Winamp comes back as Open Source, and you can download the code now

Do you remember Winamp? The iconic media player Winamp Classic is back on the market, this time as open-source. The application, which has been around since the 1990s, was initially developed by Nullsoft, a company that eventually got acquired by AOL.

While the player has lost its former popularity, it’s still cherished by many, and now developers and enthusiasts can help shape its future.

The official Winamp account on X (formerly known as Twitter) announced the move, revealing that the “Winamp Legacy” source code is now available on GitHub. “Developers & retro lovers, it’s your chance to shape the iconic player’s future,” the tweet reads.

The #Winamp Legacy player source code is now open!

Developers & retro lovers, it’s your chance to shape the iconic player’s future.

Explore, modify, and build on the classic you know and love.

Get the details & access the code here: https://t.co/TX3sOaSbS5 pic.twitter.com/ZvDeKiJ1uO

— Winamp (@winamp) September 24, 2024

Nullsoft, now part of Microsoft, initially revealed plans to open-source Winamp earlier this year. The developer claims that the player has “slowed down” but that making it open-source should let enthusiasts bring Winamp up to date and “meet the current user needs.”

The current version of Winamp does not look the same as the media player it used to be. However, there is a legacy version that users can download, and with Winamp being open source now, the media player might not only survive but thrive in our era.

The source code for Winamp Classic is available at this link. You can download the player from the Winamp website if you lack development skills but still want to show Winamp some love.

The Winamp source code is available at the time of this writing, but the project’s GitHub page is still pretty empty.