Blackbird (online platform)
Encyclopedia
Blackbird was the codename for an online content authoring platform developed by Microsoft
in the mid-90s based on the concept of distributed OLE
(Object Linking and Embedding) and meant as an alternative to HTML
. With scripting capability for HTML yet to be demonstrated, it was to be a means to serve dynamic, media-rich applications and documents that contained processing logic, similar to what a user would experience in a desktop environment
. Pages in a "Blackbird application" would be able to contain video, audio, graphs, and other OLE based document formats without the need of plug-ins.
The technology had already been demonstrated in Microsoft's dial-up service at the time, MSN, and plans were in progress to port it to Internet use over a dedicated protocol, but work on the platform was cancelled due to performance problems. Microsoft refocused its efforts on web development around ASP
and ActiveX
, and the designer was refashioned into Visual InterDev
.
The codename was derived from a Cold War era stealth spy plane, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.
Additionally, there would be an application resource installer that packaged custom fonts, OLE controls, and other resource files for a Blackbird application. The package would download when a user activated the application for the first time, or otherwise to update the package already on a user's system. Microsoft also advertised that Blackbird would take advantage of features within Windows 95
like shortcuts, and would allow the user to automatically schedule the delivery of content.
There were three components to the platform — an authoring system called the Blackbird Designer, a visual drag-and drop environment similar to that included with Visual Basic
; the Blackbird Server, which ran on Windows NT; and the Blackbird Client, a runtime module to lets users access and run Blackbird applications. URLs for Blackbird applications were OLE monikers.
Microsoft argued that Blackbird development would be cross-platform, since OLE support had already existed on Macintosh and there was work in progress on porting it to Unix systems. To guarantee security, the company planned to act as a certifying authority for OLE controls (OCXs), and encourage third parties to be certifying authorities.
, and by August, it had been clear that Microsoft intended it to run more widely over Internet protocols. The technology was later demonstrated on MSN and Microsoft released a beta version of the developer tools, but by the end of 1996, when plans for a new version were announced, the designer then renamed to "Internet Studio", they disclosed they would not use the proprietary Blackbird file formats, but rather, standard HTML. It soon became clear the original project was effectively scrapped, and the designer later became Visual InterDev
, a general web content creation tool for creating HTML and developing server pages using ASP
. Also included was the ability to author ActiveX
controls — OLE controls that could be embedded in HTML pages through a plug-in. These would be key parts to Microsoft's Active Platform
strategy.
It was later revealed that Blackbird had severe performance problems because of an over-complex architecture which made excessive use of multi-threading. When prototypes of the Trident
HTML layout engine were completed, and it was shown that the goals of complex layout in Blackbird could be achieved in HTML at better performance, it led to executives to rethink the project.
Mark Anders, a former head of the IIS team at Microsoft, has cited Blackbird as an example of how Microsoft has a tendency to over-complicate software and compared it to other projects like Longhorn
.
against Microsoft. It was argued by the prosecution that Netscape's
efforts to transform their web suite into an "Internet OS
" was seen as competition to their plans for a proprietary Internet, and this led them to adopt an aggressive Internet strategy. Netscape in many documents cited by the prosecution was described as competition to Windows. However, its been pointed out that Netscape planned to compete not only against any possible Internet platform from Microsoft but against Windows as an OS in itself.
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
in the mid-90s based on the concept of distributed OLE
Object Linking and Embedding
Object Linking and Embedding is a technology developed by Microsoft that allows embedding and linking to documents and other objects. For developers, it brought OLE Control eXtension , a way to develop and use custom user interface elements...
(Object Linking and Embedding) and meant as an alternative to HTML
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
. With scripting capability for HTML yet to be demonstrated, it was to be a means to serve dynamic, media-rich applications and documents that contained processing logic, similar to what a user would experience in a desktop environment
Desktop environment
In graphical computing, a desktop environment commonly refers to a style of graphical user interface derived from the desktop metaphor that is seen on most modern personal computers. These GUIs help the user in easily accessing, configuring, and modifying many important and frequently accessed...
. Pages in a "Blackbird application" would be able to contain video, audio, graphs, and other OLE based document formats without the need of plug-ins.
The technology had already been demonstrated in Microsoft's dial-up service at the time, MSN, and plans were in progress to port it to Internet use over a dedicated protocol, but work on the platform was cancelled due to performance problems. Microsoft refocused its efforts on web development around ASP
Active Server Pages
Active Server Pages , also known as Classic ASP or ASP Classic, was Microsoft's first server-side script engine for dynamically-generated Web pages. Initially released as an add-on to Internet Information Services via the Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack Active Server Pages (ASP), also known as Classic...
and ActiveX
ActiveX
ActiveX is a framework for defining reusable software components in a programming language-independent way. Software applications can then be composed from one or more of these components in order to provide their functionality....
, and the designer was refashioned into Visual InterDev
Visual InterDev
Microsoft Visual InterDev, part of Microsoft Visual Studio 97 and 6.0, is an IDE used to create web applications using Microsoft Active Server Pages technologies. It has code completion, database server management tools, and an integrated debugger....
.
The codename was derived from a Cold War era stealth spy plane, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.
