SA to gain from MS code releases

By Leon Engelbrecht for Microsoft
Johannesburg, 09 Jul 2008

Local programmers and developers will also benefit from Microsoft`s latest global release of protocols and application programming interfaces (API) that run into thousands of pages, says the company.

The documentation was released into the public domain as part of the global software behemoth`s new focus on interoperability and a "more open engagement with other members of the IT community" announced earlier this year.

Microsoft SA platform strategy manager Paulo Ferreira says highlights include posting version 1.0 releases of technical documentation for Microsoft protocols built into Office 2007, Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Exchange Server 2007.

The Seattle-based giant also posted nearly 5 000 pages of technical documentation related to the binary file formats for Word, Excel and PowerPoint (.doc, .xls, .xlsb and .ppt).

"These actions represent the continued fulfilment of the commitments we made in our interoperability principles," says Ferreira.

"Microsoft`s cumulative posting of approximately 50 000 pages of technical documentation on MSDN provides consistent, open access for all developers, which enhances the ease and opportunities for working with Microsoft`s high-volume products.

"Moreover, our work with partners, competitors and customers to engage in the technical nuts and bolts of real-world interoperability provides great ongoing opportunities for collaboration to address the challenges of today`s diverse IT environment.

"This announcement enables local developers to access documentation for Microsoft protocols and APIs directly from our MSDN Web site and enables them to use this information when developing their solutions," Ferreira says.

"Developers can now create applications which integrate tighter with Microsoft products more easily. The result is more innovative and interoperable solutions.

"It is important to note that open source developers locally, whether commercial or non-commercial, will not need a patent licence for the development of implementations of these protocols, or for the non-commercial distribution of these implementations, according to Microsoft`s patent pledge for open source developers," Ferreira says.