Show-Stopper!
by G. Pascal Zachary · first published 1994
74% recommend26% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Readable account of how Dave Cutler's team, coming from DEC and VMS, built Windows NT at Microsoft, with human drama and design background; suits anyone curious about NT's history or software-team stories.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Including numerous interviews with the people that made Microsoft's modern-day operating system possible, G. Pascal Zachary weaves an intricate tale about the personalities, businesses, and relationships in Show-stopper!, a fascinating historical account about the making of Windows NT.
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Some that I liked: - Hackers : http://www.amazon.com/Hackers-Computer-Revolution-Anniversar... - The Soul of a New Machine: http://www.amazon.com/The-Soul-A-New-Machine/dp/0316491977 - Show Stopper! : http://www.amazon.com/Show-Stopper-Breakneck-Generation-Micr... - Dealers of Lightning: http://www.amazon.com/Dealers-Lightning-Xerox-PARC-Computer/... - Where Wizards Stay Up Late: http://www.amazon.com/Where-Wizards-Stay-Up-Late/dp/06848326...
on “Ask HN: How to learn about the history of computing?” ↗…create Windows NT” (1). It profiles Cutler’s team as they go through the period described briefly in this article to make Windows NT an actual contender to the Unix-based OSes. 1- https://www.amazon.com/Show-Stopper-Breakneck-Generation-Mic...
on “How Hotmail changed Microsoft and email” ↗Three I'm familiar with, all recommended: 'Gates', Stephen Manes [1] 'Show Stopper!: The Breakneck Race to Create Windows NT and the Next Generation at Microsoft', G.P. Zachary [2] 'Microsoft in the Mirror', Karin Carter [3] But I agree with the parent that 'Programmers At Work' is…
on “Programmers At Work: Bill Gates (1986)” ↗…book, by the way, even if the technology in it is a bit old at this point. Hackers of hardware and/or software should definitely read it. Another interesting book about the creation of a large system is "Show-stopper", by G. P. Zachary, which describes the building of Windows NT.
on “The best small computer in the world (1968) [pdf]” ↗…x86, it was MIPS. OS/2 in NT was merely a subsystem layer next to DOS and Posix, somewhat like today there is the Linux subsystem layer in Windows 10. A good source is this: https://www.amazon.com/Show-Stopper-Breakneck-Generation-Mic...
on “Project: 2ine – OS/2 emulator for Linux” ↗…http://cobweb.cs.uga.edu/~maria/classes/4500-Spring-2010/pap... There's The Mythical Man-Month: http://www.amazon.com/The-Mythical-Man-Month-Engineering-Ann... Showstopper, the book about the development of Windows NT, is great: http://www.amazon.com/Show-Stopper-Breakneck-Generation-Micr...
on “Ask HN: Do you use an old or 'unfashionable' programming language?” ↗If you're a Cutler fan you may enjoy Showstopper[1], an account of the creation of NT. 1: https://www.amazon.com/Show-Stopper-Breakneck-Generation-Mic...
on “Linus Torvalds: “Somebody is pushing complete garbage for unclear reasons.”” ↗Show Stopper is a wonderful book if you're interested in the historical development of large systems. It's second only to The Soul of a New Machine. I highly recommend it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1497638836
on “Which programming language is used for making Windows 10?” ↗…support many different APIs. Due to the success of Windows 3.0 and the lack of OS/2 success, Microsoft wisely decided to expand the Windows API to the Win32 API and have it be the default API. The book Show Stopper, has a good account of the early days of NT. https://www.amazon.com/Show-Stopper-Breakneck-Generation-Mic... It is interesting read.
on “Half an operating system: The triumph and tragedy of OS/2 (2013)” ↗…Showstopper and the personal stories in - its about the creation of Windows NT. Pretty interesting how things where not so differnet some 30 years ago In case anyone is interested: https://www.amazon.com/Show-Stopper-Breakneck-Generation-Mic...
on “An Update from Robinhood’s Founders” ↗Not forgotten by the people that read "Show-stopper!" [0] https://www.amazon.com/Show-stopper-Breakneck-Windows-Genera...
on “The Tragic Tale of DEC, the Computing Giant That Died Too Soon” ↗I highly recommend Show Stopper!: The Breakneck Race to Create Windows NT and the Next Generation at Microsoft http://www.amazon.com/Show-Stopper-Breakneck-Generation-Micr... Fun drama like a C++ programmer spending months to get a…
on “Q: How is software created at Microsoft? A: Very slowly (from the horse's mouth)” ↗> IIRC Microsoft had a completely separate team working on Win NT initially, lead by David Cutler. If you're interested in this, I highly suggest you read "Show Stopper!". It provides some interesting insights into Microsoft's early days with NT. http://www.amazon.com/Show-Stopper-Breakneck-Generation-Micr...
on “Startup Suicide -- Rewriting the Code” ↗Speaking of Cutler, if you haven't read it, I highly recommend the book "Show Stopper!", which describes the early days of Windows NT. http://www.amazon.com/Show-Stopper-Breakneck-Generation-Micr...
on “Microsoft Expected to Introduce Tablet” ↗In a similar sort of vein, "Show Stopper!: The Breakneck Race to Create Windows NT and the Next Generation at Microsoft" is a great recaps of the initial Windows NT days with David Cutler and his 200+ ex-Digital OS engineers. It was published…
on “Doom Creator John Carmack Honoured with Bafta” ↗