Internet History Podcast 148. Don Melton on Apple, Safari, WebKit and Netscape
Jul 23, 2017
Don Melton, a former Apple employee known as the father of Safari and WebKit, shares his exciting journey through the tech world. He reflects on his time at Netscape, revealing behind-the-scenes chaos and the thrill of the dot-com boom. Melton discusses the challenges of developing Safari, the competitive landscape with giants like Microsoft, and the innovative spirit of his team. He also offers candid insights into the pressures of working at Apple and ties in his love for Star Trek, making for a fascinating listen!
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Early Career in Comics to Tech
- Don Melton's early career was as a newspaper illustrator focusing on computer graphics in the 1980s.
- He pioneered using early desktop publishing systems and convinced his paper to adopt Macs and laser printers early on.
Joining Netscape
- Don Melton joined Netscape in April 1996 after an initial mix-up with a recruiter.
- He worked on the Mac Navigator team amid rapid company changes and relocations.
Complexity of Browser Development
- Web browsers must render many evolving and often messy internet standards precisely.
- They function almost like their own operating systems with complex runtimes, making browser development uniquely challenging.