The Old New Thing
Practical development throughout the evolution of Windows.
Latest posts
Dec 26, 2025
Post comments count
2
Post likes count
2
Why are we worried about memory access semantics? Full barriers should be enough for anybody
You have to find new ways of going faster.
Dec 25, 2025
Post comments count
3
Post likes count
3
Reading the fine print, episode 4: Holiday promotions
Checking those validity dates.
Dec 25, 2025
Post comments count
0
Post likes count
3
Why is the last letter of my string not making it to the clipboard?
The struggle for null termination.
Dec 24, 2025
Post comments count
0
Post likes count
4
Why does my <KBD>Ctrl</KBD>+<KBD>M</KBD> accelerator key activate when I press the <KBD>Enter</KBD> key?
Understanding the difference between keys and characters for accelerators.
Dec 23, 2025
Post comments count
4
Post likes count
4
When irate product support customers demand to speak to Bill Gates
So transfer them to his office, or so it seems.
Dec 22, 2025
Post comments count
26
Post likes count
8
All the other cool languages have <CODE>try</CODE>…<CODE>finally</CODE>. C++ says “We have <CODE>try</CODE>…<CODE>finally</CODE> at home.”
The destructor serves as the "finally".
Dec 19, 2025
Post comments count
9
Post likes count
3
A shortcut gives me a weird path for a program shortcut that doesn’t point to the executable, so what is it?
It's a placeholder because the shortcut is to an MSI application.
Dec 18, 2025
Post comments count
10
Post likes count
4
Concluding thoughts on our deep dive into Windows clipboard text conversion
Stick to Unicode and you'll be fine.
Dec 17, 2025
Post comments count
3
Post likes count
4
Deducing the consequences of Windows clipboard text formats on UTF-8
Working out the implications.

Formed in 2009, the Archive Team (not to be confused with the archive.org Archive-It Team) is a rogue archivist collective dedicated to saving copies of rapidly dying or deleted websites for the sake of history and digital heritage. The group is 100% composed of volunteers and interested parties, and has expanded into a large amount of related projects for saving online and digital history.
