Ten Windows Client Code Names - the bizarre monitoring

Some tech-savvy Windows fans knows that Windows versions were previously known by their codenames. A few of them is Chicago (Win95), Memphis (Win98), Millenium (WinME), Whistler (XP), Longhorn (Vista), Threshold (10, retroactively named "version 1507"), Redstone (10 v1607), Sun Valley (11 21H2).

I'm just gotta try to explain the relatively unknown code names for Microsoft Windows. Some info was made possible to launch in the public by the U.S. v. Microsoft trial of 1999-2001.

1. Windows "7", Windows "8"

Nobody tells on which time Windows 7's development had been started, The October 2007 build 6469.1 is all we can use so far, which it's operating system version is indeed getting the "Windows 7" code name. Build 6429 is unleaked, but known to be compiled on May 14, 2007. Windows 7 name would somehow be the final name for the upcoming version, there wasn't any marketed name to be given, there wasn't splashy name to give unlike how Vista and XP gets their names. The NT kernel version 6.1 won't going to match Windows 7 name.

Windows 8 was a codename for an Windows operating system version scheduled to be released in 2012. There was not much of a history, but it looked like people liked that name.

2. Blackcomb, Vienna

I have no idea about Vienna, but Blackcomb was to have something like 3D desktop (Microsoft Research?), and was, like, to be Whistler's successor in some way or another, but Longhorn pushes Blackcomb's development far out. Current research proposed Blackcomb to be cancelled in 2007. Longhorn was known as Whistler+1 and XPSE (do not confuse it to Windows XP Starter Edition)

3. Blue

It's the name that was known on the build string of Windows 8.1, the major update of Windows 8. Microsoft thought Windows Blue would be built on the "bold vision set forward with Windows 8 to deliver the next generation of tablets and PCs", with the latest point of the PC evolution as of 2012-13. Such a napoleonic statement to get Windows 8 to any tablets, PCs, TVs, frame displays, or any kind of display, as long as they have x86 (Win8) or ARM (RT) processors :3 Eventually it was reported on May 13, 2013 as the "Blue" codename was dropped in favor of "8.1".

4. Memphis NT

Remember when Jim Allchin didn't liked codenames? That wasn't the case as far back as 1994. It was named in hope that Windows 95-based product features "Memphis/98" would be shipped as part of Microsoft "Memphis NT", on which was speculated as Windows 2000's plannings, but it may be not a development name for Windows 2000. However, Memphis NT would be a major update over Cairo, not an Shell Update Release of NT version 4.0

5. Cairo

Speaking of Cairo, it was speculated to be under planning or under development as far back as in 1991. Only one build that was identified by the community as "Cairo", NT version 1175.1, was compiled on December 1, 1995.

6. Daytona/Razzle

Windows NT 3.1 release was known not only by NT OS/2, or lesser knows as "Advanced Windows", it had it's own code name, Razzle. When we'll begin speaking of Windows NT 3.5, we have it's confirmed codename, Daytona, presumably named after Daytona Beach, Florida. 

7. Shell Update Release

It wasn't much of a codename, as an description of Windows NT 4.0, alike Anniversary Update and Creators Update for Windows 10, but man, we're still going to get into there! Named after Windows NT's glorified GUI transition from being based of Windows version 3 (MAYBE FROM OS/2 1.3), to Windows 95.

SUR for short. 

8. Windows XP feature updates

Let's keep it short: Mantis -> XP Embedded; Freestyle -> OG Media Center Edition; Harmony -> Media Center Edition 2004; Symphony -> Media Center Edition 2005; Surprisingly, they gave another codename ("Emerald") to Media Center Edition 2005, but to it's Update Rollup 2; Lonestar -> Tablet PC Edition 2005; Eiger or Mönch -> Fundamentals for Legacy PCs; Merlin -> Pocket PC 2002; Quebec -> Windows Embedded 2009.

9. Sun Valley 2

In short, it is Windows 11, version 22H2. New Year 2022's reports sugessts Microsoft is about to reuse Sun Valley codename for their Windows 11 version. It reminds me of Windows Sun Valley hype of January 2021 - so recent! "Beta scene" never gets old.

10. Periodic Table codenames: Windows 10, 11

Warning: there's no Chromium. Vibranium code name had been used instead, a fictional metal appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Vibranium is about to haunt Windows 10 users 2 years after it's introduction ("vb_release" branch). It was codenamed 20H1, and unfortunately it also claims the 21H1 and 21H2 codename.

Titanium and Vanadium names was used prior, however they weren't public codenames. 19H1 are, and partially 19H2 (while still having buildstring's reference for the former)

Manganese (20H2) was an Insider Preview codename only, as it was replaced to Iron 21H1) for Windows Server 2022 (strangely, claiming the 21H2 version), with "fe_release" branch

Cobalt just happens to be a cluster of 21H2 development semester of "Windows as a service", divided by Wave 1 (Windows 10 Insider Preview, known by rs_prerelease and co_release branches), and Wave 2 (Windows 11 Insider Preview, known by code name Sun Valley).

Nickel (22H1) is currently under development as the several cool Windows 11 Insider Preview builds. They had no ni_release branch yet, but they should have.

While Copper and the cu_release is not confirmed to be under development, it may be what we would call as Windows 11 version 22H2.

It may be too early to call, but hypothetically they would call a lot more of codenames: Zinc, Gallium, Germanium, Arsenic, Selenium (Server 2025?), Bromine, Krypton, Rubidium, Strontium, Yttrium, Zirconium, Niobium, Molybdenum, Technetium, Ruthenium, Rhodium, Palladium, Silver, Cadmium, Indium, Tin, Antimony, Tellurium, Iodine, Xenon (Unlikely - XBOX360), Caesium, Barium, Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium, Neodymium, and beyond. The wild ride would continue as far as 2032.

Bonus Round: Mandriva Linux 2009 Spring Alpha 1

Their commercial Linux comprtitors was codenamed "ubuntusux" at one point. Some guys at Mandriva hates Ubuntu. Couldn't resist to comment it here :3

It's too much of Microsoft codenames to fit in here, excluding Longhorn and yada-yada. See you in 2023!