Developer finds string in Skype preview code suggesting Microsoft is killing it in May

[Jan]

Say goodbye to Skype

Microsoft is reportedly shutting down the once popular voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) and video calling tool Skype in May 2025.

The planned termination was first reported by XDA Developers after one of its readers spotted a string of the code of the latest Skype for Windows preview.

 

[Nerfherder]

Does skype still exist ?

 

[Smiggles]

after one of its readers spotted a string of the code of the latest Skype for Windows preview.

When you absolutely without a doubt have nothing else to do with your time.

 

[FiestaST]

 

[3WA]

Oh thank God. There’s one guy I know who still uses it, who I can’t cut off for altruistic reasons.

 

[IamNoone]

We still use it at work for comms internally. We just never migrated to teams. Guess now we will have to.

 

[oros]

I really liked Skype

 

[Benedict A55h0le not]

I think they mean a code comment and not a string. A string is an actual code variable used by the app, if it was actually in the code itself this would be a date type variable.

 

[prod]

Pretty useful for making international calls still, will need to find an alternative!

 

[Zellephant]

Can’t think it will be missed too much. Haven’t given a thought to Skype since the very early 2010s.

 

[oros]

Pretty useful for making international calls still, will need to find an alternative!

Check the viber app. Can make international calls in it via voip

 

[Zellephant]

Sign up for a euphoria voip line. Download the app on your phone, problem solved. Airtime is pretty reasonable too for when you absolutely have to make international phone calls. But that’s slowly becoming absolete as well now. Most business have online customer service systems in place.

 

[zerocool2009]

Lol, still using it daily!

 

[prod]

yup, just got the email:

 

[Bliksis]

A little late to the party there.

 

[Swa]

I think they mean a code comment and not a string. A string is an actual code variable used by the app, if it was actually in the code itself this would be a date type variable.

No, comments don't make it into the compiled code.

 

[Swa]

Honestly I don't see the purpose of Skype with apps like Whatsapp and Telegram.

 

[Benedict A55h0le not]

No, comments don't make it into the compiled code.

Yep that is what I said. Read again. The article says "string of code". This headline just says "found a string in the code". I say it was probably just a comment at this stage. A string variable can not on its own show a termination date. If it was code, it would be date and logic, not a string. They are confusing string with comment.

 

[Benedict A55h0le not]

No, comments don't make it into the compiled code.

And how would you see a termination implementation in compiled code? It was obviously a code file that includes comments. Duh!

 

[Swa]

Yep that is what I said. Read again. The article says "string of code". This headline just says "found a string in the code". I say it was probably just a comment at this stage. A string variable can not on its own show a termination date. If it was code, it would be date and logic, not a string. They are confusing string with comment.

And how would you see a termination implementation in compiled code? It was obviously a code file that includes comments. Duh!

When you include a string the compiler compiles a table of all strings into the .text block of the executable. When you reference it you get a pointer to that string data but just because you don't use it doesn't mean it's not included.

If you just make a comment it doesn't make it into the executable and is only visible in the source code. Microsoft doesn't release it's source code. But I know you won't believe any of this and believe it's somehow a comment that made it into the executable.