The Windows 10 October 2018 Update is finally re-released, after data loss bugs caused it to be pulled; Microsoft says it's focusing on improving code quality
Tom Warren / The Verge :
Context & Ripple Effects
The October 2018 Update has been in limbo for over a month: Microsoft paused the rollout within days of release as users reported missing files and profiles, then on October 10 declared the deletion bug fixed and began re-releasing. The pause became a credibility problem when Ars Technica argued the episode showed Microsoft lacks the processes to sustain two feature updates a year for Windows.
First-order effects
- Users who held off during the month-long pause can now take the October 2018 Update again, while Microsoft publicly commits to improving code quality rather than just shipping a patch.
Second-order effects
- Enterprise IT departments burned by the data-loss reports will likely extend their own validation windows before deploying, slowing adoption of this feature update regardless of the fix.
Third-order effects
- If the cadence criticism sticks, pressure builds on Microsoft to slow or restructure its twice-yearly feature-update model for Windows toward fewer, more-tested releases.
The trend: Windows' twice-a-year feature-update cadence is colliding with quality-control limits, forcing Microsoft to trade shipping speed for testing depth.