Articles:
Why Is the Web the Way It Is Today?
In what direction could the internet have gone if it were not for the FSF/GNU movement and how would the internet have looked today? Tim O'Reilly offers his perspective. Dec. 15, 2005
What Is Web 2.0
Defining just what Web 2.0 means (the term was first coined at a conference brainstorming session between O'Reilly and MediaLive International, which also spawned the Web 2.0 Conference), still engenders much disagreement. Some decry it as a meaningless marketing buzzword, while others have accepted it as the new conventional wisdom. Tim O'Reilly attempts to clarify just what we meant by Web 2.0, digging into what it means to view the Web as a platform and which applications fall squarely under its purview, and which do not. Sep. 30, 2005
GAO Report: Tim O'Reilly's Letter to Congressman Wu
In March of 2004, Congressman David Wu of Oregon made a request to the General Accounting Office (GAO) for a report on the high cost of college textbooks. The GAO report was recently released, and confirmed the shocking fact that the price of college textbooks has nearly tripled
from 1986 to 2004. Tim O'Reilly wrote this letter to Congressman Wu referencing O'Reilly's solution: SafariU. With SafariU, professors can create and publish their own textbooks, selecting exactly the book chapters, sections, or articles they need from the impressive Safari database. SafariU costs professors nothing to use and offers their students more focused course content at less cost. Sep. 9, 2005
Is Perl Still Relevant?
With the emergence of .NET, J2EE, Python, PHP, et. al, has Perl lost its niche as a scripting glue language? Tim O'Reilly comments. Jul. 7, 2005
Books That Have Shaped How I Think
In 2004, I greatly
expanded and updated this text for the print piece, Tim O'Reilly in a Nutshell.
Here are a few of the books that have played a large role in my life. Jul. 7, 2005
Get Your Hands Dirty!
January 2005. Hackers of all stripes refuse to just take what they’re given. They’re driven to remake it, and getting there is more than half the fun. In the latest O'Reilly catalog, Tim writes about the host of new books and products within that celebrate the hacker impulse. We've got the information you need to hack, remix, and master technology at home and at work. So go on, get your hands dirty! Jan. 21, 2005
Pick the Hat to Fit the Head
October 2004. Larry Wall once said, "Information wants to be valuable." The form in which information is presented contributes to that value. At O'Reilly Media, we offer a variety of ways for you to get your technical information. Tim O'Reilly talks about some of them in his quarterly letter for the O'Reilly Catalog. Oct. 27, 2004
Technology and Tools of Change
Building the next generation of technology won't be easy, and will require developers, entrepreneurs, and the customers they serve to learn new skills. O'Reilly has a collection of new and favorite tools for building the future, including a new "Technology & Society" book series, a new "Web 2.0--Web as Platform" conference, and a new print-on-demand, custom books service called SafariU. Aug. 13, 2004
Open Source Paradigm Shift
This article is based on a talk that I first gave at Warburg-Pincus' annual technology conference in May of 2003. Since then, I have delivered versions of the talk more than twenty times, at locations ranging from the O'Reilly Open Source Convention, the UK Unix User's Group, Microsoft Research in the UK, IBM Hursley, British Telecom, Red Hat's internal "all-hands" meeting, and BEA's eWorld conference. I finally wrote it down as an article for an upcoming book on open source,"Perspectives on Free and Open Source Software," edited by J. Feller, B. Fitzgerald, S. Hissam, and K. R. Lakhani and to be published by MIT Press in 2005. Jun. 21, 2004
The Architecture of Participation
Jun. 21, 2004
State of the Computer Book Market
We've launched a new market research group at O'Reilly. Its mission is to develop quantifiable metrics for the state of technology adoption. Aided by Nielsen BookScan sales data, which shows us trends in what people are buying, we're able to evaluate trends in technology adoption that should help us do a better job of forecasting technology growth patterns. Tim O'Reilly shares some of the analysis. Apr. 16, 2004
Amazon and Open Source
Amazon realized early on that amazon.com was more than just a book site, more in fact than just an e-commerce site. It was beginning to become an e-commerce platform. Open source has been a key part of the Amazon story, and although Amazon has closed code, it has created its own "architecture of participation" that may be even richer than that of many open source software development communities. Feb. 14, 2004
The Future of Technology and Proprietary Software
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, InfoWorld did a feature on where technology has been and where it's headed: 25 Years of Technology. Tim O'Reilly answered some questions for that piece about the future of technology and proprietary software. Many of his comments were included in the article, but here they are in their entirety, as well. Dec. 23, 2003
Did Amazon Listen?
