Remembering the LAN

David Crawshaw reflects on his early experiences with programming during the 1990s, recounting how he learned about computers and networking through a LAN set up in his family's medical practice in Northern Australia. He contrasts this formative environment, where he could experiment freely with minimal repercussions, to the modern internet's complexity and security challenges. Crawshaw expresses nostalgia for the simplicity and magic of early computing experiences, highlighting his father's ability to develop efficient software for the family business without formal training. He suggests that while current technology offers more capabilities, it also demands higher effort and security considerations, making programming less carefree than it once was. Crawshaw envisions a future where new protocols and technologies, such as VPNs and WireGuard, could recreate the trusted, small-scale network environments of the past, allowing for collaborative and enjoyable programming without the burdens of modern internet vulnerabilities. Through his work at Tailscale, he aims to develop products that bring back the simplicity and creativity of 1990s-style LANs by leveraging modern identity and cryptographic systems.