RC-Escrow?

I know what the RC stands for, but what has me befuddled is Escrow. Its not a term I've really heard, however from what I understand the RC-Escrow build/s is/are the one/s given out under a contract to Microsoft partners etc. is that correct?

This explains it better than I could

Source code escrow - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

stop developing the OS and start testing for bugs.

maybe M$ will put it on ebay for a texas holdum auction

would M$ actually hand over their source code to a third party? i think NOT !!

imagine if Windows source code is leaked and we can all emulate Windows fully on Linux LOL !

another name then is fork. Escrow is an odd word. But thanks for explaining it smarty as I was uncertain too.

Thanks Smarty it certainly makes it pretty clear.

i always thought of escrow to be a third party, in house or otherwise who basically hammer the hell out of the OS. if it survives then all is well, if it dont then try again.

Good link SE.

Here's the definition of the word, mainly used with regard to real estate.

escrow (law) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia
















Later :shock: Ted

Thanks for the explanations.
It stills sounds like a stupid word though.....lol

An "escrow" build means code development is ceased as developers and beta testers hunt for recall class bugs. The escrow code is considered the release to manufacturing code.
"would M$ actually hand over their source code to a third party? i think NOT !!
imagine if Windows source code is leaked and we can all emulate Windows fully on Linux LOL"
Well, they do, on a regular basis, with the pre release of any RC. It is one of the only ways that hardware, and some software, companies could possibly know how to write new code, should there be large changes in the code structure.

This is Microsofts own definition:
"You must be able to recompile the released application at any time after its release. This requires that you maintain the ability to recreate the application build environment"

It is a term being a little misused by the outside world, if Microsoft are staying on schedule. They are not planning an RC2, so the RC1 would, in fact, be the "Escrow"