After all that controversy over Amazon's 1-Click patent, what's this about them receiving a patent for new features on their ordering forms? Tim explains that Jeff Bezos never said he'd stop filing for patents, but that he'd think twice before enforcing them in a potentially offensive way. Dec. 17, 2003
O'Reilly's E-Book Strategy
O'Reilly's e-book strategy is to build a flexible data repository supporting XML web services that will allow us to deliver content into a variety of channels. The O'Reilly Network, which offers online content in bite-size chunks, is the "smaller" part of the strategy; Safari, a database of thousands of books that you can search across, is the "bigger" part. Nov. 22, 2003
Are "how to" books archaic?
A reader asked us about O'Reilly's vision for future books given the rate of change in technology and the growth of the Internet as an information source. Tim says "how to" books will only become more important as the paradigm shift that's taking place in computing leads us into uncharted territory. Nov. 4, 2003
The Economics of Writing on Computer Topics
November 2003. How important is timeliness in computer book publishing? Can niche books succeed? What about titles that are gimmicks? These questions were posted to the Studio B Discussion List. I say timing is about more than being first to market on a technology. It's about being first to market for a market. Here are some "in the trenches" stories of O'Reilly publishing. Nov. 1, 2003
What happened to BountyQuest?
What ever happened to BountyQuest, the web site where people could post large rewards for documents proving prior art on a patent, thus proving a patented invention is not really new? Oct. 31, 2003
All Software Should Be Network Aware
October 2003. Apple's original Human Interface Guidelines laid out Apple's vision for a set of consistent approaches for GUI applications. Even though Windows ended up with a different set than the Mac, the idea was simple and profound: create a consistent set of user expectations for all applications and live up to them. Now that we're moving into the era of "software above the level of a single device" (Dave Stutz), we need something similar for network-aware applications, whether those applications live on a PC, a server farm, a cell phone or PDA, or somewhere in between. Here are some of the things that I'd like to see universally supported. Oct. 1, 2003
E-Books and P2P
Why doesn't O'Reilly offer stand-alone e-books? As an advocate for P2P, wouldn't it follow that Tim would make O'Reilly books available for download? Tim talks about P2P, copyright, the value of giving away content, e-books as a business model, and the potential of O'Reilly's Safari Bookshelf. Sep. 9, 2003
National Competitive Advantage via Open Source
Do countries that embrace open source as a part of government policy gain a competitive advantage over those that do not? It's certainly possible, since open source can lower the cost of computing and increase the rate of innovation. But Tim is wary of open source entering into legislation: "Governments should mandate outcomes, not means, and they shouldn't be picking winners and losers." Aug. 29, 2003
Suggested Reading
In my old employee handbook, Rules of Thumb, I included an appendix of books that had influenced my thinking. This list is from the late 1980s. Jul. 22, 2003
Thoughts on the Success of Google Hacks
July 2003. Google Hacks rocketed to the top of the bestseller charts as soon as it was published in February, and has stayed there ever since. Obviously, the success of the book is more than anything a testament to the success of Google itself. But it's also a sign of the times. Jul. 1, 2003
Etech 2003 Stories
This year's Etech was a whirlwind of provocative ideas, mind-bending technological innovations, and great conversations. Tim O'Reilly offers his favorite moment and wants to hear about yours. Jun. 6, 2003
The New Era of Pervasive Computing
May 2003. The era of the personal computer is over. We are entering the pervasive computing era, where dozens or hundreds of specialized access devices suck services from the emergent global network computer. At O'Reilly, we're working hard to prepare you for that future, as you take the tools we teach you about and use them to invent it, in a virtuous circle. May. 1, 2003
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O'Reilly Blog Posts:
What do you think about self-published books?
