Every generation believes its beloved interface will endure forever, yet none ever do. The author, who started computing in 1990, traces this pattern through floppy disks, BBS systems, the early World Wide Web, and now the shift toward AI chat interfaces. Each transition brought convenience at the cost of openness, centralizing how we access and share information.

Around 1995, the author ran a BBS with a screaming 14,400 bps modem, hosting a small community that exchanged files and messages. This pre-Web network felt magical despite its technical limitations. When Netscape Navigator first rendered webpages, the author immediately recognized that the Web—not isolated digital islands—represented the future. The messy, inconsistent early Web nonetheless enabled unprecedented publishing freedom.

The late 1990s brought a battle between Flash and open web standards. Flash offered animation and rich interactivity that HTML couldn't match, making it tempting for designers. However, Flash created walled gardens—expensive to build, difficult to maintain, and inaccessible to search engines. The author advocated for web standards during this period, viewing it as a fight for the Web's soul.

Apple's iPhone ultimately killed Flash by refusing plugin support, accelerating mobile-first development. Steve Jobs' 2010 open letter reinforced this shift toward standards-compliant experiences. Now, search engines are being replaced by centralized AI chat interfaces, repeating the cycle. The open, discoverable Web we know is already being supplanted by something more convenient but harder to escape.