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throwaway27448 4 hours ago

It looked pretty useful in 2009. Failing to push it was baffling then too.

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QuantumNomad_ 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

It was open sourced as Apache Wave when Google shut it down.

Years later Apache moved it to read only because of low community activity.

The archived git repo on GitHub remains available to clone and revive as a fork.

https://github.com/apache/incubator-retired-wave

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throwaway27448 4 hours ago | parent [-]

This doesn't explain the lack of marketing. Apache isn't exactly known for pushing tech. Google never tried to improve on gmail.

	▲	QuantumNomad_ an hour ago \| parent [-]
		Sorry if it wasn’t clear, I was adding this info for context and for anyone who hopefully feels inspired to pick up Wave and make something from it given that it was all open sourced and all. And I figured that in the chain after your comment about it having been useful looking all along was a natural place to add this additional info and link.

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khazhoux 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

This was the first big secret “you’re not allowed to know what this is or talk to anyone about it” project inside Google. They wanted to be left alone and especially to not have to integrate with the mail team. And everyone heard rumors of gigantic bonuses if they hit whatever milestones, which wasn’t a thing for other projects. All this made them isolated within the company, and when the project was an obvious flop, you didn’t see anyone rushing over to help them.