Core technology
The centerpiece of Blackbird was OLE, the container format already in use in Windows applications to allow objects and documents to communicate with each other and share information. Blackbird documents would be stored in what was called Blackbird Data Format (BDF), a structured format based on OLE storage. An SGML-based markup language, Blackbird Markup Language (BML), was also created to help automate the creation of documents, though documents based on markup would be processed into the native data format to be used as OLE objects, so would suffer performance disadvantages. To give developers more flexibility, Microsoft planned to include a utility that would allow conversion between BDF and BML, as well as HTML, in any direction.Additionally, there would be an application resource installer that packaged custom fonts, OLE controls, and other resource files for a Blackbird application. The package would download when a user activated the application for the first time, or otherwise to update the package already on a user's system. Microsoft also advertised that Blackbird would take advantage of features within Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
like shortcuts, and would allow the user to automatically schedule the delivery of content.
There were three components to the platform — an authoring system called the Blackbird Designer, a visual drag-and drop environment similar to that included with Visual Basic
Visual Basic
Visual Basic is the third-generation event-driven programming language and integrated development environment from Microsoft for its COM programming model...
; the Blackbird Server, which ran on Windows NT; and the Blackbird Client, a runtime module to lets users access and run Blackbird applications. URLs for Blackbird applications were OLE monikers.
Microsoft argued that Blackbird development would be cross-platform, since OLE support had already existed on Macintosh and there was work in progress on porting it to Unix systems. To guarantee security, the company planned to act as a certifying authority for OLE controls (OCXs), and encourage third parties to be certifying authorities.
Project history
Blackbird was announced in March 1995 as part of the upcoming Microsoft NetworkMSN
MSN is a collection of Internet sites and services provided by Microsoft. The Microsoft Network debuted as an online service and Internet service provider on August 24, 1995, to coincide with the release of the Windows 95 operating system.The range of services offered by MSN has changed since its...
, and by August, it had been clear that Microsoft intended it to run more widely over Internet protocols. The technology was later demonstrated on MSN and Microsoft released a beta version of the developer tools, but by the end of 1996, when plans for a new version were announced, the designer then renamed to "Internet Studio", they disclosed they would not use the proprietary Blackbird file formats, but rather, standard HTML. It soon became clear the original project was effectively scrapped, and the designer later became Visual InterDev
Visual InterDev
Microsoft Visual InterDev, part of Microsoft Visual Studio 97 and 6.0, is an IDE used to create web applications using Microsoft Active Server Pages technologies. It has code completion, database server management tools, and an integrated debugger....
, a general web content creation tool for creating HTML and developing server pages using ASP
Active Server Pages
Active Server Pages , also known as Classic ASP or ASP Classic, was Microsoft's first server-side script engine for dynamically-generated Web pages. Initially released as an add-on to Internet Information Services via the Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack Active Server Pages (ASP), also known as Classic...
. Also included was the ability to author ActiveX
ActiveX
ActiveX is a framework for defining reusable software components in a programming language-independent way. Software applications can then be composed from one or more of these components in order to provide their functionality....
controls — OLE controls that could be embedded in HTML pages through a plug-in. These would be key parts to Microsoft's Active Platform
Active Platform
The Active Platform was the name of a development platform released by Microsoft in the 90s for creating web applications and delivering them to a PC desktop environment...
strategy.
It was later revealed that Blackbird had severe performance problems because of an over-complex architecture which made excessive use of multi-threading. When prototypes of the Trident
Trident (layout engine)
Trident is the name of the layout engine for the Microsoft Windows version of Internet Explorer.It was first introduced with the release of Internet Explorer version 4.0 in October 1997; it has been steadily upgraded and remains in use today...
HTML layout engine were completed, and it was shown that the goals of complex layout in Blackbird could be achieved in HTML at better performance, it led to executives to rethink the project.
Mark Anders, a former head of the IIS team at Microsoft, has cited Blackbird as an example of how Microsoft has a tendency to over-complicate software and compared it to other projects like Longhorn
Development of Windows Vista
Development of Windows Vista occurred over the span of five and a half years, starting in earnest in May 2001, prior to the release of Microsoft's Windows XP operating system, and continuing until November 2006....
.
Reference in anti-trust case
Blackbird was later referenced in the United States anti-trust suitUnited States v. Microsoft
United States v. Microsoft was a set of civil actions filed against Microsoft Corporation pursuant to the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 Section 1 and 2 on May 8, 1998 by the United States Department of Justice and 20 U.S. states. Joel I. Klein was the lead prosecutor...
against Microsoft. It was argued by the prosecution that Netscape's
Netscape
Netscape Communications is a US computer services company, best known for Netscape Navigator, its web browser. When it was an independent company, its headquarters were in Mountain View, California...
efforts to transform their web suite into an "Internet OS
Internet OS
Internet operating system, or Internet OS, is a term used in the computer industry to refer to any type of operating system designed to run all of its applications and services through an Internet client, generally a web browser...
" was seen as competition to their plans for a proprietary Internet, and this led them to adopt an aggressive Internet strategy. Netscape in many documents cited by the prosecution was described as competition to Windows. However, its been pointed out that Netscape planned to compete not only against any possible Internet platform from Microsoft but against Windows as an OS in itself.