Microsoft's ill-chosen magic constants

[mjg59]

Paolo Bonzini noticed something a little awkward in the Linux kernel support code for Microsoft's HyperV virtualisation environment - specifically, that the magic constant passed through to the hypervisor was "0xB16B00B5", or, in English, "BIG BOOBS". It turns out that this isn't an exception - when the code was originally submitted it also contained "0x0B00B135". That one got removed when the Xen support code was ripped out.

At the most basic level it's just straightforward childish humour, and the use of vaguely-English strings in magic hex constants is hardly uncommon. But it's also specifically male childish humour. Puerile sniggering at breasts contributes to the continuing impression that software development is a boys club where girls aren't welcome. It's especially irritating in this case because Azure may depend on this constant, so changing it will break things.

So, full marks, Microsoft. You've managed to make the kernel more offensive to half the population and you've made it awkward for us to rectify it.

Comments

Derailing by the book

[(Anonymous)]

I love how some (most) of the responses reflect how well they can follow the guidelines of the D4D book (http://www.derailingfordummies.com/retaliation.html) ...

Re: Derailing by the book

[(Anonymous)]

Dude, the publisher of 'for dummies' serious is sick and he really is anal about his copyright. Please don't mention that miserable series anymore, thank you.

Re: Derailing by the book

[(Anonymous)]

Ahem: "PLEASE NOTE: This website is not associated with Wiley Publishing, Inc, publisher of the FOR DUMMIES series of books."

Techeye

[(Anonymous)]

I find it ironic that Techeye referenced your blog and took a quote however their typo reinforced the "childish humour" by stating you "ranted from his bog"

Re: Derailing by the book

[(Anonymous)]

Well it's because D4D is a comprehensive list of reasonable objections to "SJ" nonsense. It happens to be followed by completely asinine would-be "rebuttals" that are more like temper tantrums, but the mere existence of this text is enough to create an illusion that all those reasonable objections (aka "derailing") have been "answered" and somehow proven wrong.

Re: Derailing by the book

[(Anonymous)]

Derailing for dummies is extreme feminist propaganda with no basis in any sort of rationality.

You don't get to dictate how we argue with you, pig.