Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Apache
Today, most computer users utilize Apache servers, but very few know this. The
origin of the name is ambiguous and either is an homage to the Apache Native
Americans or is derived from the term “patchy” because the first product was cre-
ated by patches to an older product.
The company was formed in 1994 by Robert McCool, more or less. He had
been working on HTTP protocols at the NCSA. When he left, a number of sugges-
ted patches circulated in email form. As they were implemented, the group doing
the code gradually became known as the Apache group.
The Apache group later formed a nonprofit foundation in 1999 called the
Apache Software Foundation. Having software created and offered by a nonprofit
foundation is an interesting social phenomenon of the software era. The software
created by the foundation is free and open source but controlled by an Apache
foundation license. The Apache Software Foundation has a board of directors but
no actual employees. Instead, software is developed by a network of more than
2,600 volunteers. This is an interesting business model that deserves to be studied
in business schools.
The main products of the Apache Software Foundation are systems for con-
trolling web servers. In 2009, the Apache server farm became the first to host more
than 100 million websites. By the end of 2012, almost 64% of global websites ran
on Apache servers.
The web has evolved a fascinating social history as well as an interesting tech-
nical history. It is hard to envision any other field where critical services are
provided to more than 100 million users by unpaid volunteers.
Craigslist
Craigslist is an interesting tale of an entrepreneur accidentally creating a success-
ful company out of a part-time hobby. The company was started as a pastime in
1995 in San Francisco, California, by Craig Newmark. As it happens, he was a
computer programmer at the time. He was new to San Francisco and thought a list
of local events was a good way to research interesting local topics and possibly
meet new acquaintances.
He started an email list to friends and colleagues of local events and topics of
interest in the San Francisco Bay area. Later, he ported the list to the web. In 1999,
craigslist was incorporated in California as a for-profit company.
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