitude toward open-source...
community collaboration
developer tools
development ecosystem
github
microsoft
microsoft open-source
microsoft windows
open source
open source initiative
open-source benefits
open-source roadmap
open-source strategy
platform innovation
proprietary dependencies
software development
software ecosystem
software engineering
software security
tech community
tech industry trends
tech transparency
ui controls
ui design
ui framework
ui innovation
windows 11
windowsdevelopmentwindows operating system
windows ui
winui
winui components
Microsoft has recently released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5733 (KB5062673) to the Dev Channel, introducing several enhancements aimed at improving user experience and system functionality.
File Explorer Enhancements
For users signed in with a work or school account (Entra ID), File...
beta channel
bing search
bing search history
bluetooth issues
bug fixes
build 26120
build 26120.5733
build 26200
click to do
controlled feature rollout
dark mode
dev channel
entra id
feedback hub
file explorer
file explorer enhancements
insider preview
insider program
kb5062673
known issues
live captions
lock screen
microsoft 365
microsoft 365 integration
microsoft windows
performance improvements
preview features
preview update
privacy settings
quick assist
settings
software update
software updates
start menu
system enhancement
system functionality
system improvements
system stability
system tray
system updates
taskbar
tech news
troubleshooting
user experience
windows 11
windows 11 24h2
windows 11 beta
windows 11 update
windows bugs
windowsdevelopmentwindows fixes
windows insider
windows performance improvements
windows preview builds
windows sandbox
windows settings
windows update
windows updates
xbox controllers
Windows 10 has officially reached a decade in the ever-accelerating world of operating systems—a milestone that offers both cause for celebration and a candid assessment of progress, pitfalls, and the shifting sands of the personal computing landscape. A recent episode of “Windows Weekly,”...
ai in windows
microsoft 365
microsoft leadership
microsoft windowswindows 10
windows 11
windows ai
windows as a service
windows desktop
windowsdevelopmentwindows ecosystem
windows features
windows gaming
windows innovation
windows insider
windows personalization
windows privacy
windows security
windows tips
windows updates
For many years, power users and accessibility-conscious individuals lamented the absence of a clear, customizable way to keep track of their mouse cursor on the Windows desktop. After a period where the feature teased users with its appearance and sudden removal, the beloved mouse crosshair is...
accessibility
accessibility features
build 27913
community feedback
crosshair feature
customization tools
digital accessibility
future of windows
inclusivity
mouse cursor
os updates
powertoys
tech innovation
ui customization
user experience
visual aid
windows 11
windowsdevelopmentwindows insider
windows settings
Windows 10’s launch in 2015 was accompanied by fanfare and promises that seemed destined to rewrite the developer playbook for the platform. In an era marred by the lingering discontent of Windows 8 and the convoluted push for “Metro style” apps, Microsoft offered what appeared to be a unifying...
.net maui
blazor
cross-platform frameworks
desktop application migration
developer ecosystem
electron
microsoft ecosystem
microsoft store
microsoft strategy
microsoft visual studio
tech industry trends
uwp
windows 10
windows app sdk
windowsdevelopmentwindows subsystem for linux
winforms
winui 3
wpf
xaml islands
GitHub Actions users and Windows developers alike should brace for some far-reaching changes beginning this September. With the global popularity of GitHub Actions—GitHub’s industry-leading CI/CD platform—increasingly becoming central to enterprise development and open-source collaboration, even...
July 2025 saw a whirlwind of development activity for Windows 11, with Microsoft pushing out no fewer than seven new preview builds through the Insider Program—some aligned with the forthcoming 24H2 and 25H2 releases, others eschewing enrollment in a particular branch. For Windows enthusiasts...
ai accessibility
ai in settings
copilot+ features
insider preview
lock screen widgets
microsoft windows
multi-monitor ui
notification center
out-of-box experience
preview builds
privacy controls
search image results
task manager updates
windows 11
windows 11 updates
windows customization
windowsdevelopmentwindows narrator
windows os updates
windows productivity
Microsoft has recently addressed a longstanding concern for multi-monitor users by enhancing Windows 11's taskbar functionality. In the latest preview builds, users can now access the notification center and calendar flyout directly from the taskbar on any connected monitor, a feature previously...
calendar flyout
feature rollout
microsoft community
microsoft updates
multi-display workflow
multi-monitor setup
multi-monitor support
notification center
taskbar enhancements
tech news
user experience
vivetool
windows 11
windows customization
windowsdevelopmentwindows insiders
windows preview builds
windows software
windows tips
windows update
It has now been a full decade since Microsoft launched Windows 10, an anniversary that provides a compelling vantage point to assess not only how the operating system fared through its extensive lifespan, but also how it became one of the most pivotal platforms in the company’s history. With...
microsoft edge
microsoft windows
os lifecycle
universal windows platform
windows 10
windows 10 features
windows 10 legacy
windows 10 mobile
windows 10 performance
windows 10 updates
windows anniversary
windows as a service
windowsdevelopmentwindows hardware compatibility
windows insider program
windows privacy concerns
windows security
windows support lifecycle
windows telemetry
windows user experience
Windows 11 users who rely on multiple monitors for work or entertainment are set to receive a long-awaited usability boost that underlines a persistent theme in the Windows development story: the slow, deliberate return of features lost in the transition from Windows 10. In the most recent...
calendar flyout
desktop customization
dual monitor setup
microsoft
multi-display support
multi-monitor
notification center
productivity
software update
taskbar
ui improvements
usability update
user feedback
windows 10
windows 11
windows 11 features
windowsdevelopmentwindows insider
windows updates
workflow efficiency