The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source From Chef to System Initiative (Friends)
Aug 3, 2024
Adam Jacob, founder of Opscode and Creator of Chef, shares his inspiring journey from a young SysAdmin to open-source innovator. He reflects on the wild early days of tech, exploring personal anecdotes that highlight the chaotic yet exciting evolution of the internet. The conversation dives into the impact of open source on his career and the transformative power of community. Jacob also discusses his transition from Chef to System Initiative, emphasizing the importance of relationships and vulnerability in tech.
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Sysadmin at 8
- Adam Jacob became a sysadmin at 8, running a bulletin board system (BBS) for his mom's real estate business.
- He discovered FidoNet, an early email network, and ran a BBS in high school, giving friends internet access.
From BBS to ISP
- Adam Jacob's sysadmin career started at 16 at a mom-and-pop ISP in a dentist's office.
- He later worked for an ISP run by Arizona's power company, bringing phone lines and internet to rural areas.
Sketchy ISPs
- Adam Jacob shares anecdotes about the early internet and ISPs, mentioning sketchy connections to mobsters and drugs.
- He recounts a story of law enforcement arriving at his workplace due to issues involving his boss's father.