Nullsoft, 1997-2004 (2004)

#1

Post by downbad_ » Fri, May 08, 2026, 8:00 AM UTC

Nullsoft, 1997-2004 (2004)
slate.com

Re: Nullsoft, 1997-2004 (2004)

#2

Post by downbad_ » Fri, May 08, 2026, 8:00 AM UTC

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13559415

Re: Nullsoft, 1997-2004 (2004)

#3

Post by tombert » Mon, May 11, 2026, 4:45 PM UTC

I am always confused when BigTechCos buy SmallCos and then unceremoniously kill them off fairly shortly after. I guess it's basically to cannibalize the source code?

Re: Nullsoft, 1997-2004 (2004)

#4

Post by lorecore » Mon, May 11, 2026, 4:47 PM UTC

Publishing Gnutella while being acquired by a greedy media company was such a baller move.

Re: Nullsoft, 1997-2004 (2004)

#5

Post by htx80nerd » Mon, May 11, 2026, 4:48 PM UTC

tombert wrote: post #3

I am always confused when BigTechCos buy SmallCos and then unceremoniously kill them off fairly shortly after. I guess it's basically to cannibalize the source code?

they want a popular thing, then that thing falls under the control of Big Business Meeting Thinking , and suffers the expected fate

Re: Nullsoft, 1997-2004 (2004)

#6

Post by okanat » Mon, May 11, 2026, 4:48 PM UTC

tombert wrote: post #3

I am always confused when BigTechCos buy SmallCos and then unceremoniously kill them off fairly shortly after. I guess it's basically to cannibalize the source code?

Source code is only useful when you want the actual product, which is the rare case. Most of the time they want the patents, naming rights or just customers.

Re: Nullsoft, 1997-2004 (2004)

#7

Post by munk-a » Mon, May 11, 2026, 4:48 PM UTC

tombert wrote: post #3

I am always confused when BigTechCos buy SmallCos and then unceremoniously kill them off fairly shortly after. I guess it's basically to cannibalize the source code?

Eh, I think that does happen but is much less likely then either acquihiring or killing a potential competitor.

Re: Nullsoft, 1997-2004 (2004)

#8

Post by lorecore » Mon, May 11, 2026, 4:48 PM UTC

tombert wrote: post #3

I am always confused when BigTechCos buy SmallCos and then unceremoniously kill them off fairly shortly after. I guess it's basically to cannibalize the source code?

This was during the dotcom bubble and AOL/Time Warner need to optically look like they were doing something relevant with the internet to justify their valuation. It was pure messaging, with a bit of killing a threat on the side.

Re: Nullsoft, 1997-2004 (2004)

#9

Post by Fwirt » Mon, May 11, 2026, 4:55 PM UTC

For anyone who was also curious what Justin Frankel got up to after the speculation at the end of the article, he founded Cockos Software and is the lead developer on the excellent REAPER DAW.

Re: Nullsoft, 1997-2004 (2004)

#10

Post by rickcarlino » Mon, May 11, 2026, 4:57 PM UTC

lorecore wrote: post #4

Publishing Gnutella while being acquired by a greedy media company was such a baller move.

The network still lives, even today. This is so underrated.