Windows Source Availability

Comments focus on the accessibility of Microsoft Windows source code through leaks, Shared Source programs, government and enterprise access, and whether this equates to it being open source.

📉 Falling 0.4x Open Source
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20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#4925
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Keywords

MS WinGet NDA DevOps RE reactos.org XP microsoft.com apcobj.c AppGet source source code windows code microsoft open source open leaked leaks source available

Sample Comments

kstrauser Dec 28, 2025 View on HN

One can find leaked Windows source code on the Internet. Is it open source?

derefr Nov 18, 2021 View on HN

You can see the source code of Windows whenever you like. Pay for a Shared Source Initiative license and Microsoft will show you. Or just look at any of the old leaked versions. In neither case is there anything untoward going on in the codebase. Mostly what you’ll find is just integrated proprietary upstream-vendor source code that Microsoft licensed themselves for use in Windows, but does not have an unlimited right to redistribute in source-code form.

LightThatPours Dec 7, 2017 View on HN

Do you ask to see Microsoft Windows source code. Well, then that.

zouhair Jul 10, 2016 View on HN

Can access to Windows source code help?

nineteen999 Jun 30, 2024 View on HN

The Windows source code was leaked onto the web many years ago wasn't it? Guess that makes it freeware too.

rbanffy Feb 9, 2021 View on HN

There probably is a huge amount of code inside Windows that Microsoft has a license to use, but no right to open.

eli Dec 21, 2013 View on HN

Many governments already have access to microsoft source code. Big corporate clients too.

mjevans Jul 2, 2021 View on HN

Why doesn't Windows (Microsoft) build open source code themselves and sign the source seen, easier to inspect for bad things version?

exe34 Sep 25, 2024 View on HN

windows is source-available if you have deep enough pockets: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sharedsource/enterprise-sour...

ks2048 Apr 4, 2025 View on HN

If only Microsoft owned a place to post source code...