SolveSpace (open source 2D/3D CAD) working on Windows 2000 (2025) (github.com)

by ruevs 6 comments 40 points
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6 comments

[−] Multicomp 44d ago
I still tell myself if I going to vibecode a windows app, it will be native and suport 2000 and be a completely static linked executive. Petzold style programming may require memory unsafe legacy languages, but boy does the resulting small fast program with accelerafor keys and native themeable controls make me comfortable.

Im still bummed the web won the UI wars.

[−] ruevs 44d ago
Someone at Microsoft thinks the same ;-)

https://github.com/microsoft/edit

If you have Windows 11 it comes with this new (open source) edit written in Rust - open a command prompt and type edit.

This is somewhat amusing, considering all the bloat that it comes with otherwise. Even notepad has become rather... feature full... it has tabs, spell checking and AI...

[−] userbinator 44d ago
I wonder how much more effort it would take to get working on Win9x (the first of the Win32 API).
[−] ruevs 44d ago
I wondered the same and actually tried it on Windows 95 - it will be a bit more work. The bottom screen shots in this comment https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace/issues/1036#issueco... are the missing APIs on Win95...

I expect the build for Windows 2000 may work on NT 4.0, because it has OpenGL, but Windows 3.11 with Win32s will never work - because it does not have OpenGL(I think...).

And Unicode will also be a problem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicode_in_Microsoft_Windows

[−] ghssds 44d ago
The first OS supporting Win32 API isn't Windows 95.

Win32s for Windows 3.1x: 1993

Windows NT 3.1: 1993

Windows NT 3.5: 1994

Windows NT 3.51: 1995 (may)

Windows 95: 1995 (july)

[−] bschwindHN 44d ago
The UI fits right in, in a good way!