Microsoft veteran archaeologist Raymond Chen has shared the origin story behind the Windows 3D Pipes screensaver.
The history of nostalgic screensavers
Windows 3D Pipes screensaver – Image: Richard Speed
Readers of a certain vintage may remember staring at the maze of pipes generated by the screen saver in early versions of Windows.
According to Chen, the origins of the screen saver lie in the decision to add OpenGL to Windows NT 3.5, and a competition to showcase the technology without boring the operating system.
