frames – Automated Hacks

Chapter 99: Before Server-Sent Events—How 1995–1998 Web “Streaming” Hacks Shaped Modern API Updates

Long before EventSource and Server-Sent Events, developers in 1995–1998 tried to keep web pages “live” using CGI, forms, frames, and early browser scripting—laying conceptual groundwork for streaming web APIs.

Before WebSockets: How 1995–1998 Web APIs Set the Stage for Real-Time Web Communication

WebSockets weren’t a 1990s technology, but the need for real-time interaction was. From CGI and HTML forms to early JavaScript and frames, 1995–1998 introduced the patterns—and the pain—that later shaped the WebSocket API.