Really incredible how each new version of Windows somehow manages to be a regression from the last version while remaining a usable and popular operating system.
This has been making the rounds on Twitter and the story never dies despite being essentially false. (Backed by “I hit Start and got a CPU spike”)
Just the “Recommended” section - the lower frame showing M365 files & frequent apps - is built with React Native[1]. And, AFAIK, it uses Microsoft’s React Native for Windows that renders real XAML components, so it’s not just a masquerading WebView or something.
The Start Menu itself is still C++ and XAML. (And I think WinUI 2, i.e. the system-included variation of WinUI) It’s not just all a web thing or a JS-backed React Native app.
Windows user interface is getting worse and worse. It's been a trend since the last good NT version, Windows 2000. Since then everything is a mess of inconsistencies and UI experiments.
I'm just wondering, if AI replaces programmers, will our super AI also fix all the slowness and bugs in current software?
I saw an Anthropic Claude guy talk about how AI will replace most programmers within 2-3 years, but definitely by the end of this decade. I suppose an additional data center of AI agents could also fix all known bugs.
> will our super AI also fix all the slowness and bugs in current software?
If the OS you are using is open, then yes, that's doable and we were doing that also before the AI era. With a closed OS, the only thing you have is hope.
When people from genAI companies are speculating about the future of AI, remember that they have a heavy bias and large economic incentive to say things like that. You can't take their statements at face value.
The decay of the start menu into a laggy, unpredictable surface for advertising is perhaps the pinnacle of windows' downfall. Conversely, MacOS's reputation as a great UX is perhaps largely driven by favorable comparison to the fractured mess of Windows.
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[ 3.4 ms ] story [ 59.2 ms ] threadThe consequence is that we have the same (or worse) perceived performance for new (and better) hardware.
Microsoft 2025: Lets write the start menu in fucking react, who cars about anything like RAM, CPU or common sense.
Just the “Recommended” section - the lower frame showing M365 files & frequent apps - is built with React Native[1]. And, AFAIK, it uses Microsoft’s React Native for Windows that renders real XAML components, so it’s not just a masquerading WebView or something.
The Start Menu itself is still C++ and XAML. (And I think WinUI 2, i.e. the system-included variation of WinUI) It’s not just all a web thing or a JS-backed React Native app.
1: https://youtu.be/kMJNEFHj8b8?t=4m47s
I saw an Anthropic Claude guy talk about how AI will replace most programmers within 2-3 years, but definitely by the end of this decade. I suppose an additional data center of AI agents could also fix all known bugs.
If the OS you are using is open, then yes, that's doable and we were doing that also before the AI era. With a closed OS, the only thing you have is hope.
When people from genAI companies are speculating about the future of AI, remember that they have a heavy bias and large economic incentive to say things like that. You can't take their statements at face value.
I've been using WinDbg to debug a kernel driver and have seen a few React Native messages popping up on WinDbg's console.