Web 2.0 Architectures

Preface

“Web 2.0 is the business revolution in the computer industry caused by the move to the Internet as a platform, and an attempt to understand the rules for success on that new platform. Chief among those rules is this: build applications that harness network effects to get better the more people use them.”

—Tim O’Reilly

If you’re in the technology industry or your business uses the Internet, chances are you’ve heard of Web 2.0. But what exactly is it?

Some people think of Web 2.0 as the assimilation of human participation into web architecture, while some define it as a natural progression of the Internet. Others claim that Web 2.0 is actually what the first generation of the Internet strived to be. There are many different definitions and examples. While researching this book, we encountered people who vehemently denied the existence of Web 2.0, and others who spoke of it as though it were as tangible as the very earth on which they stood.

Controversy aside, it’s hard not to recognize that the Internet has evolved dramatically, creating a genuine sense of excitement about what’s happening in cyberspace. This book delves into the sources of that excitement, examining the design patterns and models behind things deemed “Web 2.0” and exploring how the Internet grew from its humble origins to its current state. During this journey, you will take a dive into the way architects think, learn how to separate fact from hype and pragmatic views of technology from empty buzzwords, and seek ...