A Look Back at Early Internet Ecommerce

This article by Paul Graham delves into the history of Viaweb, an early internet software company that helped businesses create online stores. The text provides a nostalgic glimpse into the early days of the internet and ecommerce, highlighting the challenges and innovations that shaped the online retail landscape.

• The article focuses on the technology and practices used by Viaweb in the late 1990s, before the rise of giants like Google and Amazon.
• It discusses the limitations of the internet at the time, including smaller screen sizes, limited browser capabilities, and the lack of advanced search engines.
• The article also sheds light on the importance of press coverage and public relations in building a presence on the early internet.

The Birth of Online Shopping Carts

Viaweb was a pioneer in the field of ecommerce, providing a platform for businesses to establish their own online stores. In the early days of the internet, when online commerce was in its infancy, Viaweb offered a solution for businesses to capitalize on the emerging online marketplace.

Navigating the Early Internet Landscape

The article recounts the challenges of building and operating a successful internet business in the late 1990s. The lack of sophisticated search engines, limited bandwidth, and the reliance on traditional media for promotion are all discussed. The evolution of the internet is illustrated by the article's comparison of the search engines popular in 1998 with the eventual dominance of Google.

Y Combinator and the Legacy of Viaweb

The article concludes by highlighting the legacy of Viaweb and its connection to Y Combinator, a prominent startup accelerator founded by Paul Graham. The article reveals that Y Combinator's logo is a subtle homage to Viaweb, showcasing the connection between the two entities.

Early Internet Technology and Design

Viaweb utilized a template language called RTML (which stood for "Rtm's Template Markup Language") for describing web pages. RTML was based on Common Lisp and provided a structure editor to create web content. The article also notes that Viaweb used cgi-bin in its dynamic URLs to conceal the software's inner workings from competitors.

Early Ecommerce Strategies and Challenges

The article discusses the strategies Viaweb employed to attract customers in the early days of ecommerce. It emphasizes the importance of press coverage and the use of PR firms to gain visibility. The text also highlights the challenges of managing bandwidth and server infrastructure in the absence of cloud computing services.

Shopfind: A Revolutionary Shopping Search Engine

Viaweb developed a general-purpose shopping search engine called Shopfind in 1997. Shopfind was a pioneering effort in the field of ecommerce search, featuring a programmable crawler that could analyze various online stores and extract relevant product information.

The Acquisition by Yahoo!

In June 1998, Viaweb was acquired by Yahoo! for a significant sum. The article captures the transition from a startup to a larger company, highlighting the impact of the acquisition on the company's founders and employees.

The Impact of Viaweb on the Internet

Viaweb's contributions to the development of ecommerce are highlighted in the article. The company's innovative approach to online shopping carts, its pioneering work in online search, and its influence on the growth of Y Combinator are all discussed. The article serves as a valuable reminder of the early days of the internet and the significant role that Viaweb played in shaping the digital landscape.