How Microsoft built Windows 11's best features by borrowing from others

At a glance:

• Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) evolved from a 2016 terminal tool to full GUI and systemd support, integrating Linux directly into Windows.
• Microsoft acquired tools like Clipchamp and integrated SysInternals' SysMon into Windows 11, while also expanding ZIP file support using libarchive.
• Features like Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based), Winget (inspired by AppGet), and Phone Link originated from third-party innovations or community contributions.

The Linux revolution inside Windows

For all its dominance, Windows 11 has quietly become a hybrid operating system. The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is perhaps the most striking example of this transformation. Initially launched in 2016 as a command-line-only tool, WSL has matured into a robust platform supporting graphical Linux applications and systemd, a critical component for many Linux distributions. This integration allows developers to run Linux commands, apps, and toolchains natively within Windows, blurring the lines between operating systems. The move underscores Microsoft's strategic pivot toward embracing open-source ecosystems, a far cry from its historically competitive stance against Linux.

Beyond direct compatibility, WSL enables unique workflows. For instance, Linux's Cron utility can automate Windows tasks more intuitively than the native Task Scheduler, demonstrating how cross-platform tools can enhance functionality. This duality reflects Microsoft's broader approach: leveraging external innovations to fill gaps in its own ecosystem while maintaining the familiarity of Windows for mainstream users.

Buying innovation: Microsoft's acquisition playbook

Microsoft's strategy of acquiring promising tools rather than building from scratch is well-documented. In the 1990s, the company licensed Spyglass Mosaic to create Internet Explorer, later avoiding royalty payments through legal maneuvering. More recently, Microsoft purchased Skype in 2012 to replace Windows Live Messenger and acquired Clipchamp just before Windows 11's launch, bundling it as the OS's default video editor. These moves highlight a pattern of identifying emerging trends and integrating them quickly to stay competitive.

Even legacy features have roots in acquisitions. The ZIP file extraction tool in File Explorer, developed by Dave Plummer in the 1990s as VisualZip, was bought by Microsoft and remained largely unchanged for decades. Only in recent updates did the company expand archive support using the open-source libarchive library. Similarly, SysInternals' SysMon, acquired in 2006, was integrated into Windows 11 this year, showcasing how Microsoft sometimes takes years to fully adopt its purchases.

Copying success: When Microsoft follows the leader

Microsoft's history of emulating third-party features is equally notable. The shift to Chromium for Microsoft Edge in 2020 exemplifies this, abandoning its proprietary engine to compete with Google's browser dominance. While understandable from a market perspective, it contrasts with Mozilla's continued investment in its Gecko engine, raising questions about Microsoft's priorities. Similarly, Winget, Microsoft's package manager, drew heavily from AppGet, with reports suggesting the company interviewed AppGet's developer under false pretenses before launching Winget. Though Microsoft later credited AppGet's influence, the original project shut down amid the controversy.

Other features like Phone Link (inspired by AirDroid and Dell Mobile Connect) and virtual desktops (long popular in Linux) further illustrate this trend. These examples suggest that while Microsoft may lack the agility to pioneer every innovation, it excels at scaling and integrating proven concepts into its ecosystem.

PowerToys: Community-driven excellence

PowerToys, Microsoft's suite of productivity tools, represents a unique case of community collaboration. Though officially maintained by Microsoft, most utilities within PowerToys originated from external developers. Features like the Command Palette, which recently replaced the Run dialog's logic in Windows 11, were community proposals refined through GitHub contributions. Microsoft's acknowledgment of third-party developers in its announcements underscores the project's collaborative ethos.

This model highlights a symbiotic relationship: Microsoft provides infrastructure and visibility, while the community drives innovation. However, it also raises questions about the company's reliance on unpaid labor for core functionality, even as it monetizes the Windows platform. The success of PowerToys demonstrates that third-party developers remain vital to Windows' evolution, even when working within Microsoft's framework.

Why Microsoft leans on others

Microsoft's size and bureaucratic structure often hinder rapid innovation. By acquiring or emulating third-party tools, the company can bypass internal delays and deliver features users demand. Yet this approach has drawbacks: it risks alienating smaller developers and can lead to half-baked implementations. For example, the delayed integration of SysMon or the abrupt shutdown of AppGet after Winget's launch highlight potential downsides.

Ultimately, Microsoft's strategy reflects a pragmatic acknowledgment of its limitations. While the company has the resources to lead, it often chooses to follow, refine, and scale. This model works for maintaining market dominance, but it leaves questions about whether Microsoft could innovate more independently if it prioritized long-term R&D over short-term acquisitions.

What's next for Windows innovation

As Windows 11 continues to evolve, expect more features to emerge from external sources. Microsoft's recent embrace of open-source projects like libarchive and its integration of community-driven tools like PowerToys suggest a growing willingness to collaborate. However, the company's track record of late adoption and occasional overreach (e.g., AppGet) indicates that third-party developers will remain both partners and competitors in shaping the OS's future.

For users, this means a more versatile Windows experience, but also a reminder that many beloved features may have been pioneered elsewhere. Whether this reliance on external innovation is a strength or weakness depends on one's perspective: Microsoft adapts and scales, but rarely pioneers.