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NetDynamics Application Server

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NetDynamics Application Server
Developer(s)NetDynamics Inc.
Operating systemCross-platform
TypeApplication server
LicenseProprietary

NetDynamics Application Server was a Silicon Valley startup that created the application server market, estimated at $29B in revenue as of 2020. NetDynamics was founded in May 1995 in Palo Alto by Zack Rinat, Ofer Ben-Shachar, and Doron Sherman, and was acquired in July 1998 by Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ :SUNW), which was later acquired by Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL). At the time of its acquisition, NetDynamics was the market leader in this newly established and rapidly growing software category, with annual revenues of $20M+, 180 employees, a global presence on 4 continents, and more than 1000 global customers, including: Boeing, FedEx, AT&T, Deutsche Bank, Telstra, Port of Singapore, Deloitte, Microsoft, ADP, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Toys R Us, Edison, and Bear Stearns.

History

NetDynamics was founded as Spider Technologies in May, 1995, by Zack Rinat, Ofer Ben-Shachar, and Doron Sherman with the revolutionary idea to transform the World Wide Web (WWW) from static HTML pages into interactive, dynamic applications connected to backend databases[1] . When the company started its operations in 1995, the internet mostly consisted of static messaging boards and HTML pages that had to be manually edited when changes needed to be made. NetDynamics’ first software product, by connecting HTML fields to a database, allowed these pages to dynamically serve information. At first, NetDynamics’ technology was used to power transactional pages such as product catalogs, real estate listings, and stock prices, but as the technology became more scalable and integrated with other enterprise systems, companies began to use its application server platform to power everything from mission-critical enterprise self-service applications to rich e-commerce websites. In 1996, the company changed its name from Spider Technologies to NetDynamics to reflect the significance of transforming the Internet from a collection of published flat files to a rich source of dynamically-generated information. The company’s early releases, Spider 1.0[2] and 1.5 [3] , enabled developers to easily make connections between fields on a web page and stored information in a database, and addressed performance requirements of dynamic applications through innovation in handling of rapid database calls. With NetDynamics 2.0 [4], the company launched a full visual developer studio and the industry’s first application server that handled issues of load balancing and scalability under high throughput conditions. Also notable, NetDynamics 2.0 was built using Java as its scripting language and was one of the first commercial software applications based on Java[5] . NetDynamics 3.0[6] brought dynamic web applications into the enterprise with integrations to ERP systems such as PeopleSoft and SAP, launching innovation in enterprise self-service applications for HR, finance, and other corporate functions. NetDynamics 4.0 [7] delivered a full enterprise platform with the introduction of PAC (platform adaptor components) adaptors for a broad variety of corporate systems and a visual console for managing and optimizing the attributes of the application server functions. To accelerate adoption, NetDynamics established strategic agreements with Sun Microsystems and Netscape and other application partners. In July 1998, Sun Microsystems signed an agreement to acquire NetDynamics in a stock swap deal that closed in September of 1998, where NetDynamics became a division of JavaSoft under Alan Baratz [8]. NetDynamics was represented by Qatalyst Partners, Frank Quattrone and George Boutros, of DMG Technology Group.


Key Product Releases

Caption text
Release Date Key Innovation Other Key Innovation
Spider 1.0 Jul 1995 Visual development tool for connecting web pages to databases Enabled web pages to include dynamically generated data fields
Spider 1.5 Dec 1995 Improved speed, reliability, and scalability of dynamic updates High-performance interface to databases improving performance
NetDynamics 2.0 Jul 1996 NetDynamics Studio (for visual development and scripting) +

NetDynamics Application Server (for load balancing and scalability)

Industry’s first application server, delivering robust performance under load and the industry’s first commercial product based on Java.
NetDynamics 3.0 Feb 1997 Added WebEXTEND for PeopleSoft and SAP Enabled dynamic transactions to occur between web pages and enterprise ERP, HR and CRM applications.
NetDynamics 4.0 Nov 1997 Enterprise Network Application Platform Introduced PACs (Platform Adaptor Components) for broader enterprise integration and a command center for managing server-side operations

NetDynamics 5.0 was introduced post the Sun acquisition.


