How We Got Here - The History of Web Development - Richard Campbell
TLDRThe speaker takes the audience on a nostalgic journey through the history of web development, starting from his first line of code in 1977 to the rise of modern web technologies. He discusses the evolution of the internet and the web, the creation of the first web page by Tim Berners-Lee, and the pivotal role of browsers like Mosaic and Internet Explorer. The talk highlights key technological advancements, including the development of scripting languages such as Perl and PHP, the impact of Microsoft's .NET framework, and the emergence of open-source technologies. It also touches on the significance of JavaScript and the rise of frameworks like Angular and Node.js. The speaker reflects on the challenges faced during the dot-com boom and bust, the transition to mobile-first web development, and the current landscape with progressive web apps and WebAssembly, emphasizing the vast choice and opportunities available to web developers today.
Takeaways
- 🌐 **Web Development Evolution**: The talk covers the evolution of web development from its inception, highlighting key milestones and technologies that have shaped the industry.
- 👨💻 **Early Internet and Web**: The speaker reminisces about their first experiences with programming and the early days of the internet, emphasizing the academic and military origins of the web.
- 📈 **The Dot-com Boom**: A discussion on the rise of the commercial internet and the dot-com boom, including the pivotal role of companies like Netscape and the release of Internet Explorer.
- 🤝 **Open Source and Community**: The importance of open-source contributions to the web is underscored, with examples such as the formation of the Mozilla Foundation and the influence of the Rails framework.
- 🚀 **Innovations in Browsers**: The script details the competitive innovation among browsers, leading to rapid advancements in JavaScript, CSS, and HTML standards.
- 📱 **Mobile Impact**: The impact of mobile devices, particularly the iPhone and iPad, on web development is highlighted, noting the shift towards mobile-first design and the decline of older technologies like Flash.
- 💡 **JavaScript Renaissance**: The speaker discusses the transformation of JavaScript from a 'glue language' to a powerful, versatile language for building complex web applications.
- 🌟 **Microsoft's Shift**: The script outlines Microsoft's philosophical shift towards open-source and cross-platform development, with significant contributions like TypeScript, Visual Studio Code, and .NET Core.
- 🔍 **Search Engine Optimization (SEO)**: The importance of SEO is touched upon, with the speaker sharing personal stories of early internet experiences, including optimizing for search engines.
- 📝 **Content Management Systems (CMS)**: The rise of CMS platforms like Basecamp is mentioned, which simplified web development and content management for non-technical users.
- ⚙️ **Web Standards and Security**: The development of web standards by the W3C and the ongoing challenges of web security are discussed, emphasizing the need for a balance between innovation and safety.
Q & A
What was the first line of code the speaker wrote in 1977?
-The speaker's first line of code in 1977 was '10 PRINT HELLO WORLD' on a TRS-80 Model I, which was a version of BASIC not written by Microsoft, known as Tiny BASIC.
How did the speaker describe the early error messages in the BASIC programming language?
-The speaker described the early error messages in the BASIC programming language as 'What', 'How', and 'Sorry', with a particular emphasis on 'Sorry' being the best error message of all time, which he referred to as a very Canadian error message.
What significant event happened in web development in 1989?
-In 1989, Tim Berners-Lee, a researcher at CERN, came up with the core idea of the World Wide Web. He envisioned a system where scientific papers could be shared and linked together through their footnotes, leading to the creation of the first web server and browser.
What was the name of the first web browser created by Tim Berners-Lee?
-The first web browser created by Tim Berners-Lee was called WorldWideWeb, which was later renamed to Nexus to avoid confusion with the World Wide Web itself.
How did the speaker characterize the early Internet experience before the advent of graphical browsers?
-The speaker characterized the early Internet experience as mostly text-based, with users connecting to universities and using X.25 protocols to access the network, often finding and using printed usernames and passwords to gain access.
What was the impact of Microsoft's 'Internet Tidal Wave' memo on the company's direction?
-The 'Internet Tidal Wave' memo, authored by Bill Gates in 1995, led to a shift in Microsoft's focus, with the directive that every product must be Internet-aware, effectively making the Internet a core component of Microsoft's strategy moving forward.
What programming languages were popular for backend web development in the mid-1990s?
-Popular programming languages for backend web development in the mid-1990s included Perl, ColdFusion, PHP, and Java. These languages were used to write server-side scripts and applications.
What was the significance of the W3C's HTML 4.01 specification in 1998?
-The HTML 4.01 specification marked a point of standardization for web technologies, including the integration of CSS. It was a significant step towards more consistent web development practices, although it was not without its criticisms and was soon followed by further iterations.
How did the introduction of the iPhone in 2007 affect web development?
-The introduction of the iPhone in 2007 marked a shift towards mobile-first web development. It popularized touchscreen interfaces and led to the decline of Flash and Silverlight, as Apple's Steve Jobs did not support these plugins on iOS devices, advocating for HTML5 and modern web standards instead.
What is the significance of WebAssembly in the context of web development?
-WebAssembly is significant because it allows for the execution of code written in languages other than JavaScript within the browser. This opens up the possibility for developers to use their preferred programming languages, such as C#, to build web applications, potentially improving performance and broadening the range of applications that can be developed for the web.
How did the speaker describe the evolution of Microsoft's approach to web development and open source?
