The 1990s marked a pivotal decade in the history of computing, where the world witnessed the rise of the internet, graphical user interfaces (GUIs), and the development of powerful programming languages. While modern developers today are accustomed to using frameworks and libraries like React, TensorFlow, or Vue.js, the ’90s had its own set of influential but now largely forgotten code libraries that helped shape the software industry. These libraries, many of which were groundbreaking at the time, laid the foundation for the development of more complex systems and modern applications.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the forgotten code libraries of the ’90s that played a key role in the evolution of programming but have since faded into obscurity.
The Rise of the ’90s Tech Landscape
The ’90s were a time of great innovation and transition for the tech industry. The personal computer had become ubiquitous, and the World Wide Web was beginning to emerge as a transformative force in society. It was also a time when developers began creating libraries that abstracted away the complexity of low-level operations, enabling faster software development and the creation of more sophisticated applications.
However, despite their importance at the time, many of these early libraries never made it into mainstream consciousness or have been overshadowed by newer, more advanced technologies.
Key Libraries from the ’90s
Let’s dive into some of the notable but now largely forgotten libraries from the 1990s:
1. GTK+ (GIMP Toolkit)
The GIMP Toolkit (GTK+) was created in 1996 as the foundation for the GIMP image editor, one of the most popular open-source applications of its time. It provided a comprehensive set of widgets for building graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and became the go-to toolkit for Linux applications during the late ’90s and early 2000s.
GTK+ was known for its cross-platform compatibility, allowing applications to run on various operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS. Although GTK+ is still in use today (and forms the core of popular desktop environments like GNOME), it has largely been overshadowed by newer, more modern frameworks like Qt and Electron.
2. MFC (Microsoft Foundation Class Library)
The Microsoft Foundation Class Library (MFC) was released in 1992 as part of Microsoft’s Visual C++ programming environment. MFC provided a set of pre-built classes for building Windows applications and handling tasks such as window management, file handling, and user interface elements.
At its peak, MFC was the go-to library for developers working with Windows applications, especially when developing desktop software during the ’90s. While it was widely adopted at the time, it has since been replaced by more modern frameworks like .NET and Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF). The library’s complex, often verbose syntax has led many modern developers to abandon it in favor of more streamlined tools.
3. OpenGL
While OpenGL has not exactly been forgotten—it’s still widely used in computer graphics and game development—it was perhaps the most influential graphics library of the ’90s. Introduced in the early ’90s, OpenGL provided a cross-platform API for rendering 2D and 3D graphics, allowing developers to create sophisticated visual experiences in games, simulations, and other graphical applications.
At a time when other graphics libraries were platform-dependent, OpenGL offered an abstraction layer that enabled developers to write code that worked across different operating systems, from Unix to Windows. OpenGL remains a core technology in the graphics industry, but newer libraries such as DirectX and Vulkan have largely eclipsed it in terms of modern game development.
4. Turbo Vision
Released in 1990, Turbo Vision was a text-based GUI library designed for DOS applications. Created by Borland, the library allowed developers to create applications with window-like interfaces, menus, and dialog boxes without relying on graphics. This was especially valuable during the early days of computing when graphical environments were not as widely supported.
Turbo Vision was ahead of its time in allowing developers to build interactive, menu-driven applications with a much richer user interface than simple command-line programs. While it was eventually overtaken by more advanced GUIs in the Windows era, Turbo Vision was a crucial step in the evolution of user interfaces for early PC applications.
5. Allegro
Allegro was a library for creating 2D games and multimedia applications, and it was popular in the ’90s among indie game developers. It provided a set of tools for graphics, sound, input handling, and even networking, designed for developing games quickly and efficiently.
Allegro was widely used in game development communities, particularly for DOS-based games, thanks to its simplicity and ease of use. While it has since been updated and continues to exist as Allegro 5, it has largely been overshadowed by modern game engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine.
The Shift to Modern Frameworks and Libraries
By the late ’90s and early 2000s, the industry began moving toward more specialized, modular, and cross-platform solutions. Libraries like MFC, GTK+, and Turbo Vision, while highly effective during their time, gave way to more comprehensive frameworks and toolkits that offered better performance, more flexibility, and better integration with modern operating systems.
1. Web Development Libraries: The Rise of JavaScript Frameworks
While the libraries of the ’90s were largely focused on desktop applications, the turn of the millennium saw the rapid growth of the web development ecosystem. Libraries like jQuery, released in 2006, revolutionized the way developers interacted with the DOM and handled user interactions.
Since then, the ecosystem has grown to include frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue.js, which have now completely reshaped the landscape of web development.
2. Game Development: From Allegro to Unity and Unreal
In the world of game development, engines like Unity and Unreal Engine have become the go-to platforms for building both 2D and 3D games. These modern game engines provide much more advanced features than the libraries of the ’90s, including real-time physics engines, VR/AR support, and advanced rendering techniques.
While Allegro and similar libraries played a key role in early indie games, today’s developers have access to much more powerful and flexible tools.
Why We Should Remember the Forgotten Libraries
While many of these libraries are no longer in use today, their contributions to software development cannot be overstated. They helped shape the direction of programming by providing developers with the tools to create more sophisticated, user-friendly applications. Many of the principles they introduced—modular code, cross-platform compatibility, and user interface design—are still fundamental to the development of modern software.
Moreover, understanding the history of these libraries offers valuable insights into how technology has evolved and why we use the frameworks we do today. These forgotten libraries represent a time when developers were laying the groundwork for the more powerful tools that would eventually emerge.
Conclusion
The forgotten code libraries of the ’90s are a testament to the creativity, ingenuity, and drive of early software developers. While technologies like GTK+, MFC, and Turbo Vision have faded into history, their influence can still be seen in the tools and frameworks used by developers today. As we continue to advance in the field of programming, it’s important to look back and recognize the contributions of those who came before us—paving the way for the modern software that powers our digital world.
