Microsoft to start evangelizing Vista to small ISVs

Microsoft Corp is beginning a soft roll-out of a new program to push small software vendors to build applications for Windows Vista.

Aiming at what Microsoft calls MicroISVs, the program, called Project Glidepath, will provide hints and step-by-step instructions for creating or porting applications for Vista.

Actually, it will go further than that, providing everything from mastering the various technical features of Vista to business basics, such as how to write a press release.

One of the elements will be a Glidepath Software Factory add-in to Visual Studio 2005 that will include content, technology, and templates for building applications that comply with the forthcoming .NET Framework 3.0, and of course, Vista. The Software Factory will include a gallery of content, which can be used with or without Visual Studio to build Vista apps.

In essence, Glidepath is borrowing some of the dynamics of Linux-based open source development with the goal of fostering a community. That's where you get the blogs that are intended to give you an idea of what's on The Creator's Mind. And it gives you RSS feeds for all content updates to the Glidepath Software Factory.

But it departs from the Linux open source community approach in an obvious way: this is Microsoft, which develops the technology and runs a big business and has its own partner ecosystem. In that light, Glidepath also provides business tips from the adult in the room, who tells you how to commercialize your brainchild.

Microsoft will official launch and provide more details on Glidepath at the Shareware Industry Conference, scheduled for July 15.

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