CIS 145

Appendix A of The Internet & the World Wide Web provides a clear look at how the internet started and how it’s grown to what we use today. It covers the origins of computer networks, the development of domain names, and the growth of the Internet, while also covering important innovations like packet switching and fiber optic cables. 

The appendix dives into the early days of the internet, explaining the development of computer networks and the introduction of domain names. It tracks the growth of the Internet from its birth, explaining how it expanded and evolved over time. 

It was also interesting to see how Microsoft's approach to Mozilla was vulture-like, in the way they put them out of business. It was good insight on how there’s always bad in every industry though. The chapter also highlights the great role the government plays in managing the Internet, which makes sense given how important it is. Another key point is the shift from IPv4 to IPv6, which happened because we literally ran out of IP addresses which is crazy to think about, but it’s also a clear sign of how fast the internet is growing. 

I also learned how companies like IBM and Digital Equipment Corporation made their networking products incompatible with others purposefully, adding interesting challenges to the industry. 

Understanding circuit switching and packet switching has also been very intriguing to learn about. It gave me a better sense of how my own router and devices manage their connections. Plus, learning about fiber optic cables was interesting, as they’re essential for the high-speed data transfer we rely on every day.