The Synoptic project was started back in the year 2001 by Tim Bolshakov and Andrey Petrov of Accelerator Controls Department at Fermilab. The original idea comes from the ACNET Lexigraphics application of Brian Hendricks. Tim designed Runtime Engine and all the server stuff. Andrey wrote Project Builder. Both participated in creating of the set of components. In the spring of 2002 Tim invented a new mechanism for partial XML updates, and the project has been completely redesigned to its current shape. There have been many update since that time, inspired mostly by Brian DeGraff of Cryogenics.
Since Tim's departure from Fermilab in February 2008, the entire project is maintained by Andrey.