The invention of the internet can be traced back to the 1960s, when researchers, government officials, and other operational heads needed to share information with one another. However, the Internet phenomenon began in the 1990s, when renowned Tim Berners-Lee introduced the "World Wide Web" in 1989.
His work was closed during that time, but it was made available to the general public in 1993, and it has since progressed to where we are today. His primary focus was on the inefficient management of files and information at his organization CERN. So he suggested a linked system of information nodes.
This work can be accessed in the following
System diagram
This is a simple system diagram to demonstrate how web1.0 works:
Web 1.0 was the "read-only" web with mostly static web pages. Means it allowed people to only search and view information online, it means none can interact and post to the web, a one way communication.
The most important point here is, the Websies at that point of time were informational, created and controlled by owners.
Relevance to Today’s Architecture:
- Linked nodes and links shaped the Web’s HTML, URLs, and hyperlinks.
- Separation of servers and browsers underpins modern web and APIs.
- Common interfaces enable integration of diverse data sources.
- Live links relate to dynamic content and real-time APIs.
- Graph-like structures influence modern databases and the semantic web.
- User-centered browsing guides web design today.
- Early privacy and annotation ideas appear in social networks.
Emergence of Web2.0
One of the drawbacks of Web 1.0 is the lack of a "POST" function; from static websites, the web evolved into something more interactive and collaborative. It enabled users to create, share, and comment on content, rather than just viewing it.
Personal activities that gained momentum for web2.0 are of the following:
- Blogs
- Feeds (RSS)
- Social networking
- Video sharing
- Podcast
- Etc.
Simple Architecture
During this time, websites became more dynamic, with content added by users and communities. For example, readers were able to leave comments beneath the blogs. So it addressed Web 1.0's one-way communication limitation.
Social media, blogs, and wikis became popular with Web 2.0 and it enabled user participation, social networking, and content sharing.
The other important point to consider in web2.0 is, control shifted from just owners to users contributing content.
One of the papers that served as a foundation for the development of web2.0 discussed the following principles for being a web2.0 technology:
- Deliver services instead of packaged software, enabling cost-effective scalability.
- Maintain control over unique, hard-to-recreate data sources that grow richer with increased user participation.
- Trust users as co-developers and collaborators.
- Harness collective intelligence from the user community.
- Leverage the long tail by enabling customer self-service.
- Provide software that operates beyond a single device or platform.
Refer here:
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1008839
Comes Web3.0
Before we set out, I'd like to provide a simple analogy for why we simply require web3. Let's say we're playing our favorite game and making some in-game purchases. You should understand that the money in the game is just some numbers stored in a database, and any internal developer can empty your account by simply updating the database. However, with web3, the money, purchase, and game are all public assets for us, and no one can intervene until we transfer ownership to someone else. Nobody else is in the middle.
In essence, it solved the centralized control and data privacy issues of Web 2.0. To give users full ownership and control over their data and digital assets.
Some of the features:
- It enable decentralized applications without intermediaries using blockchain.
- To enhance security, transparency, and trust via immutable, tamper-proof ledgers.
- To create new economic models like decentralized finance (DeFi) and token economies.
- To improve interoperability and allow seamless interaction across platforms.
Why Early Web3 Was Full of Scandals?
Because, it had a rough start, because of the idea of decentralization affected the control for regulation (in some way it's good, but do they?). The rapid growth, and overhyped expectations attracted a lot of scams, frauds, hacks, and failed projects especially in crypto and NFT's. Lack of governance and standards causes abuse and exploitation. Also the inexperience of developers and bad actors exploited decentralization.
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