Jason Fried of 37signals asked this question over on his blog. I gave him my thoughts in the talkback section, and a couple of people suggested I should reprise them here, since they are a good summary of the issues from the perspective of someone who started out as a self-publisher, and learned the ropes. Apr. 15, 2005
Technical Help for Developing Countries
O'Reilly books distributed at a network training workshop in Bhutan. Feb. 10, 2005
Ask Jeff Bezos, Adam Bosworth, John Doerr, Eddy Cue...
At the Web 2.0 Conference October 5-7 in San Francisco, I'm doing a one-on-one interview with Jeff Bezos, and panels with Adam Bosworth, Halsey Minor, Kevin Lynch, Justin Hanke and others. John Battelle is doing the same with folks like John Doerr, Mark Cuban, and Eddy Cue. I'd love your input into what we ought to be asking these guys. Sep. 21, 2004
Gas Price and the Web: Volunteers Chart Bargains
MIT's Tech Review has an interesting article about a site that uses collective reporting to build a database of current gasoline prices. Aug. 29, 2004
Web 2.0 Conference coming up
I've been meaning to do a writeup on the big ideas behind our upcoming Web 2.0 conference, but conference chair John Battelle beat me to it. But I add a few thoughts to his detailed summary. Aug. 23, 2004
Great Linux Desktop Migration Contest
O'Reilly and Novell announce the Great Linux Desktop Migration Contest. Jul. 14, 2004
The Open Source Paradigm Shift
I finally got around to writing up the talk I've been giving for the past year or so, about the way that the commoditization of software is driving value up the stack to web apps, and how these apps leverage network effects (the architecture of participation) as their key tool in gaining competitive advantage. Jun. 26, 2004
O'Reilly's SafariU Even More Than It Appears
O'Reilly's upcoming SafariU custom textbook project is more than it appears: it allows educators to build custom books using the Safari back end, but it is also the first demonstration of the power of Safari as a platform. May. 29, 2004
Cory Discovers Red Mars
Cory Doctorow's appreciation for Red Mars is equalled by my own. Not just for science fiction fans, this book should be read by anyone who thinks about the interaction of science and culture. May. 29, 2004
Bruce Schneier on Security Tradeoffs
Bruce Schneier: we need to weigh the costs vs. the benefits of measures taken to ensure our security. "Much of what is being proposed as national security is a bad security trade-off. It's not worth it, and as consumers we're getting ripped off." May. 11, 2004
The Fuss About Gmail and Privacy: Nine Reasons Why It's Bogus
There's been a lot of fuss about the privacy implications of gmail, but the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. Apr. 16, 2004
What kind of internet operating system do we want?
A bit originally written in early 2002, but apparently never posted. I wanted to link to it, and discovered it was still in draft stage! Apr. 16, 2004
Real Looking for Alliance with Apple
The NY Times (registration required) reports that Rob Glaser of Real has appealed to Steve Jobs to open up its Fairplay DRM system, so that Real doesn't feel that they have to switch to Microsoft's WMA format. Apr. 15, 2004
The Lawyers are Here!
