The Windows Template Library (WTL) for constructing simple GUI interfaces to applications has been released by Microsoft to popular open source destination SourceForge under a license approved by the Open Source Initiative (OSI).
Release of WTL follows Windows installer XML (WiX) that Microsoft also posted to SourceForge last month.
Microsoft appears to believe it can harness open source, encouraging greater development around its tools and software, and thereby stimulating further uptake of Windows at a later stage.
The company’s shift also appears to demonstrate a shift of thinking inside the company, which has moved away from lambasting open source after a newer generation of developers and managers have moved into the company.
After first slamming open source, Microsoft modified its position by launching the Shared Source Initiative (SSI), which allows customers and partners to view Windows code. It is unclear how far Microsoft will go in releasing code to SourceForge, or other online open source communities, but early signs are the company is against release meaningful, core Windows APIs.
Microsoft said this week it made sense to release WTL to help grow the project.
