Microsoft’s inability to ship a functional version of Windows 10 version 1809 is embarrassing. Its inability to communicate what’s happening is unacceptable.

Complaining about this kind of ineptitude is beyond obvious. So rather than go on an extended rant, I’ll simply highlight the schedule that Microsoft created for itself.

October 2. One month ago today, Microsoft announces the availability of the October 2018 Update, which will upgrade Windows 10 to version 10. It did this weeks early, skipping over the normal Release Preview phase of testing. For some reason.

October 2. The software giant also explains how users could get the Update immediately “Our goal is … provide a great update experience for all,” Microsoft’s John Cable explained.

October 2. Microsoft also implores developers to start developing on Windows 10 October 2018 Update today, noting that the Windows 10 version 1809 SDK was now available.

October 3. Microsoft touts the accessibility benefits of Windows 10 version 1809.

October 3. Despite the problems with the October 2018 Update, the Windows Insider Program pushes forward with testing of the next Windows 10 version, rather than waiting for this version to be fixed. Build 18252 is released.

October 4. The first widespread reports of problems with the October 2018 Update emerge, raising questions about why Microsoft shipped this so early, especially since Insiders had previously reported all of the issues.

October 4. Microsoft touts over a dozen new PCs that can really take advantage of the new unique new features in Windows 10 version 1809.

October 4. Microsoft brags about the improvements to Microsoft Edge in Windows 10 version 1809.

October 5. Microsoft recommends that users do not install the October 2018 Update. (The posting was later removed.)

October 6. Microsoft finally pulls the October 2018 Update. As Mehedi writes, Microsoft has a software quality problem.

October 9. Four long days later, Microsoft explains that it had “paused” the rollout of the October 2018 Update because of “isolated reports of users missing files after updating.” ” While the reports of actual data loss are few (one one-hundredth of one percent of version 1809 installs), any data loss is serious,” Microsoft’s John Cable explains. The firm is testing a fix for the data loss bug.

October 16. Microsoft pushes a fixed version of Windows 10 version 1809 to Windows Insiders in the Slow and Release Preview rings. This indicates that it should be ready to go public soon.

October 17. Microsoft releases yet another new build of the next version of Windows 10, build 18262.

October 23. We learn about a second data loss bug in Windows 10 version 1809. The embarrassments just keep adding up.

October 24. Another week goes by and Microsoft releases yet another new build of the next version of Windows 10, build 18267.

October 31. Yep, you guessed it. Another week. Another new build the next version of Windows 10, build 18272.

So. Here we are, literally one month after Microsoft first issued the October 2018 Update for Windows 10. There’s no fixed version of the Update available publicly. But Microsoft has inexplicably released four builds of a future version of Windows 10. And has remained silent since October 9 on the fate of Windows 10 version 1809.

Right. This is a fiasco.