alt.hn

12/26/2025 at 11:12:28 AM

The First Web Server

https://dfarq.homeip.net/the-first-web-server/

by giuliomagnifico

12/26/2025 at 2:26:14 PM

Source Code of the Server:

https://www.w3.org/Daemon/

https://www.w3.org/Daemon/Implementation/

by belter

12/26/2025 at 3:58:25 PM

Love that note at the top of the page:

> We no longer maintain the CERN httpd. In particular, there is at least one known Y2K-related bug in the latest (July 1996) release of this software.

by simonw

12/26/2025 at 3:47:05 PM

Sir Berners-Lee tells the story himself in this great memoir: https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/tim-berners-lee/this-is...

Lots of detail and inside stories about the work it took to keep the web open and free.

by TeaVMFan

12/26/2025 at 4:06:16 PM

The title of the book reminds me of the end of "Roadside Picnic" by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky...

by belter

12/27/2025 at 5:15:48 AM

Can also recommend Weaving the Web by TBL.

by apitman

12/26/2025 at 5:52:41 PM

Fun fact, in my student group at university of twente two people claimed to have developed the first web server for Windows. They called it W4Server and at fist thought of erecting a company called Antelope Software, but later prioritised their studies and let it drop. Another fun fact is that on a web search the first result is a CVE relating to their work. But it was quite exciting at the time, all this brand new web that was emerging.

https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/19622

by rapnie