01.Secret History of Windows Task Manager - Part 1 - Origins

Retired Microsoft engineer and original author of Task Manager (davepl) reveals the little known secret history of the application along with the technical details of how it works and why it was designed that way. The series is complete with a tour of the never-before-seen Windows source code to Task Manager.

The first segment covers "How Task Manager came to be", while the second segment focuses on the technical issues of how it was designed and why. The third episode includes an in-depth look at the code.

As seen at CSWeek at the University of Regina, Dec 9, 2020

I get a lot of questions about which keyboard I'm using as well as various other camera and studio equipment questions, so here are the highlights:

CORSAIR K70 RGB MK.2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (Cherry MX Blue Switches)

Sony FX3 or A7SIII Cameras

Aputure 120D Mark II Light and Light Dome II Mini

Glide Gear TMP100 Prompter

[hoseja]

"A whole spectrum of reasons why."

;)

[Mico]

I can't even imagine what Windows was like without the Task Manager

[ghfudrsuuu]

We need more of these, we have so little documented history of influential software

[lewismassie]

The customs guy pulling you out to fix their printer is such an 'IT Guy' experience

[MosesMinds]

Thank you for Task Manager. It's one of the best tools ever created.

[Jules_Diplopia]

Wow, I had never realised that you were the author of Task Manager. There are very few utilities that I have used throughout my life. Task Manager is one of them.

[JuniorJunison]

I think I'm addicted to your videos, I learn so much and I dont want to stop

[SkaveRat]

1:28 Okay, I actually had to check your wiki profile to see that university name written down

[bakedbeans]

"There could be a whole *spectrum* of reasons why, but i think im just wired that way."
Touché

[MrRyanroberson]

it's absolutely incredible to hear stories like these. it really paints a picture of how life was like pre-y2k

[arsynic]

Thank you sir for creating this I use it everyday to monitor specs I can't Imagine a world without it.

[bwoogie]

Come for the LEDs, stay for the inside scoop.

I really enjoy your stories. Thanks for sharing.

[offspringfan]

For those about to Ctrl+Shift+Esc, I salute you.

[markcummins]

Dave taught me VMS in Bedford in the 70's when I started DEC. His image is and has been in my mind since. The man was brilliant. I could do anything in hardware and software without hearing his ideas in my mind. It is not often enough that I hear someone expound on him. Thanks

[Jagermonsta]

Well bugger me, that's actually really cool. I work in IT support, so thank you for making my life a little bit easier.

[stan.rarick]

Your stories remind me that I wrote an interactive memory exam/modify task for IBM's 44PS/MFT O/S in the late 60's for my own debugging purposes, but got included in the O/S for release. Great times!

[revealingfactsall]

Oh, man, defeating the safety mechanism just to see how it works describes my entire childhood. Every toy my parents got me for my birthday or christmas eventually found its way to my dad's workshop with me disassembling it. Just found your channel and now I have a new haunt. Two thumbs up for the content and like mindedness.... lol

[theaninova]

Things that can never be replaced:
- Art
- Human Life
- Experience
- Task Manager
- Notepad
- Paint

[jakejake]

I just found this channel and I have been binge watching. I am a recently retired software engineer and I've read every book ever written on Gates and Microsoft.

[dtsdigitalden]

You're not only a talented coder, but you're a wonderful writer. I love the contextual background and humouer as you walk through the experiences. Please continue with this format. It's extremely informative, and a pleasure to listen to.