Skype was originally split into two apps, then converged into one UWP app, which was later rebuilt as a React Native app, before being replaced with a terrible Win32 electron app. It feels like there's no one leading the Skype team because the amount of client rebuilds Windows 10 has received is outrageous. This change came after several rebuilds of Skype on Windows 10 in the last five years. Last year, Microsoft updated Skype from a UWP app to an Electron app, which killed all Windows 10 integrations and made it a total dog to run thanks to Electron's terrible performance. What doesn't help is that the desktop application is terrible. Our senior editor Zac Bowden recapped Microsoft's efforts in a more extensive piece on how Microsoft mishandled Skype: In an attempt to improve the service, Microsoft remakes the app once every year or so.
It feels as if some people at Microsoft know there's something wrong with Skype but don't know how to fix it. Those steps occurred seemingly at random as well, rather than trending in the right direction. Microsoft has taken several steps forward and backward when it comes to the quality of Skype.
Sorry, Barney Stinson, new isn't always better.
