RWALL (Remote Write to All) - Computerphile

TL;DR

In 1987, a programmer accidentally triggered a network-wide message, causing chaos and annoyance among users on the early internet.

Transcript

yeah that is sort of like the the the offline equivalent to somebody finding an address book and literally ringing every number in there or yeah or text text all your contacts you know like oh yeah yeah text all that that sort of thing so it's very similar to that but it's just that in their case all was the entire internet with the original unix s... Read More

Key Insights

• 👤 In the early computer systems, the "write" command revolutionized communication between users on the same system.
• 👤 The accidental use of the "our wall" command in 1987 caused chaos and frustration among users on the internet.
• 🥺 The incident led to demands for patching the command and stricter regulations regarding network-wide messages.
• 🇯🇴 Despite the unintended consequences, Jordan Hubbard's role in the incident contributed to his reputation as a talented software engineer.
• 🪡 The incident highlighted the early internet's vulnerabilities and the need for improvements in network security.
• 👤 The incident did not reach all users connected to the internet but had a significant impact on those it did reach.
• 🖤 The incident occurred before the modern internet's infrastructure, with limited connectivity and a lack of DNS.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the purpose of the "write" command in the early computer systems?

The "write" command allowed users to communicate directly with each other on the same computer system, eliminating the need to physically find someone.

Q: How did the accidental use of the "our wall" command affect users on the internet?

The accidental use of the "our wall" command caused a network-wide message to be sent to every user on the internet, resulting in annoyance and frustration among recipients.

Q: How did the early internet differ from the modern internet in terms of network connectivity?

In the early internet, connectivity was limited, and messages would be sent through a list of known hosts. The lack of DNS caused the accidental message to reach users on the entire network.

Q: Who was Jordan Hubbard, and how did he handle the aftermath of the incident?

Jordan Hubbard, a well-known figure in the early internet and a software engineer, accidentally triggered the incident. He personally replied to each of the 743 messages he received, explaining the situation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• In the 1980s, computer terminals were connected to a central mainframe system, allowing users to communicate through commands like "who" and "write."

• The "write" command allowed users to send messages directly to others on the same system, serving as a precursor to instant messaging.

• The accidental use of the "our wall" command in 1987 by Jordan Hubbard resulted in a flood of messages sent to all users on the internet, causing frustration and annoyance.