Running ChatGPT on Windows 3.1: A Retro C Client with TLS 1.3

Recently, an anonymous developer created a ChatGPT client for Windows 3.1, called WinGPT.

WinGPT is written in C, uses the standard Windows API, and is compiled with Open Watcom v2.

It runs on any 16‑bit or 32‑bit Windows version starting from Windows 3.1, including Windows 95, 98, Me, and XP.

A technical requirement is the presence of Winsock; without it the program cannot run.

The client connects directly to the OpenAI API using native TLS 1.3, so no proxy is needed, though the developer notes it is not secure for modern use.

The developer was surprised by the limited standard controls available in Windows 3.1 and the lack of a status bar.

After experimenting with ChatGPT, the developer discovered a UI library that helped solve the control limitations.

Creating an icon required using a Borland image editor, essentially a clone of Microsoft Paint, to produce an ICO file.

Comments on Hacker News suggested integrating the client into period‑appropriate MS Office versions and giving it a personified UI similar to Clippy.

The developer responded that a version matching the look of Windows 95/98/Me would be needed.

The same author also created Windl, a Wordle clone that runs on Windows 3.1.