Rebuilding VisiCorp's Visi On UI: Apple's GUI Revolution Revealed

A Deep Dive into the Origins of PC GUIs

Nina Kalinina has taken on a monumental task by exploring one of the earliest personal computer desktops, focusing on VisiCorp's pioneering graphical user interface (GUI). Her work reveals how little modern GUIs have borrowed from Xerox and highlights the significant contributions that Apple made to the field.

The Legacy of VisiCalc and Visi On

VisiCorp is best known for its groundbreaking spreadsheet program, VisiCalc. Launched in 1979 for the Apple II, it was the first spreadsheet software for personal computers. Though rudimentary, it was transformative and created an entirely new category of software. VisiCalc's success allowed VisiCorp to invest in other projects, including the development of Visi On.

Visi On was previewed in 1982, well before Apple launched the Macintosh and even before the Lisa in 1983. This means that, despite taking a few years to reach release, Visi On was designed before Apple showcased its first GUI computer. It was a WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menus, Pointer) GUI, but it was developed without any influence from Apple's design. The result is a system that feels profoundly different from what we are used to today.

The Unusual Nature of Visi On

Static images do not convey the full weirdness of Visi On. To truly understand its unique features, one must see it in motion. Nina Kalinina has done just that, providing valuable insights into this early GUI. Her work includes recreating the lost SDK for a 42-year-old operating system, which is a remarkable achievement in itself.

Kalinina's efforts go beyond mere observation. She has come up with tools for writing new applications for Visi On, making it possible for others to explore and build upon this historical software. Her work is part of a broader exploration of software history, which has captivated many in the FOSS community.

The Influence of Apple and Xerox

There is a common narrative that Apple stole everything from Xerox. However, Kalinina's work provides video evidence that challenges this claim. When the Macintosh turned 40, there was a discussion about the significance of its design. Apple introduced features we now take for granted, such as Load and Save dialog boxes, which did not exist before.

More recently, there was a description of the remarkable LisaGUI, which recreated the Lisa's GUI inside a web page. Unlike the Mac and subsequent GUIs, the Lisa didn't have "apps" that you run to create "documents." Instead, applications were stationery templates, from which a double-click would tear off a new document that could be saved and named.

The Importance of Software Archaeology

Kalinina's work is more than just a technical achievement; it is a nearly 10,000-word essay on resurrecting ancient software and getting it working. It is a fascinating read for those interested in software archaeology. Although she decided not to embed animated GIFs in the document, which some may consider a loss, her Mastodon thread of demos offers a visual representation of her work.

Seeing a pre-Lisa GUI in motion emphasizes how strange the pre-Apple GUI era was. Features like pull-down menus and identifiable buttons were either absent or in their infancy. Over months, Kalinina worked out how graphics were displayed and how to show a terminal window, revealing the complexity of her task.

The Broader Implications

Xerox laid down a path, but it was Apple that set the trail that everyone else followed. Seeing what it looks like down one of the other tracks is fascinating and educational. While VisiCorp's own advertisement does not provide a good demonstration, Kalinina's work fills this gap, offering a much-needed glimpse into this early stage of GUI development.

We have included a YouTube clip as an illustration, but it is important to note that VisiCorp's own ad is not a good representation of Visi On. Until Kalinina's remarkable work, there was very little to choose from. Her demos are highly recommended over VisiCorp's.