Testing Applications

Microsoft, in cooperation with customers and independent software vendors (ISVs), has developed the Windows 2000 Application Specification. Applications written to comply with this specification are not only compatible with Windows 2000, but they also take advantage of the new technologies it provides.

The Windows 2000 Application Specification, which you can download from the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Web site, has two components: one for desktop applications and one for distributed applications. The desktop application specification applies to applications that run on Windows 2000 Professional, either as a stand-alone program or as the client portion of a distributed application. The distributed application specification applies to applications that run on Windows 2000 Server. For more information about the specification and to download a copy, see the Windows 2000 Application Specification link on the Web Resources page at http://windows.microsoft.com/windows2000/reskit/webresources.

Commercial applications that comply with the Windows 2000 Application Specification can also be certified. Certified applications have been tested by an independent testing organization and meet certain requirements. To receive certification, for example, an application must use the Windows Installer. Commercial applications can comply with the specification without being certified. In this case, the applications are tested by the vendor rather than by the independent testing organization.

Some organizations, as part of their Windows 2000 deployment project, have made compliance with the specification a selection criterion when purchasing applications. If you develop applications internally, consider adding the specification to your guidelines for application development.

In the meantime, many commercial applications have already been tested to determine how well they support Windows 2000. Microsoft provides a directory of Windows 2000 applications where you can look up the status of the applications you use. For more information about which client-based or server-based products support Windows 2000, see the Directory of Windows 2000 Applications link on the Web Resources page at http://windows.microsoft.com/windows2000/reskit/webresources. The directory uses the following designations:

Certified   Indicates that the application was tested by an independent testing organization and that it takes advantage of new Windows 2000 features.

Ready   Indicates that, according to the vendor, the application was tested for compatibility with and will be supported in Windows 2000. The application does not necessarily take advantage of new Windows 2000 features.

Planned   Indicates that the intent is for the application to meet either the Certified or the Ready criterion when it is fully tested.

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