"Longhorn" a joke - perhaps not?

From: Johann Backer (j_backer_at_REMOVEprodigy.net)
Date: 12/19/04 

Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 04:03:58 GMT

#include
#include
#include /* Microsoft Network Connectivity library */
#include /* For the court of law */
#define say(x) lie(x)
#define computeruser ALL_WANT_TO_BUY_OUR_BUGWARE
#define next_year soon
#define the_product_is_ready_to_ship another_beta_version

 void main()
 {
   if (latest_window_version>one_month_old)
   {
     if (there_are_still_bugs)
       market(bugfix);
     if (sales_drop_below_certain_point)
       raise(RUMOURS_ABOUT_A_NEW_BUGLESS_VERSION);
   }
   while(everyone_chats_about_new_version)
   {
     make_false_promise(it_will_be_error_free); /* Standard Call, in
                                                     lie.h */
     if (rumours_grow_wilder)
       make_false_promise(it_will_be_CrashProof);

     if (rumours_grow_even_wilder)
     {
       market_time=ripe;
       say("It will be ready in one month);
       order(programmers, stop_fixing_bugs_in_old_version);
       order(programmers, start_brainstorm_about_new_version);
       order(marketingstaff, permission_to_spread_nonsense);
       vapourware=TRUE;
       break;
     }
   }
   switch (nasty_questions_of_the_worldpress)
   {
      case WHEN_WILL_IT_BE_READY:
        say("It will be ready in", today+30_days," we're just testing");
        break;
      case WILL_THIS_CrashProof_THING_WORK:
        say("Yes it will work");
        ask(programmers, why_does_it_not_work);
        pretend(there_is_no_problem);
        break;
      case WHAT_ARE_MINIMAL_HARDWARE_REQUIREMENTS:
        say("It will run on a 8086 with lightning speed due to"
            " the2 bits architecture");
        inform(INTEL, "Pentium sales will rise skyhigh");
        inform(SAMSUNG, "Start a new memorychip plant"
               "'cos all those customers will need at least 2 gigs");
        inform(QUANTUM, "Thanks to our fatware your sales will triple");
        get_big_bonus(INTEL, SAMSUNG, QUANTUM);
        break;
      case DOES_MICROSOFT_GET_TOO_MUCH_INFLUENCE:
        say("Oh no, we are just here to make a better world for
             everyone");
        register(journalist, Big_Bill_Book);
        when(time_is_ripe)
        {
          arrest(journalist);
          brainwash(journalist);
          when(journalist_says_windowsXP_is_bugfree)
          {
            order(journalist, "write a nice objective article");
            release (journalist);
          }
        }
        break;
   }
   while (vapourware)
   {
      introduction_date++; /* Delay */
      if (no_one_believes_anymore_there_will_be_a_release)
        break;
      say("It will be ready in",today+ONE_MONTH);
   }
   release(beta_version)
   while (everyone_is_dumb_enough_to_buy_our_bugware)
   {
     bills_bank_account += 150*megabucks;
     release(new_and_even_better_beta_version);
     introduce(more_memory_requirements);
     if (customers_report_installation_problems)
     {
      say("that is a hardware problem, not a software problem");
       if (smart_customer_says_but_you_promised_CrashProof)
       {
         ignore(customer);
         order(microsoft_intelligence_agency, "Keep an eye on this
                                               ***");
       }
     }
     if (there_is_another_company)
     {
       steal(their_ideas);
       accuse(compagny, stealing_our_ideas);
       hire(a_lot_of_lawyers); /* in process.h */
       wait(until_other_company_cannot_afford_another_lawsuit);
       buy_out(other_company);
     }
   }
   /* Now everyone realizes that we sell bugware and they are all angry at
      us */
   order(plastic_surgeon, make_bill_look_like_poor_***);
   buy(nice_little_island); hire(harem);
   laugh_at(everyone,
 for_having_the_patience_year_after_year_for_another_unfinished_version);
 }

 void bugfix(void)
 {
   charge (a_lot_of_money);
   if (customer_says_he_does_not_want_to_pay_for_bugfix)
     say("It is not a bugfix but a new version");
   if (still_complaints)
   {
     ignore(customer);
     register(customer, Big_Bill_Book);
     /* We'll get him when everyone uses Billware!!*/
   }
 }