3D Pipes: The Iconic Windows Screensaver
Raymond Chen, a seasoned software developer at Microsoft, has shared an intriguing story about the origins of the classic 3D Pipes screensaver. According to Chen’s blog, The Old New Thing, the screensaver was a result of an internal contest at Microsoft to showcase OpenGL support in Windows NT.
Microsoft wanted a creative way to demonstrate OpenGL within Windows NT 3.5 without resorting to traditional advertising methods. As a company known for developing playful applications like Solitaire to showcase user interactions, Microsoft decided to hold an internal competition for the best screensaver.
Chen reveals that the OpenGL team submitted various screensavers for consideration, including 3D Text, 3D Flying Objects, and the eventual winner, 3D Pipes. These submissions caught the eye of a senior executive at Microsoft, who was so impressed that all the screensavers were added to Windows NT.
For those feeling nostalgic, Chen and Gizmodo suggest that you can still experience the charm of the 3D Pipes screensaver by running it directly from your web browser. It’s a fun way to revisit a piece of computing history and appreciate the creativity that went into these digital artworks.
