AppJet

AppJet, Inc. operated as a platform for developing web-based applications directly within a client's web browser, a novel concept for its time. The company was established in 2007 by a team of three MIT graduates: Aaron Iba, J.D. Zamfirescu, and David Greenspan. Notably, Iba and Zamfirescu brought prior experience from their time as engineers at Google, a background that likely influenced their approach to web-based technologies. AppJet was a participant in the Y Combinator accelerator program in the summer of 2007 and launched its public beta in December of the same year.

Initially, AppJet provided a server-side JavaScript framework and an online Integrated Development Environment (IDE), enabling developers to build entire web applications using a single language. This platform offered free application hosting, storage, and custom domain names. However, the company later shifted its primary focus to a standout product called EtherPad, an online collaborative word processor. EtherPad was a significant development, allowing multiple users to edit a single document in real-time, with changes instantly visible to all collaborators. This real-time editing capability, where each user's contributions were highlighted in a different color, set it apart from other collaborative web editors of the era. The service also included features like a chat box for communication, a "time slider" to review document history, and the ability to import various file formats.

The success and capabilities of EtherPad attracted significant attention, leading to the acquisition of AppJet by Google on December 4, 2009. The AppJet team was integrated into the Google Wave team to apply their expertise in real-time collaboration to that platform. Following the acquisition, and in response to user feedback, Google made the decision to release the source code for EtherPad, allowing the technology to continue to be developed as an open-source project. AppJet's journey from a web development platform to the creator of a pioneering real-time collaboration tool, culminating in its acquisition by a tech giant, marks a notable chapter in the evolution of web applications. The company's original platform was discontinued in mid-2009 to focus on EtherPad, which itself was eventually absorbed into Google's product suite.

Keywords: AppJet, EtherPad, Google acquisition, real-time collaboration, web application development, server-side JavaScript, online IDE, collaborative editor, Y Combinator, Aaron Iba, J.D. Zamfirescu, David Greenspan, Google Wave, open source, document collaboration, web-based applications, Comet streaming, operational transform, collaborative word processor, online text editor