Code Rush
Code Rush follows the lives of Netscape engineers during a pivotal moment in Internet history. It captures the intense period in 1998 when Netscape decided to release its browser source code to the public, a move aimed at competing with Microsoft’s growing dominance in the browser market.
The film focuses on a small team of software engineers as they work tirelessly to prepare the Mozilla open-source project for its March 31, 1998 deadline. It showcases the high-pressure environment of Silicon Valley during the dot-com boom, highlighting the personal and professional challenges faced by these young programmers.
Key Netscape figures such as Michael Toy, Jim Roskind, and Jamie Zawinski provide insights into the technical challenges and strategic decisions behind the Mozilla project. The film also touches on broader themes of the tech industry, including the work culture of long hours and high stakes, the potential for sudden wealth through stock options, and the impact of this lifestyle on personal relationships.
As the deadline approaches, the documentary captures the frantic pace of debugging and coding, the tension of last-minute changes, and the eventual release of the Mozilla source code. It also explores the aftermath of this decision, including Netscape’s struggles against Microsoft and its eventual acquisition by AOL.
By following these engineers over the course of a year, the film provides a unique snapshot of a transformative period in technology history. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of open-source software and the early days of the browser wars, documenting a crucial moment in the evolution of the Internet as we know it today.