Microsoft Hasn’t Had a Coherent GUI Strategy Since Petzold
Summary
This article by Jeffrey Snover traces the evolution of Windows GUI strategy from Petzold's Programming Windows to Win32, MFC, WPF, Silverlight, WinUI, and Project Reunion, arguing that organizational and strategic missteps—not just technical flaws—have shaped the GUI landscape. It advocates for a coherent, lifecycle-aware Plausible Theory of Success to guide future UI decisions in business software. A valuable read for IT leaders and developers shaping long-term GUI foundations.