Shared Source is Microsoft’s attempt to answer open source, as the program allows qualifying customers to view source code and APIs for Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003.
Under the related Government Security Program, governments get to examine this code in addition to APIs for Word 2003, Excel 2003, PowerPoint 2003, Outlook 2003 and Office 2003.
Microsoft is believed to be specifically considering whether to place code for the forthcoming SQL Server 2005 into the Shared Source initiative.
