After more than three decades of publication, Microsoft MSDN Magazine released its final issue in November 2019. The magazine had served as a cornerstone technical resource for Microsoft developers since the early 1990s, and its closure marked a significant shift in how Microsoft delivers developer documentation and guidance.
A Brief History of MSDN Magazine
The Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) was launched in 1992, at a time when personal computing was becoming mainstream and the internet was beginning to gain widespread adoption. The developer-focused publication originally existed as two separate journals: Microsoft Systems Journal (MSJ) and Microsoft Internet Developer (MIND). Recognizing the significant overlap in audience and subject matter, Microsoft merged the two publications in 2000 under the unified MSDN Magazine banner.
Over the decades, the magazine evolved considerably. It began with a strong focus on the Windows operating system — Microsoft’s flagship product — but gradually expanded its editorial scope to cover the full breadth of Microsoft’s growing portfolio of services and platforms. Long-time subscribers will remember the era when each monthly issue was bundled with a CD containing software demos, code samples, and product previews.
In its later years, the print edition was available only in the United States, while readers in other regions received a digital subscription. Despite its niche audience — software developers, system administrators, coders, and IT professionals — the magazine maintained strong credibility and loyalty within the Microsoft developer ecosystem.
Why Did Microsoft Shut Down MSDN Magazine?
Microsoft did not provide a single definitive reason for discontinuing the publication, but several converging factors likely contributed to the decision.
- The decline of print media: Physical publications across all industries have experienced declining readership over the past decade, and technical journals are no exception. The CD bundling that once made MSDN Magazine a tangible, hands-on resource had already become obsolete long before the magazine’s closure.
- The rise of online documentation: Microsoft has invested heavily in docs.microsoft.com, a continuously updated, searchable, community-contributed documentation platform. This repository covers the full range of Microsoft technologies in a format that is more accessible and easier to keep current than a monthly print or digital magazine.
- The GitHub acquisition: Microsoft acquired GitHub in 2018. GitHub serves as a vast, living repository of code samples, open-source tools, and developer collaboration — much of what the magazine historically provided in a static format.
- Expanded product surface: Microsoft’s portfolio has grown enormously since 1992, spanning Azure cloud services, DevOps tooling, AI and machine learning platforms, cross-platform development frameworks, and more. A monthly magazine format is ill-suited to covering such a rapidly moving target.
Microsoft acknowledged the shift in a public statement at the time of the announcement:
“As Microsoft products and services expanded exponentially over the years, MSDN Magazine has gone through its own evolution, as well. We realized that it is time to retire MSDN Magazine and to carry on its work through Web channels like docs.microsoft.com.”
What Happened to Existing Subscribers?
Microsoft stated that subscribers who had paid for time beyond the November 2019 final issue would receive a pro-rated refund based on the remaining subscription period. All previously published issues of MSDN Magazine were made available online, preserving the archive for developers who rely on older articles for reference.
Where Should Developers Go Now?
Microsoft directed former MSDN Magazine readers to the following resources:
- docs.microsoft.com — The primary destination for Microsoft developer documentation, API references, tutorials, and platform guidance. Content is organized by product and technology area and is updated continuously.
- GitHub (github.com/microsoft) — Microsoft’s GitHub organization hosts open-source projects, sample code repositories, and SDKs across its product lines. Developers can contribute to projects, file issues, and follow development activity directly.
- Microsoft Learn — A guided learning platform offering structured learning paths and modules covering Azure, .NET, Microsoft 365, and other Microsoft technologies.
- Microsoft Tech Community — A forum-based community platform where developers and IT professionals can ask questions, share knowledge, and follow product blogs from Microsoft engineering teams.
The Broader Significance for Developer Communities
The closure of MSDN Magazine is part of a broader industry pattern. Long-running technical print publications — including those covering Linux, Java, and other ecosystems — have largely migrated online or ceased publication entirely over the past decade. The economics of print and the pace of modern software development are fundamentally at odds: by the time an article reaches subscribers, the technology it describes may have already shipped a new version.
For the Microsoft developer community specifically, the shift reflects how the company’s own relationship with developers has changed. Microsoft now engages developers through open-source contributions on GitHub, real-time documentation updates on docs.microsoft.com, live streaming on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, and developer-focused conferences such as Microsoft Build. These channels offer a speed and interactivity that a monthly magazine cannot match.
While long-time readers may feel a sense of loss at the passing of a 30-year institution, the resources that replace MSDN Magazine are, in most practical respects, more comprehensive, more current, and more accessible than any print publication could be.