Did anyone in the ’90s expect Win32 to still be a first‑class API surface in 2026?

Name: Did anyone in the ’90s expect Win32 to still be a first‑class API surface in 2026?
Uploaded: 2026-05-07T08:07:35+00:00
Description: Mark Russinovich discusses why Win32 is still treated as a first-class Windows API surface in 2026, and how Windows’ long-term compatibility commitments and...

Today by Mark Russinovich

Mark Russinovich discusses why Win32 is still treated as a first-class Windows API surface in 2026, and how Windows’ long-term compatibility commitments and the size of the desktop software ecosystem keep “legacy” APIs operationally essential.

Overview

The video explains why Win32 continues to matter for Windows development decades after its introduction.

Key points covered:

Win32’s deep integration with Windows and how that foundation makes it hard to replace outright.
The scale of the existing Windows desktop application ecosystem built on Win32.
Why “legacy” can still mean critical for compatibility and real-world software support.