David Stone's Blog

Win2k/NT Source leaks...

I'm surprised everybody's not talking about it here already. But I've just finished reading the sum total of information that's currently available on the Windows Source Code Leaks. (And I'm not counting every comment on /. in that total.)

The way I see it (direct copy of some of my comments on Robert's blog):

However, the only way to tell whether this is for real or not is by either:
1) Looking at the source code that's being distributed in the wild and compare it to the "actual" source at MSFT.
2) Build the sucker. And IIRC, this is not an easy task.

I dunno...I'm still unsure as to whether or not any of this is real. I can't get to Neowin...they've been down since before /. got to them. I guess the only thing to do is wait for MSFT to make an announcement as to what's actually going on.

Looking at the source tree, It's my opinion that it's too detailed to be faked without a gargantuan amount of time to waste. However, I do have a few questions:

1. What's with the .eml files? According to filext.com, the only known .eml extensions are for Outlook Express and QuickMail pro. Can you really tell me that there are saved e-mails within the source tree from people within Microsoft who are using Outlook Express?
2. There are some really funky files in there:
           0  11-18-01 14:23   win2k/private/genx/ie/tokens/words of wisdom from dennis.eml 
           0  11-18-01 14:23   win2k/private/inet/mshtml/imgfilt/jpegfilt/daytona/letter to children - 2.eml
           0  11-19-01 01:40   win2k/private/inet/mshtml/src/core/debug/democracy in flames.eml
           0  11-18-01 14:23   win2k/private/inet/mshtml/src/dlay/documentation of problems in stress.eml
           0  11-19-01 01:40   win2k/private/inet/mshtml/src/edit/dan komsky's review form.eml
           0  11-18-01 14:23   win2k/private/inet/mshtml/src/other/htmlapp/letter to the children.eml
           0  11-18-01 14:23   win2k/private/inet/mshtml/src/site/download/lib/unnevergiveup.eml
           0  11-18-01 14:24   win2k/private/inet/urlmon/eapp/daytona/cv - vered mazafi.eml
   There are more. But I really don't want to scour the entire 2.30 MB txt file that makes notepad choke a bit when you open it. You're kidding right? I mean, I know there's funky stuff in everybody's source code. Stuff we developers like to put in the comments when we get bored. It's the type of stuff that gets put into the back page of Windows Magazine. I don't think these things would actually be in the real build tree...would they?
3. Someone on ieXbeta quoted someone else on Neowin saying that the tar file for the source was 194 MB. This seems a little small to me...doesn't it? Maybe not...considering the fact that the compiled sources + all the extra stuff in Windows can fit on one CD. But it still seems a little small.

Anyway, I think it's still too early to call it a fake...or real. And I think ultimately we're going to have to wait for Microsoft to make an announcement. Anybody else care to share their thoughts?

<update>The byte count at the bottom of the source listing says 658114889. I did some quick math and that number is accurate given the size of the individual files in the listing. I guess 658 MB seems reasonable for a source tree of that size. However, I didn't think it was possible to zip that up to 194 MB.</update>