August 2nd, 2024

1991 WWW-NeXT Implementation

A GitHub repository named "1991-WWW-NeXT-Implementation" mirrors Tim Berners-Lee's original hypertext browser/editor for NeXT computers, facilitating access to the original code and features for browsing and editing.

Read original article

GratitudeCuriosityNostalgia

A GitHub repository named "1991-WWW-NeXT-Implementation" has been created as a mirror of Tim Berners-Lee's original "WorldWideWeb" application, which was designed for the NeXT computer. This application functions as a prototype hypertext browser/editor, enabling users to access hypertext servers, files, and news directly. The repository aims to facilitate easier browsing and access to the original code. It includes features for both browsing and editing hypertext. Additionally, a historic changelog is available in the `Features.html` file within the repository, and the commit dates have been backdated to correspond with the last-modified dates of the original files. For further details, the repository can be explored on GitHub.

Hypermedia Systems

The book "Hypermedia Systems" by Carson Gross, Adam Stepinski, and Deniz Akşimşek, with a foreword by Mike Amundsen, introduces innovative web development concepts using htmx and Hyperview. It caters to web developers, individuals interested in web basics, and companies transitioning apps to mobile platforms. Available online and on Amazon.

Browser that uses ChatGPT to render web like it's 1996

The GitHub URL showcases "Web98: Fantasy Internet Simulator" by Nate Parrott. It offers a 1996 internet simulation through chatGPT, featuring various themed worlds and utilities. Installation requires Testflight or Xcode. OpenAI API key is essential.

From the Transistor to the Web Browser

A GitHub course titled "From the Transistor to the Web Browser" covers topics like transistors, hardware coding, processors, compilers, operating systems, and web browsers. It explores computing evolution from basics to complexities.

Show HN: Open-sourced Webflow for your own app

The "Onlook" project on GitHub is a browser-powered visual editor for React + TailwindCSS apps. It includes installation, usage, roadmap, contributing guidelines, contact info, acknowledgments, and licensing. Inquire for more details.

WhatWeb: Next Generation Web Scanner (2021)

WhatWeb is a web scanner on GitHub by Andrew Horton and Brendan Coles. It identifies websites, web technologies, and CMS. With 1800+ plugins, it offers detailed insights on websites.

AI: What people are saying

The comments on the GitHub repository for the "1991-WWW-NeXT-Implementation" reflect a mix of nostalgia, technical curiosity, and related historical references.

Several users express appreciation for the historical significance of the original web browser and share personal experiences with early web technologies.
There are inquiries about the technical aspects of the code, including its compilation on modern systems and the programming languages used.
Users discuss related projects, such as the NCSA Mosaic browser and emulation of early web environments.
Some comments touch on the evolution of web technologies and the contributions of early developers.
There is a general interest in the potential for digital archaeology and the completeness of the source code for modern use.

18 comments

By @jarrell_mark - 9 months

Related: here’s the NCSA Mosaic browser as an AppImage. Runs on any Linux distro without having to recompile. https://appimage.github.io/NCSA_Mosaic/

NCSA Mosaic was made before Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox, by the same creator

By @zokier - 9 months

One interesting thing about web is that it was graphical from day 1, in contrast to e.g. email or ftp that had more text console roots. So things like lynx were always niche, and even anachronistic. There was no era when people widely used text-mode browsers.

By @OnlyMortal - 9 months

I seem to remember running this back then.

I also remember OmniWeb which was a great browser for the time.

By @ForOldHack - 9 months

Thank you for solving the dates problem, I have been hacking on for the last month. I applaud him for his novel use of github to do daily priorty lists, on github, but:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41060102

and

https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=false&qu...

By @marbu - 9 months

I wonder whether there are some new developments in digital archeology here which makes the source complete enough for one to be able to compile it (assuming one has access to a NeXT machine with its app builder from early 1990s).

I recall when people working on recreation of WWW in 2019 were not able to compile the code: https://worldwideweb.cern.ch/code/

By @chasil - 9 months

Just curious, does this compile on MacOS?

By @ck45 - 9 months

The repo is incomplete, a lot of files are missing. https://github.com/cynthia/WorldWideWeb seems to be a more complete snapshot.

By @qingcharles - 9 months

This URL from inside the default.html is confusing:

http://crnvmc.cern.ch/FIND/PUB.P.HELPCMS.FIND(X/G/H)

By @itomato - 9 months

We are missing the option to run WWW.app from Previous, but you can run Mosaic in MacOS here: https://oldweb.today/?browser=nm2-mac#http://info.cern.ch/hy...

Source: https://github.com/oldweb-today/netcapsule

There are places on the web where you can emulate an early Cube or Personal Mainframe and run WWW.app to view the same.

By @pcranaway - 9 months

Not fully related, but I remember looking at a website of some person two or three years ago, who claimed to be one of the original developers of Firefox, and if I'm not mistaken, in some blog post on his website, he said something about not getting the recognition he deserved for his work? and shared some early source code of Firefox.

I cannot find that person or that blog post, anyone know anything about this?

By @breck - 9 months

The Release Notes page is great: https://www.w3.org/History/1991-WWW-NeXT/Implementation/Feat...

Thank you simonw, I'm working on a successor to the web now so this is great.

By @arittr - 9 months

Thx simonw this rules

By @mxer - 9 months

Stats show 72% Objective-C and 10% C. What benefits does Objective-C over C that makes this a language of choice for this project? And what parts are implemented in C? Can someone share some info about this?

By @transformi - 9 months

Can someone elaborate on the usage of that? What lessons can be relevant to the current era?

By @flenserboy - 9 months

I got use that, or some near version of it, back in the day. Cool to see here.

By @cubix4u - 9 months

Can we build this browser in OpenStep?

By @pyuser583 - 9 months