The internet is a prototype

We are running out of IP addresses. An IP address is a network location of a device that is connected to the internet. For example, the server that’s hosting this blog, can be found at 98.158.182.51. An IP address consists of 4 numbers that can each be up to 256. Some numbers are reserved, but it still gives billions of available IP addresses.

The problem now is, that they are not available any longer. People are using them. Billions of IP addresses is really not that much when we are also billions of people who wants to use them with our computers, websites, hand-held consoles and high-tech refrigerators.

But it’s just a number, isn’t it? There is no intergalactic cosmic reason why we can only have billions of devices connected to the internet, it’s just because some guy figured that billions would probably be all we would need. Don’t worry, the lack of IP addresses will be fixed soon, they are going to invent more of them and this time, they assure us, it will be enough forever.

Back in 1976 when they invented the internet, the reason why they didn’t consider that the internet might be a success when they designed it, is because they thought they were creating a prototype of the internet. Back then it was just an experiment to see how it would work, maybe so they could create the actual Internet a few years later. Well, 38 years later and we’re still using the prototype.

They’re patching up the lack of IP addresses now and they’ll hopefully also fix email at one point. Did you know that anyone can send an email on behalf of anyone else? I can send an email to you from billg@microsoft.com right now. Not exactly a system that’s thought through.

But what does that mean to you?

For projects smaller than the internet, you might also, when working in a software company, encounter situations where it’s relevant to create a prototype. As you create the prototype, you get experience on what works and what doesn’t, that’s the point of it – you may also discuss the prototype with your customer, you enhance it and spend a lot of time with it – eventually there is the risk that you fall in love with it.

What happens when you have to move past the prototype phase and start with the development phase? Do you begin from scratch or do you continue on the prototype that you already made – that’s basically working. Well, think long and hard before you continue by building on the prototype. Remember why you made it – mostly to learn from your mistakes. Well, those mistakes are right there in your prototype right now! So it’s probably better to start over.

That said, the Internet is a prototype and after 38 years of use, it would be wrong to claim that it has not been a success.