Netscape Celebrates First Anniversary of Open Source Software Release To mozilla.org

    MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Netscape Communications and
 open source developers are celebrating the first anniversary, March 31, 1999,
 of the release of Netscape's browser source code to mozilla.org -- the
 organization that manages open source developers working on the next
 generation of Netscape's browser and communication software.  This event
 marked a historical milestone for the Internet as Netscape became the first
 major commercial software company to open its source code, a trend that has
 since been followed by several other corporations.  Since the code was first
 published on the Internet, thousands of individuals and organizations have
 downloaded it and made hundreds of contributions to the software.  Mozilla.org
 is now celebrating this one year anniversary with a party Thursday night in
 San Francisco.
     "There was a lot of excitement when we first announced we were going to
 open our code up to the world," said Brendan Eich, principal engineer of
 mozilla.org.  "One year later we are in the middle of a revolution.  Open
 source software is gaining momentum, as shown by the growing popularity of
 Linux and the number of major companies now embracing the open source
 development model."
     In just one year, mozilla.org has witnessed these major milestones:
 
     * March 31, 1998 -- Netscape Communicator source code posted on the
       Internet via mozilla.org
     * April 1998 -- Over 100,000 downloads of source code from mozilla.org in
       two weeks; source code for the next-generation layout engine (Gecko)
       added to the site; James Clark contributes his XML parser to mozilla.org
     * May 1998 -- Netscape LDAP Directory SDK source code released to
       mozilla.org
     * June 1998 -- Source code to Netscape software build tools, Bonsai and
       Tinderbox, released to mozilla.org
     * July 1998 -- Open Java Interface (OJI) project started to enable any 3rd
       party virtual machine to work with Communicator
     * August 1998 -- mozillaZine.org, an independent news and information site
       covering mozilla.org, goes online
     * September 1998 -- Hungry Programmers makes available the Japhar virtual
       machine, which takes advantage of the Open Java Interface
     * October 1998 -- mozilla.org posts product roadmap that includes next
       browser release based on Gecko and a cross platform user interface
     * November 1998 -- Steve Case announces AOL's support for mozilla.org in
       an open letter (www.mozilla.org/stevecase.html)
     * December 1998 -- Developer's preview of Gecko browser engine released.
       This fast and small browser engine fits on a floppy disk
     * January 1999 -- CITIC Software releases a developer preview of DocZilla
       to the public. DocZilla is a SGML/XML/HTML browser and uses the open
       source Gecko browser engine
     * February 1999 -- Revisions to Netscape Public License of Communicator
       posted for comments to facilitate broader participation in open source
       development
     * March 31, 1999 -- One-year anniversary of Netscape's release of
       Communicator source code to mozilla.org. Second developer preview of
       Gecko browser engine (developer.netscape.com) released
 
     "From the source release to the nightly builds to the open bug reporting
 system, mozilla.org's open browser development provides an accountability that
 the Web development community desperately needs," said Chris Nelson, editor of
 mozillaZine.  "The result will be a browser that the entire Web community can
 be proud of."
     "In a year's time, mozilla.org has gone from being a beautiful idea to a
 beautiful reality," said Michael Leventhal of CiTEC Information -- developers
 of DocZilla ( http://www.doczilla.com ).  "There are very few people outside
 the mozilla effort that know that yet -- that know how good mozilla.org really
 is.  The Web is about to receive an extraordinary gift. And this is just the
 beginning."
     Mozilla.org is supported by America Online, which recently acquired
 Netscape.  Steve Case, founder and chief executive officer of AOL, confirmed
 that the company will continue to support mozilla.org's open source efforts
 and preserve its neutrality.
     To commemorate mozilla.org's first birthday, attendees at the
 San Francisco party will receive a CD that contains a snapshot of the latest
 Netscape Communicator source code -- including the second developer's preview
 of the Gecko browser engine.  Gecko is at the heart of the next version of
 Communicator and will make the final product faster and more standards
 compliant than any previous product from Netscape.  Information on the
 birthday party can be found at http://www.mozilla.org/party/1999/faq.html.
     Netscape Communications is a leading provider of software and services for
 businesses that want to transform the way they create and keep customers in
 the emerging Net Economy.  The company offers a full line of enterprise
 software solutions, professional services, and a leading Internet portal to
 help companies build, buy or outsource Internet applications that drive
 revenue growth, build customer loyalty, and create new levels of business
 efficiency.  Recently acquired by America Online Inc., Netscape is based in
 Mountain View, California.
     Additional information on Netscape is available on the Internet at
 http://home.netscape.com, by sending email to info@netscape.com, or by calling
 650-937-2555 (corporate sales).
     NOTE:  Netscape, Netscape Navigator, Netscape Certificate Server, Netscape
 FastTrack Server, Netscape ONE, SuiteSpot, and the Netscape N and Ship's Wheel
 logos are registered trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation in the
 United States and other countries.  Other Netscape logos, product names, and
 service names are also trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation,
 which may be registered in other countries.  AOL Instant Messenger is a
 trademark of America Online, Inc.  All other trademarks are properties of
 their respective owners.
 
 

SOURCE  Netscape Communications Corporation

RELATED LINKS
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