X Windows† turns 38 years old this week <https://www.theregister.com/2022/06/22/the_x_window_system_just/>. It originated from a previous GUI system called “W” (for “Window”, I guess) which ran on the “V” microkernel-based research OS. Nobody seems able to find any source code for these earlier projects. The first version of X (X1?) only ran on the DEC VAXstation 100. By about the version called X10, it was getting more portable to other workstation hardware. And of course X11 remains (with various revisions) with us to this day. However, it’s clear much of the development momentum has left the project, and gone to candidates for an all-new redesigned-from-the-ground-up successor, like Wayland. †Or the “X Window System”, if you prefer