Apache History: A Timeline of Major Events and Dates

Early Beginnings (1993-1995)

The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) was founded in 1999, but the history of the Apache HTTP Server began several years earlier. In 1993, a group of developers, including Brian Behlendorf, Roy Fielding, and Cliff Skolnick, came together to create a web server that could handle the growing demand for web content. The first version of the Apache server, 0.6.2, was released in April 1995.

The Apache Project Takes Shape (1995-1999)

In 1995, the Apache project was officially formed, with Brian Behlendorf as the project leader. The project attracted a large community of developers, and the Apache server quickly gained popularity due to its flexibility, scalability, and reliability. In 1996, the Apache Software License (ASL) was created, which would become the foundation for the ASF’s open-source licensing model.

The Apache Software Foundation is Founded (1999)

In March 1999, the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) was formally established, with Brian Behlendorf as the first president. The ASF was created to provide a legal and organizational framework for the Apache project and other related projects. The ASF’s mission was to provide a platform for open-source development, community collaboration, and innovation.

Expansion and Growth (2000-2010)

In the early 2000s, the Apache project continued to grow and expand, with the development of new projects, such as Apache Tomcat, Apache Maven, and Apache Cassandra. The ASF also established a number of other projects, including Apache HTTP Server, Apache Struts, and Apache Geronimo. In 2009, the ASF celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of open-source innovation and community collaboration.

Today and Beyond (2010-Present)

Today, the Apache Software Foundation is one of the largest and most successful open-source organizations in the world, with over 300 projects and a community of thousands of developers and users. The ASF continues to drive innovation and collaboration in the open-source community, with a focus on community-driven development, open-source licensing, and community engagement. As the ASF looks to the future, it remains committed to its core values of community, collaboration, and innovation.