The legendary media player, #Winamp , has officially gone open-source, keeping a promise made earlier in May. As of now, its complete source code is available on GitHub.
Originally launched by #Nullsoft in 1997, Winamp gained immense popularity alongside the surge in MP3 file usage. Its user-friendly yet customizable interface, support for a wide range of audio formats, and ability to integrate internet radio or podcasts made it a fan favorite. Users also appreciated its visualizations and skin system, which further enhanced the experience.
However, after being acquired by AOL, development slowed significantly, and by 2013, the software was discontinued.
In 2014, #Radionomy acquired Winamp with plans to revive the player, but with the rise of music streaming platforms, the effort fell short of its past glory.
In May 2024, the Winamp team announced that they would make the player open source on September 24, finally giving the community access nearly 30 years after its debut.
As of yesterday, the source code, build tools, and libraries for the Windows version of Winamp are now on #github , allowing developers to add new features, fix issues, or create personalized versions of the media player. However, its licensing terms prevent the distribution of modified versions.
Collaborative Future
With the source code released, Winamp is now open to community contributions. As stated on GitHub, "Winamp is a multimedia player launched in 1997, iconic for its flexibility and wide compatibility with audio formats. Its development slowed, but now the source code is open, empowering developers to enhance and modernize the player for today's users."
Though the code relies on older technologies like DirectX 9 SDK, the nostalgia and enduring popularity of Winamp suggest a positive reception. The GitHub repository, which holds the code, already has 2,500 stars and 600 forks within 24 hours of its release, reflecting strong interest in this iconic media player.
