Netscape Celebrates First Anniversary of Open Source Software Release to Mozilla.Org

Mountain View, Calif. (April 1, 1999) - 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 an 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).

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.