If Windows were designed today, would the Registry still exist? Mark Russinovich breaks down how the Registry works—and why a more flexible, file-based configuration model might win out in a modern design. Registry info: msft.it/6012vpoK0

@docsmsft Next time I would love to hear the rationale behind use of \ instead of / for path? Also what did you add white space in program files but not in programdata

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@docsmsft Linux has dconf/gconf, which does the same thing as the registry though! The reason the Registry is good, is that it lets you put watches down on specific keys. fsnotifies on config files means every change => dozens of apps reparse and re-read every setting in a giant file

@docsmsft It is a pendulum. Try to fix the pains of working with plain-text configuration files (Windows 3 started with .INI files) and you'll probably end up with something resembling the Registry. Try to fix the pains of the Registry, and you revert to text configuration files. 🤪

@docsmsft Linux configuration can be a mess, one thing I would add tho to the Windows registry entries is a comment field attached to every value that can be left null or hold some meaningful content so people would actually be able to navigate Regedit with some context available.

@docsmsft If Registry was file based it would DRASTICALLY slow down windows. There MILLIONS of registry calls per minute. The registry is a genious solution. Most people don't know: access right per key. Auditing. Remote access. Never ever possilble with a stupid text file.

@docsmsft Don't you remember win 3 .ini files? System.ini, win.ini? The registry was specifically designed to address the limitations of .ini files. Maybe interview someone who understands why the registry is designed the way it is.

@docsmsft registry is not a bad idea so it should not go away but improve it, less cryptic and more transparent on the use of each branch

@docsmsft The windows registry needs to die. It adds needless complexity.

@docsmsft @acjuelich I remember the rumor for, I think it was XP or 2000, was that the registry was going away.

THE PRESIDENT NAMED HIM.. THE NUMBERS BACK IT UP.. NOW HE JOINS NovaRed Mining, he is a Legend ! Top facts to put on screen 1. President George W. Bush recognized Ed Kostenski at the White House on July 2, 2004, in the East Room. Bush called him out by name, said Ed started Nationwide Equipment “at my kitchen table,” and used him as a real American small-business success story. Bush also said Ed was adding 14 employees, planned to hire 6 more, and was investing $300,000 into expansion. 2. Founded Nationwide Equipment in 1983. EXIM described Nationwide as a Jacksonville-based company specializing in earthmoving, road-building, and mining equipment exports. 3. Global reach: 40+ countries by 2002, over 60 countries in later company materials. EXIM said Nationwide was selling to over 40 countries in 2002; the Nationwide catalog says the company serviced customers in over 60 countries. 4. Over $1 billion raised globally. Forbes reported that Kostenski’s group raised over $1 billion in private funding for construction projects and equipment. 5. Served on the U.S. Export-Import Bank advisory committee. In 2005, EXIM named Edward Kostenski, president, CEO, and founder of Nationwide Equipment, to its 10-member Sub-Saharan Africa Advisory Committee. EXIM also stated that the committee advised on strengthening U.S. exports to Africa. 6. EXIM scale: EXIM said it helped finance $17.8 billion of U.S. exports in fiscal year 2004. This is EXIM’s institutional scale, not Ed’s personal financing number — but it shows the level of export-finance world he was connected to. 7. Nigeria monorail project: $98,938,000. Nationwide Finance says it raised over $98 million in initial debt funding for Phase 1 of the Rivers State Monorail Project in Nigeria. 8. Monorail project scale: Phase 1 covered 14 kilometers, was programmed to transport over 10 million people annually, and had mapped total project costs in excess of $700 million. 9. EXIM-backed Nigeria heavy-equipment transaction: In 2002, EXIM supported Nationwide’s export of used trucks, cranes, and heavy construction equipment to Nigeria with a $1.2 million medium-term guarantee policy. 10. Presidential “E” Star Award — 2010. The U.S. Department of Commerce named Nationwide Equipment Company of Jacksonville, Florida, as a recipient of the 2010 President’s “E Star” Award. Commerce describes the Presidential “E” Awards as the highest U.S. government honor for increasing exports. 11. Presidential “E” Award recognition. Nationwide’s catalog lists the 2001 President’s “E” Award for Excellence in Exports; an EXIM release separately says Nationwide was awarded the U.S. President’s “E” Award for Exports in 1998. To stay clean, say: “Presidential ‘E’ Award export recognition.” 12. 2011 U.S. Department of Commerce Export Achievement Award. Listed in Nationwide’s awards page. 13. Two-time Florida Governor’s Award for Excellence in Exports — 2004 and 2010. Listed in Nationwide’s awards page. 14. 2004 International Trader of the Year Award. Listed in Nationwide’s awards page. 15. Now joining NovaRed Mining. NovaRed announced Kostenski’s appointment to its Advisory Board, stating that he brings experience across mining equipment, infrastructure, energy, logistics, and project finance. NovaRed’s Wilmac copper-gold project covers 16,078 hectares in British Columbia, about 10 km west of Hudbay’s Copper Mountain Mine. This is Ed Kostenski. President George W. Bush called him out at the White House — a man who started Nationwide Equipment at his kitchen table and built it into a global industrial company. Founded in 1983. Operating across 60+ countries. Mining. Construction. Marine. Oil and gas. Dredging. Heavy equipment. Infrastructure. This man did not just sell machines. He helped move nations forward. His group raised over $1 billion globally for construction projects, equipment, and industrial development. He served on the advisory committee of the U.S. Export-Import Bank — America’s official export-credit agency, connected to billions in U.S. global trade support. He helped finance major international infrastructure — including $98,938,000 raised for Phase 1 of the Rivers State Monorail Project in Nigeria. That project covered 14 kilometers, was designed to move over 10 million people annually, and had mapped total project costs of more than $700 million. Then come the awards. Presidential “E” Award export recognition. 2010 Presidential “E Star” Award. 2011 U.S. Department of Commerce Export Achievement Award. Florida Governor’s Export Awards in 2004 and 2010. 2004 International Trader of the Year. White House recognition. EXIM Bank advisory service. Over $1 billion raised. Projects in mining, energy, rail, marine, and global infrastructure. And now… Ed Kostenski is joining NRED. At the exact moment copper is becoming one of the most important resources on Earth. Copper powers AI. Copper powers data centers. Copper powers robotics. Copper powers EVs. Copper powers defense systems. Copper powers the energy grid. NRED is not just adding an advisor. NRED is adding a man who understands how massive industrial projects are financed, equipped, shipped, built, and executed. This is not just a man. THIS MAN IS A LEGEND. DYOR ! Add to your watch list !

@docsmsft Apple already does this with plist files - definitely much better approach. The registry has always been one of the worst and most vulnerable things in windows

@docsmsft Couldn't you just use the reg format and structure it the same way if you didn't want a db? That is what WINE does

@docsmsft Absolutely not. Registry is superior in all regards. The only thing missing is simple binary import/export of subkeys with proper support for ACL inheritance.

@docsmsft /etc

@docsmsft just use SQLite

@docsmsft windows literally started out with .ini files per application.

@docsmsft So make SysInternOS

@docsmsft Like linux?

@docsmsft Like Linux?

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