-The speaker described Microsoft's evolution as a shift from a more proprietary and closed approach to one that embraces open source and cross-platform development. This includes the development of .NET Core, the creation of Visual Studio Code, the support for and contribution to projects like TypeScript and jQuery, and the release of technologies like Blazor which leverage WebAssembly.
Outlines
😀 Introduction and Personal History
The speaker begins by humorously acknowledging their role as a potential obstacle to the audience's enjoyment, promising a quick delivery. They reflect on their past experiences, including a previous talk that garnered significant interest. The speaker outlines their qualifications, including their extensive research skills and a career spanning over 40 years in technology. They share anecdotes about living in British Columbia, dealing with wildlife, and their first encounter with coding in 1977. The speaker also mentions their involvement with podcasts such as .NET Rocks and Runners Radio, and sets the stage for a discussion on the history of web development.
🌐 The Birth of the Web and Early Browsers
The speaker delves into the origins of the World Wide Web, crediting Sir Tim Berners-Lee for the invention of the web while working at CERN. They discuss the initial challenges of managing research papers and the concept of hyperlinking. The speaker provides a historical perspective on the first web server and browser, the significance of the first webpage, and the early days of the internet. They also touch upon the development of the Mosaic browser by Marc Andreessen, which was a pivotal moment leading to the commercialization of the internet and the subsequent dot-com boom.
💻 The Evolution of Web Technologies and Languages
The speaker outlines the progression of web technologies, starting with the release of Microsoft's Internet Explorer and the impact of Bill Gates' 'Internet Tidal Wave' memo. They discuss the emergence of HTML tables and the use of Perl as a scripting language for web servers. The speaker also covers the rise of ColdFusion, PHP, and Java in web development. They highlight the importance of JavaScript, developed by Brendan Eich, and the development of web servers like Microsoft's Internet Information Server (IIS) and Apache. The speaker concludes with a discussion on the establishment of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and the creation of HTML standards.
🛠️ The Development of Web Standards and Tools
The speaker discusses the process of setting web standards, the challenges faced by the W3C, and the rapid development and iteration of HTML. They highlight the frustration with HTML 3.2, leading to the quick development of HTML 4 and subsequent minor versions. The speaker also talks about the introduction of CSS, the importance of the W3C's role in setting standards, and the emergence of new web development tools like Microsoft's Visual Studio and ASP.NET. They touch upon the impact of XML with the creation of XHTML and the shift towards a more standardized and secure web development practices.
🌟 The Browser Wars and the Rise of Open Source
The speaker recounts the browser wars, focusing on the dominance and issues with Internet Explorer 6, the rise of Firefox, and the emergence of Chrome. They discuss the influence of developers like David Heinemeier Hansson with the creation of Ruby on Rails and the shift towards open-source software. The speaker also highlights the introduction of new web development frameworks and languages, such as .NET's MVC, and the growing importance of mobile optimization with the rise of tablets and smartphones.
📱 The Impact of Mobile and the Future of Web Development
The speaker reflects on the impact of mobile devices on web development, with a focus on the release of the iPad and the subsequent decline of Flash and Silverlight. They discuss the rise of jQuery, the adoption of open-source projects by Microsoft, and the introduction of new programming languages and frameworks like TypeScript and Angular. The speaker also touches on the development of responsive web design, the battle of the browsers driving innovation, and the potential of WebAssembly to revolutionize web development by allowing other languages to run in the browser.
🚀 Wrapping Up and Looking Forward
In the concluding part, the speaker expresses optimism for the future of web development, highlighting the abundance of choices and tools available to developers. They emphasize the significance of JavaScript, the cultural shift within Microsoft towards open-source, and the potential of technologies like Progressive Web Apps and WebAssembly. The speaker leaves the audience with a sense of excitement for the ongoing evolution and innovation in the field of web development.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Web Development
💡HTML
💡JavaScript
💡Web Browsers
💡Open Source
💡Responsive Web Design
💡Cloud Computing
💡Mobile Web
💡Web Standards
💡Content Management Systems (CMS)
💡WebAssembly
Highlights
The speaker reminisces about their first line of code written in 1977 and the evolution of technology since then.
A humorous account of living in British Columbia, including interactions with a local bear that sorts garbage.
The history of web development is discussed, highlighting the contributions of Tim Berners-Lee and the birth of the World Wide Web.
The impact of Microsoft on the web, including Bill Gates' 'Internet Tidal Wave' memo and the release of Internet Explorer.
The rise of various programming languages for web development, such as Perl, PHP, and the inception of JavaScript.
The role of the W3C in setting standards for HTML and the challenges faced during the development of HTML 4.
The shift towards mobile-first web development with the advent of smartphones and tablets.
The influence of open-source software and the establishment of the JavaScript Foundation, supported by Microsoft.
The development and significance of Microsoft's .NET framework and C# programming language.
The emergence of cloud services like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure in shaping modern web development.
The challenges and eventual success of HTML5 and CSS3 in revolutionizing web design and user interfaces.
The transformative effect of the iPhone and iPad on web development, leading to a focus on mobile optimization and touch interfaces.
The decline of older technologies like Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight in favor of open web standards.
The importance of responsive web design and the rise of frameworks like Bootstrap to accommodate various device sizes.
The advent of WebAssembly and its potential to allow any language to run in the browser, expanding the possibilities for web development.
The cultural shift within Microsoft towards open-source contributions and the impact of leaders like Satya Nadella.
The future of web development with the combination of progressive web apps and web assembly, offering developers more choices and flexibility.
Transcripts
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