One of my key takeaways from the Open Source Business Conference is that the SCO case has put the GPL on the radar of lawyers! Mar. 16, 2004
O'Reilly Editors Debate "Havoc Pennington rant at Sun's strange strategy"
Mike Loukides disagrees with Havoc Pennington as to whether or not Sun's port of Evolution to Java Swing makes sense. Mar. 8, 2004
Microsoft MapPoint Looking for Pricing Advice
Microsoft is looking for input on what kind of pricing would be good for MapPoint web services. Mar. 3, 2004
Bill Gates, Edd Dumbill, and the Semantic Web
Edd Dumbill's reflections on Bill Gates' recent comment that an AI breakthrough could be worth ten Microsofts leads to a declaration that data interoperability is the key battleground for the future. Mar. 3, 2004
Ten Years at My Other Publishing Company
From my other life as a travel publisher: I'll be reading my story "Walking the Kerry Way" for an event at Book Passage in Corte Madera, CA next week, and talking about the founding of Travelers Tales. Feb. 28, 2004
Integrating IM Presence with Geo data
Instant Messaging Planet reports on IETF efforts to integrate location data with presence notification. Definitely a taste of the future here, and some issues that need to be dealt with. Feb. 7, 2004
Microsoft Lawyer to Run Antitrust Panel for ABA
It sounds like an April Fool's joke. But it isn't. From the AP, via Dave Farber's IP List: "Microsoft associate general counsel Richard J. Wallis takes over as chairman this summer of the American Bar Association's antitrust section, an unusual role for a corporate lawyer. Even before Wallis' arrival, the panel is already organizing opposition to a congressional plan requiring more aggressive oversight by the courts of such antitrust settlements." Feb. 7, 2004
Clay Shirky on Internet Campaigning
End of discussion. Clay Shirky has written the definitive piece on what conclusions we ought to draw from Howard Dean's internet momentum and real world voting disappointment. (David Weinberger adds some insider perspectives to Clay's analysis. Even if you don't follow the internet in politics, this piece is worth a read. Feb. 7, 2004
Some Nice Editorials on Dean and Blogs
A couple of links to thoughtful editorials on blogging and its limits as a tool in politics. Feb. 1, 2004
Humorous DNS Education from Netcraft
In a very clever and very funny article about how SCO could respond to the DDOS attack in the MyDoom worm, Mike Prettejohn of Netcraft also does a wonderful job of education about the possibilities in a single DNS command. This is the hack mindset at its best, seeing a world of implications where an ordinary user can only follow the directions. Feb. 1, 2004
An Editorial on Terrorism from Bruce Schneier
Bruce Schneier has written an elegant argument against our country's slide towards a police state. Agree or disagree with his politics, you should read this piece. Jan. 31, 2004
Political Patterns on the WWW
Valdis Krebs shows how the books people read reflects clusters of preconception. There's a group of books read by the right, and a group read by the left, with surprisingly little crossover. Jan. 30, 2004
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Books:
Windows XP in a Nutshell (O'Reilly)
January 2005
Windows XP in a Nutshell, Second Edition documents everything there is to know about the world's most widely used operating system. Updated to include information on the security technologies featured in Service Pack 2 (SP2), this must-have desktop reference is dedicated to making your time at the computer safer, easier, and more fun. It's the ultimate resource for IT professionals and Windows XP power users everywhere.
Unix Power Tools (O'Reilly)
October 2002
The latest edition of this best-selling favorite is loaded with vital information on Linux, Darwin, and BSD. Unix Power Tools 3rd Edition now offers more coverage of bash, zsh, and other new shells, along with discussions about modern utilities and applications. Several sections focus on security and Internet access. There is a new chapter on access to Unix from Windows, and expanded coverage of software installation and packaging, as well as basic information on Perl and Python.
Windows XP in a Nutshell (O'Reilly)
April 2002
This compact and comprehensive book systematically unveils what resolute users of the new Windows XP operating system will find interesting and useful, with little-known details, utility programs, and configuration settings all captured in a consistent reference format. Packed with numerous tips and tricks, while warning of potential pitfalls, Windows XP in a Nutshell enables anyone to get the most out of all the resources available in XP.
