# i486/VxKex

Windows 7 API Extensions

Repository: https://github.com/i486/VxKex
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/vxkex
Language: C
License Family: other
Topics: extended-kernel, vxkex, windows-7, windows-7-extended-kernel
Last push: 2026-07-21T19:54:06+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 82/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 93, release rhythm 82, longevity 55
- inputs: {"age_days": 773, "days_push": 43, "days_rel": 42, "gap_med": 73, "n_releases_24m": 6}
- flags: no_license
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2065, forks 180 (observed 2026-08-28T04:06:10.072167+00:00)

## What it is
VxKex is a set of API extensions for Windows 7 that allow some Windows 8, 8.1, and 10-exclusive applications to run on Windows 7. It works per-application via a Properties dialog tab without modifying system files or installing background services.

## Use cases
- run Windows 10 apps on Windows 7
- run Qt6 applications on Windows 7
- run Electron apps like VSCode or Discord on Windows 7
- enable newer software on legacy Windows 7 SP1 systems
- avoid upgrading from Windows 7 while using modern applications

## When to choose
- you are stuck on Windows 7 SP1 and need to run Windows 8/10-only applications
- you want a non-invasive compatibility layer that doesn't modify system files
- you need to run Qt6 or Electron applications on Windows 7

## When to avoid
- you want to run modern games, which VxKex is not designed for
- you are on Windows 8, 10, or 11 and don't need Windows 7 compatibility
- you need guaranteed stability for mission-critical systems, since the project has no license and limited compatibility

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: active
- function: developer-tools, plugin-system
- domain: operating-systems, windows
- platform: windows
- tags: extended-kernel, api-extensions, windows-7, application-compatibility, shim, compatibility

## Member repositories
- i486/VxKex (main) score 82

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:10.072167+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T02:56:55.696649+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/i486/VxKex (fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:10.072167+00:00, sha 6a2ba5c090d5)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.