Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has confirmed that the kernel version in Windows 10 will jump from 6.4 to 10.0. Last week, ITHome.com released an image showing the Windows NT kernel version number 10.0. Notably, Windows 7 had kernel version 6.1, Windows 8 came with version 6.2, Windows 8.1 has version 6.4. So it made sense to go ahead with version 6.4 for Windows 10. In fact, the preview build of the forthcoming OS has version 6.4.
Microsoft working on OneCore
The future builds of Windows 10 will have version 10.0. The dual numbering scheme originated from the merger of DOS and NT-based Windows. The company has been doing so since mid-1990s. The software giant maintained the NT numbering to identify a major version for application compatibility. The increased kernel version could also affect website compatibility in the new OS. Kernel numbers are aimed at helping software developers, web developers and enterprises.
Why is Microsoft increasing the kernel number? Some argue that Windows 10 will be a “bigger release,” so this jump. Of course, the Redmond-based company is aligning the new release so that it can be used across smartphones, tablets, PCs and Xbox consoles. Microsoft said in a blog post that developers who have code that depends on version number should update to allow for the new value.
Windows 10 will safely be version 10
Peter Bright of Ars Technica says that this jump will make changing the internal version number a lot safer. It lets Windows 10 “safely be version 10,” even though Windows 7 and Windows 8 couldn’t be versions 7.0 and 8.0. Paul Thurrott of Windows Supersite notes that the deprecated version of API will continue to report that Windows 10 is version 6.3, but modern apps will get the actual version number.
One reason Microsoft stuck on version 6.0 for so long was the burden of application compatibility. Most often, applications query the version of the OS before making their decisions. Sometimes the queries are made to avoid bugs or to take advantage of new and useful features. Sometimes, the reason behind the queries is not-so-legitimate.
Microsoft shares fell 1.05% to $47.48 in early trading Monday.
