Source Code, Training for MVPs

Most Valued Professionals (MVPs)—volunteers nominated by Microsoft for providing exceptional help to others in newsgroups and other online communities—will get access to Windows source code and additional training materials in an expansion of the MVP program, which could allow them to offer better support. MVPs already had access to source code for a variety of products, including Windows CE and Visual Studio, but they will now be able to access the Windows 2000, XP, and Windows Server 2003 source code as well.

Access to this code will be particularly helpful to MVPs, enabling them to better understand and explain how the products work and track down the causes of bugs. It also furthers Microsoft’s goal of bringing some of the benefits of open source development, such as community support, to its own products.

In addition, in Nov. 2003 MVPs will also receive a new resource kit that includes a voucher for a free Microsoft Certified Professional exam, and samples from the Microsoft eLearning Library (MELL) computer-based training courses.