Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference (PDC) gets underway later this evening, and it's an event that will unveil Windows 7 to the world.
For software developers, there's a bit of pre-PDC information and it comes in the form of Microsoft's "Technical Requirements for the Windows 7 Software Logo Program for Client Operating Systems".
In other words, Microsoft has published a document that outlines a set of requirements that need to be met if you'd like to have the "Certified for Windows 7" logo residing on your product.
The 10-page document can be download from Microsoft.com, but the key points are as follows:
To obtain the logo the applicant must:
- Include business and technical owners for all submissions
- Opt in to receive communications from Microsoft about their products
- Include a copy and license of the software for compatibility testing purposes
- Along with Microsoft agree to a 30-90 day resolution policy for all issues identified in market with logo’d products
- Ensure the application adheres to all policies and passes all requirements in this document
The software must adhere to the following policies:
- Comply with Anti-spyware Coalition Guidelines
- Do not modify WRP protected resources
- Ensure ongoing quality
The software must meet the following requirements:
- Install and uninstall cleanly
- Install to the correct folders by default
- Support x64 versions of Windows
- Follow User Account Control (UAC) Guidelines
- Do not load Services and Drivers in Safe Mode
- Digitally Sign Files
- Do not prevent an installation or application from launching because of OS version checking
- Prevent unnecessary reboots
- Support multiuser sessions
- Minimise application failures
It's a self-explanatory list, but there's a few items worth noting and none more so than software requirement #4; support x64 versions of Windows. As with Windows Vista, every piece of software to carry the "Certified for Windows 7" logo must support 64-bit versions of the upcoming operating system.
It's worth noting, though, that Microsoft's document clearly states that the above are all pre-release requirements and the final list could alter.
In related news, Microsoft has also launched an official "Windows 7 blog for developers".
