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Programming Windows: Dave Plummer - Episode 318

30 min • 7 oktober 2024

Dave was a developer or development manager on each of the major operating systems from MS-DOS 6.2 through Server 2003 while at Microsoft from 1993 to 2003.

He’s worked on MS-DOS products, OLE objects, Win95, Windows NT, and the NT Pinball game. He also wrote and helped design the initial prototype of Windows Media Center. Dave also added Product Activation to the Windows platform including various anti-tampering mechanisms to prevent illegal copying of the product. He’s also worked on Task Manager, Zip Folders, and Calculator as he focused on the Windows Shell. He currently runs a very popular online show called Dave’s Garage on YouTube, where he demystifies various software engineering topics.

Topics of Discussion:

[:35] Introduction of Dave, his background, and his career at Microsoft.

[3:47] Dave’s experience at Microsoft in the 1990s: the environment, culture, and working with some of the best developers in the world.

[5:19] What led Dave to work on the Windows shell and user interface development.

[7:38] The challenges of porting code from Windows 95 to Windows NT and working with operating system differences.

[9:25] Dave’s work on Task Manager, Zip Folders, and Windows Media Center.

[13:23] The state of software engineering today: Dave’s take on modern systems, embedded programming, and the rise of AI.

[14:34] Embedded systems programming: Dave’s work with ESP32 chips, their features, and applications.

[19:16] Thoughts on AI and its impact on software development: Will AI eventually write all the code?

[21:14] The future of software engineering: How AI will change the role of developers and the need for debugging and architectural understanding.

[22:47] Dave’s advice for young programmers: Learning C++, Python, and the importance of understanding system architecture.

Mentioned in this Episode: