, and others) that backport APIs from newer versions of Windows. API Backporting
: It allows users to keep the faster boot times and lower resource consumption of Windows 8.1 while using modern software. Key Benefits i486/VxKex: Windows 7 API Extensions - GitHub
The Windows 8.1 Extended Kernel is the perfect example of
The , primarily spearheaded by developer Skaiware (formerly known as Skulltrail ), is not a recompilation of Windows. It is a set of heavily modified system files ( ntdll.dll , kernel32.dll , user32.dll , gdi32.dll , and advapi32.dll ).