Netscape Posts Browser Source Codes on Web

Netscape Communications Corp. released the programming codes of its Navigator and Communicator browsers on the Internet to try to stop its market share slide to Microsoft Corp. It was the first time a major software company has released to the public such underlying programming codes, which are usually jealously guarded. Mountain View-based Netscape said it will rely on the skills of millions of programmers to develop future versions of its browsers, the computer programs used to access text, pictures and videos published on the global computer network. Netscape posted the source code, or the fundamental programming instructions that make up software, on its Mozilla.org Web site (https://www.mozilla.org). Programmers are expected to rewrite portions of the software and add new features, and Netscape will release their modifications as a commercial product by the end of the year, company executives said. In the last few months, Microsoft has stolen much of Netscape’s browser market share with its rival Internet Explorer browser.