Peer-to-Peer: Harnessing the Power of Disruptive T (O'Reilly)
February 2001
This book presents the goals that drive the developers of the best-known peer-to-peer systems, the problems they've faced, and the technical solutions they've found. The contributors are leading developers of well-known peer-to-peer systems, such as Gnutella, Freenet, Jabber, Popular Power, SETI@Home, Red Rover, Publius, Free Haven, Groove Networks, and Reputation Technologies. Topics include metadata, performance, trust, resource allocation, reputation, security, and gateways between systems.
Windows 98 in a Nutshell (O'Reilly)
August 1999
From the authors of the bestselling Windows 95 in a Nutshell comes this easy-to-use quick reference for all serious users of Windows 98. It summarizes differences between Windows 95 and Windows 98, covers almost every Windows 98 command and utility available, gives advice for using the Registry, includes short-hand instructions on many important Win98 tasks, and much more.
UNIX PowerTools (O'Reilly)
August 1997
Loaded with practical advice about almost every aspect of UNIX, this second edition of UNIX Power Tools addresses the technology that UNIX users face today. You'll find thorough coverage of POSIX utilities, including GNU versions, detailed bash and tcsh shell coverage, a strong emphasis on Perl, and a CD-ROM that contains the best freeware available.
X Users Guide Motif R5 (O'Reilly)
June 1994
Orients the new user to window system concepts and provides detailed tutorials for many client programs, including the xterm terminal emulator and the twm, uwm, and mwm window managers. Later chapters explain how to customize the X environment. Covers Motif 1.2 and X11 Release 5.
X Toolkit Intrinsics Prog Vol 4M (O'Reilly)
August 1992
A complete guide to programming with Xt Intrinsics, the library of C language routines that facilitates the design of user interfaces with reusable components called widgets. Uses the Motif 1.2 widget set in examples and covers X11 Release 5.
termcap and terminfo (O'Reilly)
April 1988
For UNIX system administrators and programmers. This handbook provides information on writing and debugging terminal descriptions, as well as terminal initialization, for the two UNIX terminal databases.
Managing UUCP and Usenet (O'Reilly)
For all its widespread use, UUCP is one of the most difficult UNIX utilities to master. This book is for system administrators who want to install and manage UUCP and Usenet software. "Don't even TRY to install UUCP without it!" --Usenet message 456@nitrex.UUCP
Using & Managing UUCP (O'Reilly)
Using & Managing UUCP describes, in one volume, this popular communications and file transfer program. UUCP is very attractive to computer users with limited resources, a small machine, and a dial-up connection. This book covers Taylor UUCP, the latest versions of HoneyDanBer UUCP, and the specific implementation details of UUCP versions shipped by major UNIX vendors.
UNIX Power Tools (O'Reilly)
Ideal for UNIX users who hunger for technical--yet accessible--information, UNIX Power Tools consists of tips, tricks, concepts, and freeware. Covers add-on utilities and how to take advantage of clever features in the most popular UNIX utilities. CD-ROM included.
Volume 3: X Window System User's Guide (O'Reilly)
Orients the new user to window system concepts and provides detailed tutorials for many client programs, including the xterm terminal emulator and window managers. Later chapters explain how to customize the X environment. This popular manual is available in two editions, one for users of the MIT software, one for users of Motif. Revised for X11 Release 5.
Volume 4: X Toolkit Intrinsics Programming Manual (O'Reilly)
A complete guide to programming with Xt Intrinsics, the library of C language routines that facilitates the design of user interfaces with reusable components called widgets. Available in two editions. The Standard Edition uses Athena widgets in examples; the Motif Edition uses Motif widgets.
Windows 95 in a Nutshell (O'Reilly)
Windows 95 in a Nutshell is a comprehensive, compact reference that systematically unveils what serious users of Windows 95 will find interesting and useful, capturing little known details of the operating system in a consistent reference format.
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