Microsoft open-sources 30-year-old Comic Chat software
Microsoft has released its 30-year-old IRC client, Comic Chat, as open source. The software was known for its comic strip-like interface and contributed to the spread of the Comic Sans font.
Microsoft has made its 30-year-old IRC client, Comic Chat, available as open source. Originally developed by Microsoft researcher David Kurlander and released on August 13, 1996, the software offered a unique way to display IRC conversations.
Comic Chat presented chat content in a comic strip format, complete with character expressions, making the experience more engaging. Notably, the software used the Comic Sans font by default, which played a role in popularizing the typeface globally.
The program was later renamed Microsoft Chat and served as the default chat client for MSN. Despite its age, the software can still function as an IRC client.
Its source code is now publicly available on GitHub. This release allows anyone to download, study, and potentially repurpose the code, offering a glimpse into early graphical chat technologies.