Investors

Investment rounds included:

Caption text
Round Amount Date Investors
Series A[9]. $1.9M July 1995 Hummer Winblad (Mark Gorenberg) and a private investment from Andy Grove, Chairman & CEO of Intel
Series B $5M February 1996 USVP and Intel Capital
Series C [10]. $8.5M October 1997 Integral Capital (Roger McNamee), the Galleon Group, Attractor Investment Management, and Van Wagoner Capital Partners

Corporate Culture

One of the important factors contributing to the success of NetDynamics was the corporate values cultivated by the CEO, Zack Rinat. These values, introduced at new employee training and reinforced at quarterly awards ceremonies, included: 1) Reach for the dream 2) Passion for excellence 3) uncompromised integrity 4) Put the customer first, then the company, then the team, then the individual 5) Respect the individual, and 6) Weaving a safety net. These core values were designed to inspire employees to set their goals high, be drivers of change, and make decisions that put the customer first. Every employee throughout the company worked tremendously hard to move the wheels of internet innovation forward, and many reflect that the company felt like family, generating long-standing friendships and professional relationships.NetDynamics’ core values were a meaningful factor behind its success on every level, from the technology to the business, what made working with NetDynamics so appealing to its employees and customers, and what led to the considerable annual revenue of a company of that type of the time and the largest startup acquisition in Silicon Valley prior to the dot com boom. [11]


Awards and Recognition

NetDynamics won numerous awards for its revolutionary software, including:

1996: PC Magazine Editors’ Choice award, competing against entries from Microsoft, Apple, and Netscape. [12]

1997: JavaWorld’s Editors choice award, for its use of Java in the application server

1998: Internet Net Best award

Customers

As the NetDynamics product evolved, bigger and more established firms joined the company's customer pool. Among the first customers were: Picker Bank, Sirrus Internet Solutions, The Collective, and Mibor Property Research. Notable customers who joined over the years included: FedEx,Toys R Us, Boeing, Cisco, Microsoft, Netscape, AT&T, ADP,KPMG, Bear Sterns, Edison International, Deloitte, and many others. Notable alumni Zack Rinat, who later became the founder and CEO of Model N. Ofer Ben-Shahar, Doron Sherman, Mark Gorenberg, Andy Grove, Diana Jovin, Steve Zocchi, Yarden Malka, Dave Brewster, Olivia Dillon, Ali Tore, Brooke Seawell, Russ Harris, Sherrick Murdoff, Wendy Baker, Vijay Anand, Todd Greene, Nanda Kishore, and Dan Lee.

