Editing Windows CE (section)

==Features==
[[File:Microsoft Windows CE Version 3.0 (Build 126) cmd.exe Command Prompt 800x574.png|thumb|Pocket CMD v 3.0 ([[cmd.exe]]) on Windows CE 3.0]]
Windows CE is optimized for devices that have minimal memory; a Windows CE kernel may run with one [[megabyte]] of [[Computer memory|memory]].<ref name=ce_memreq>{{cite web|title=Create or Modify a BSP (Compact 2013)|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj556177.aspx|website=Microsoft Developer Network|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=June 11, 2014}}</ref> Devices are often configured without [[disk storage]], and may be configured as a "closed" system that does not allow for end-user extension (for instance, it can be burned into [[Read-only memory|ROM]]). Windows CE conforms to the definition of a [[real-time operating system]], with a deterministic interrupt latency. From Version&nbsp;3 and onward, the system supports 256&nbsp;priority levels<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb202761.aspx|title=Priority Levels|date=April 8, 2010 |publisher=Msdn.microsoft.com|access-date=November 14, 2010}}</ref> and uses [[priority inheritance]] for dealing with [[priority inversion]]. The fundamental unit of execution is the [[Thread (computer science)|thread]]. This helps to simplify the interface and improve execution time.

The first version{{snd}} known during development under the [[code name]] "Pegasus"{{snd}} featured a Windows-like [[Graphical user interface|GUI]] and a number of Microsoft's popular apps, all trimmed down for smaller storage, memory, and speed of the palmtops of the day. Since then, Windows CE has evolved into a component-based, embedded, real-time operating system. It is no longer targeted solely at hand-held computers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded/en-us/products/windowsce/technical-specifications.mspx|title=Embedded Platform &#124; Integrated Development Environment (IDE) &#124; Windows CE|publisher=Microsoft.com|access-date=November 14, 2010}}</ref> Many platforms have been based on the core Windows CE operating system, including Microsoft's [[AutoPC]], [[Pocket PC 2000]], [[Pocket PC 2002]], [[Windows Mobile 2003]], [[Windows Mobile 2003 SE]], [[Windows Mobile 5]], [[Windows Mobile 6]], [[Smartphone|Smartphone 2002]], [[Smartphone|Smartphone 2003]], [[Portable Media Center]], [[Zune]], [[Windows Phone 7]] and many industrial devices and embedded systems. Windows CE even powered select games for the [[Sega]] [[Dreamcast]] and was the [[operating system]] of the [[Gizmondo]] handheld.

A distinctive feature of Windows CE compared to other Microsoft operating systems is that large parts of it are offered in source code form. First, source code was offered to several vendors, so they could adjust it to their hardware. Then products like Platform Builder (an integrated environment for Windows CE OS image creation and integration, or customized operating system designs based on CE) offered several components in source code form to the general public. However, a number of core components that do not need adaptation to specific hardware environments (other than the CPU family) are still distributed in binary only form.

Windows CE uses BIOSLDR (x86) or WCELDR (non-x86) as its boot loader, and uses manufacturer-prebuilt [[Windows Registry|Registry]] to manage hardware devices.<ref>https://download.microsoft.com/download/2/4/A/24A36661-A629-4CE6-A615-6B2910A1367A/BSP%20Porting%20Guide%20for%20Windows%20Embedded%20Compact%207.pdf</ref> On the startup process, WCELDR loads NK.EXE.

Windows CE 2.11 was the first embedded Windows release to support a console and a Windows CE version of {{mono|[[cmd.exe]]}}.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Douglas McConnaughey Boling|year=2001|title=Programming Microsoft Windows CE|edition=2nd|publisher=[[Microsoft Press]]|isbn=978-0735614437}}</ref>