[Zlib-devel] Avoiding WIN* macros in GNU code

[Richard Stallman]

    > It includes the word "win", and we don't want to call Microsoft
    > Windows a win.

    I understand. Should we do the same in zlib?

I think so.

    Is there an official GNU coding standard that states this?

It wasn't part of the coding standards before.  I am adding it now.
This often happens--that we have a policy but it takes some 
time before I realize it ought to be in the coding standards.

    There is still a very peculiar problem with WINDOWSNT: it indicates a
    version of MS Windows that is based on an NT kernel, as opposed to a
    version based on a Win9x kernel.

I agree that the symbol WINDOWSNT may not be the best one to use.  If
the idea is to mean any 32-bit version of Windows, WINDOWS32 is better.

    (After all, is this "Win32" naming thing one of Microsoft's strategic
    moves? :)

I would not call it a strategic move, but I think it is a PR campaign.
To say "We will win, you know it" is a common tactic of psychological
combat.