References

  1. ^ Tebbe, Mark. Add Spider to Web development tool kit. May 20, 1996. PC Week. Vol. v13 Issue n20, p. pN7, 1 p.
  2. ^ Wingfield, Nick,Oct 23, 1995 Spider tools speeds database, Web connections. https://books.google.com/books?id=XzoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&dq=Spider+tools+speeds+database,+Web+connections.+infoworld+Oct+23,+1995,&source=bl&ots=f4ePcvQrkU&sig=ACfU3U3W5ys-6Pwfh6f4QVHIVo4Upbo9xQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwixyJaxyN3uAhWKuZ4KHWSnA0cQ6AEwAHoECAgQAg#v=onepage&q=Spider%20tools%20speeds%20database%2C%20Web%20connections.%20infoworld%20Oct%2023%2C%201995%2C&f=false InfoWorld , Vol. v17 Issue n43, p. p6, 1 p.
  3. ^ Aragon, Lawrence. Nov 13, 1995. .Zack Rinat: spinning a new Web. PC Week. , Vol. v12 Issue n45, p. pA4, 1 p.
  4. ^ LaMonica, Martin. April 8, 1996. Spider to offer Java tool for server apps; NetDynamics offers scalability, ease of programming. https://books.google.com/books?id=tz4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=Spider+to+offer+Java+tool+for+server+apps;+NetDynamics+offers+scalability,+ease+of+programming.&source=bl&ots=P2pg1Sfpwf&sig=ACfU3U0cxbpHIpl-WKUAFeyybL-eBJlWWw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj7g4W3z93uAhUZHDQIHc2SCTYQ6AEwAHoECBMQAg#v=onepage&q=Spider%20to%20offer%20Java%20tool%20for%20server%20apps%3B%20NetDynamics%20offers%20scalability%2C%20ease%20of%20programming.&f=false InfoWorld. April 8, 1996, Vol. v18 Issue n15, p. p43, 1 p.
  5. ^ Shankar, Gess. July 22, 1996. NetDynamics serves data to Web. https://books.google.com/books?id=Ij0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA45-IA2&lpg=PA45-IA2&dq=NetDynamics+serves+data+to+Web+InfoWorld.+July+22,+1996,&source=bl&ots=CMobpgirbo&sig=ACfU3U3CgdJ-tGjIFfXyyTo1aW4eReXamA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiy7vLK0N3uAhWNtp4KHafYBh4Q6AEwAHoECAcQAg#v=onepage&q=NetDynamics%20serves%20data%20to%20Web%20InfoWorld.%20July%2022%2C%201996%2C&f=false. InfoWorld. Vol. v18 Issue n30, p. pIW/1, 1 p.
  6. ^ Babcock, Charles. Dec 2, 1996. SAP, PeopleSoft apps Web-ified https://books.google.com/books?id=l6NBBE8_9IUC&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=SAP,+PeopleSoft+apps+Web-ified.+Computerworld.+Dec+2,+1996&source=bl&ots=BhxUS7ksD5&sig=ACfU3U0bEyl8Ap7FjfnRCcCZJJkKVbvHog&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjGo_ur0t3uAhVMpZ4KHa-0CRQQ6AEwAnoECAcQAg#v=onepage&q=SAP%2C%20PeopleSoft%20apps%20Web-ified.%20Computerworld.%20Dec%202%2C%201996&f=false. Computerworld. Vol. v30 Issue n49, p. p74, 1 p.
  7. ^ Szeto, Lai-Han. January 19, 1998. NetDynamics 4.0 edges out competition. https://books.google.com/books?id=4VEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA61&lpg=RA1-PA61&dq=NetDynamics+4.0+edges+out+competition.&source=bl&ots=ApgZ1L1o9X&sig=ACfU3U1TMtLP8oZwKl3-_IaPZyT7w3RJ1w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjdmZLn093uAhUIFjQIHQbEAQsQ6AEwAXoECAcQAg#v=onepage&q=NetDynamics%204.0%20edges%20out%20competition.&f=false. InfoWorld. Vol. 20 Issue 3, p58C. 2p.
  8. ^ Nick Wingfield. July 2, 1998. Sun Micro Agrees to Acquire NetDynamics in Stock Deal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB899338437867542000 The Wall Street Journal
  9. ^ Messmer, Ellen. December 25, 1995. Spider Weaves a New Web. https://books.google.com/books?id=sg0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA26&lpg=PA26&dq=spider+technologies+hummer+winblad+%221995%22&source=bl&ots=fY4Kc1KbK1&sig=ACfU3U2W5g9g_UCTumWlRGExLZGX6kuJaw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiKh5nbzd3uAhV4IzQIHT5hCSUQ6AEwAnoECAcQAg#v=onepage&q=spider%20technologies%20hummer%20winblad%20%221995%22&f=false. NetworkWorld. Volume v13, Issue n1, P.25.
  10. ^ Cnet. October 10, 1997. Short Take: NetDynamics gets funding https://www.cnet.com/news/short-take-netdynamics-gets-funding/
  11. ^ Smith Hendrickson. Susan. Jul 19, 1998. Will a big company buy your startup?. https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/1998/07/20/smallb2.html San Francisco Business Times
  12. ^ Plain, Stephen W. Sept 10, 1996.NetDynamics. (version 2.0 from Spider Technologies Inc is named the editors' choice) PC Magazine.Vol. v15 Issue n15, p. p234, 3 p

See also


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