Desktop Composition Engine: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 19:35, 9 April 2021

A demonstration of the Desktop Composition Engine shown during the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference of 2003.

The Desktop Composition Engine was the desktop compositor in builds 3683-4029 of Windows "Longhorn". It provided numerous visual effects, such as twirling windows while they were minimized. The compositor is present in Milestone 3 builds: 3683, 3706, 3713, 3718 and 4001. It was also present in later builds in 4011 and 4015. In build 4008 it is corrupt.

One of the most well known visual effects of the DCE is present in certain 4015 and 4018 builds (Lab06). In every build that has it, it makes even the menus transparent, and even the screensaver.

After development reset it had been renamed to its well-known name Desktop Window Manager. However, starting with Longhorn M7 development, many DCE references, such as DceStartup, were being changed to reference DWM.

DCE in build 4011

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-The '''Desktop Composition Engine''', featured in early builds of [[Windows:Longhorn| Windows Longhorn]], was a feature which provided numerous visual effects, such as twirling and twisting windows when they were closed or minimized. It ran using RUNDLL32.EXE. It works in builds:
+{{Stub}}
+[[File:DCEDemonstration.png|thumb|right|A demonstration of the Desktop Composition Engine shown during the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference of 2003.]]
+The '''Desktop Composition Engine''' was the desktop compositor in builds 3683-4029 of [[Windows Longhorn|Windows "Longhorn"]]. It provided numerous visual effects, such as twirling windows while they were minimized. The compositor is present in Milestone 3 builds: [[Windows Longhorn/6.0.3683.Lab06 N.020923-1821|3683]], [[Windows Longhorn/6.0.3706.Lab06 N.021029-1731|3706]], [[Windows Longhorn/6.0.3713.Lab06 N.021113-1841|3713]], [[Windows Longhorn/6.0.3718.lab06 N.021119-1730|3718]] and [[Windows Longhorn/6.0.4001.main.021204-1515|4001]]. It was also present in later builds in [[Windows Longhorn/6.0.4011.main.030305-2045|4011]] and [[Windows Longhorn/6.0.4015.main.030328-1500|4015]]. In build [[Windows Longhorn/6.0.4008.main.030219-1933|4008]] it is corrupt.
-*3683
+One of the most well known visual effects of the DCE is present in certain 4015 and 4018 builds (Lab06). In every build that has it, it makes even the menus transparent, and even the screensaver.
-*3706
-*3713
-*3718
-It is unstable in builds 4008, 4011, and 4015 winmain.
+After [[Windows Vista|development reset]] it had been renamed to its well-known name [[Desktop Window Manager]]. However, starting with Longhorn M7 development, many DCE references, such as DceStartup, were being changed to reference DWM.
-The most famous version of DCE is in builds 4015 lab_06N and 4018 lab_06N. While running, application windows would slide while moving, and there were red boxes in the background. Very few people have this build because it is securely held in Redmond.
+<gallery>
+Lh4011dce.png|DCE in build [[Windows Longhorn/6.0.4011.main.030305-2045|4011]]
+</gallery>
-After the reset, it became known as [[Desktop Window Manager|Desktop Window Manager]], and ran in its own application, DWM.EXE.
+[[Category:Microsoft Windows]]
+[[Category:Windows "Longhorn"]]