Rebirth of America, this is my time

In the summer of 1977, after finishing the release of Star Wars, Ethan and Evelyn went to Boston to meet with Ralph Bell, the inventor of the video game patent, and then transferred to Dow spent a day in Washington to see the new unit of Archmage Barbara Babcock, and was given a curious tour by Vinton Cerf, the patent owner of the TCP/IP protocol. DoD.

According to the original intention of the two of them, the trip was just a break from the busy schedule to maintain the interpersonal relationships around them. But when communicating with Evelyn's teacher, Vinton Cerf, the other party complained to them that DoD's work was not easy to do. At that time, he was developing a joint communication system for DoD for the navy, army and air force. In order to ensure that ordinary people who did not understand computers could quickly use the system, they needed to develop a specialized and specific data storage and retrieval tool for ordinary people. .

If I have to describe it, what DoD actually wants is the convenience of later generations of software. Double-click the mouse to open the software. The next step is a fool-like operation process. Check the data sent by the three armed forces and store it in the library. Just look at If you understand words, everything will be easier to explain.

But these things that will be very easy in the future are not so easy to do in this era. When computers are not accepted by the general public, do you want to connect the navy, army and air force together?

That's a very painful thing.

It would be the same even if Vinton Cerf were to do it.

What made him even more troubled was that when he was leading the team to compile the software, the CIA next door was also doing similar things. If it was all research and development, there would be no problem, but the CIA did not choose to develop it in-house, but chose to purchase it. , and their purchase price was much lower than the funding for Vinton Cerf's self-research project, so problems arose.

Every agency's funds are limited. If you use more, others will get less. When the CIA said that we don't do our own research but purchase, the DoD also said the same thing. They also wanted to The software was outsourced, leaving the Vinton Cerf team to concentrate on setting up the data transmission network.

It wasn't until Vinton Cerf said that it was impossible to outsource the databases connecting the three armed forces to individuals, and that there was a high probability that the CIA's outsourcing would go wrong, the DoD approved his self-research project.

Then, Vinton Cerf, who felt that the DoD was too boring and the CIA was too stupid, complained about the matter on the day he met Ethan, and also mentioned the name of the other party's outsourcing company, software development laboratory, and the other party's office Address, Bay Area, ask Ethan to see if there is any problem with this leather bag company.

If there is……

If he is annoyed to death, he will not be polite.

When faced with Vinton Cerf's instructions, Ethan took it very seriously, because he was not only Evelyn's teacher, but also Barbara Babcock's friend, and the builder of the Internet. When the key to the next era is in the other party's hands, Ethan will only do it perfunctorily if his head is kicked by a donkey.

Therefore, after returning to Stanford, Ethan handed over this matter to Julis Noble and asked her to investigate first, and he would come back later. But in the process of Julis's testing, Nintendo's rebellious guy caused trouble. They launched COLOR TV GAME in this book.

This situation forced Ethan to free his hands to strike.

After a while of busy work, Ethan stuffed Nintendo's head into the toilet with his own hands. Only then did Ethan have time to look through the report Julis gave him. When he found that there was nothing wrong with the Software Development Laboratory, it didn't look like he was cheating on subsidies, but it was also After guessing that nothing could be done, he sent a fax to Vinton Cerf to express that everything was fine.

But now——

The software development lab exploded?

Have they really developed what the CIA wants?

Damn it! How can this be!

Ethan couldn't believe it.

When he flipped through the fax and continued reading, the content above made him frown even more.

Because in the fax sent by Vinton Cerf, the Software Development Laboratory had delivered the first version of the database to the CIA, and Vinton Cerf also obtained the other party's research and development information.

The database of the Software Development Laboratory is based on the paper 'R System: Database Relational Theory' published by IBM in 1976. The first version of the system they submitted was written in assembly language. Although it looked very simple, it already had the ability to write data. It has the functions of entering and querying, and can also implement transaction submission and rollback operations. According to the report received by the CIA, in the next step, the software development laboratory will add functions such as inserting, deleting and updating old data to the database.

These facts satisfy the CIA.

Once the CIA was satisfied, the DoD was not. In other words, other teams that had previously proposed software outsourcing and did not want to have a large amount of funds taken up by Vinton Cerf were dissatisfied.

Although these matters are only internal conflicts within the DoD and are unlikely to develop into public conflicts that are well known to everyone in society, Vinton Cerf is now embarrassed. He wanted to continue researching, but other teams were standing by and wanted to save money. He wanted to refute, but the CIA's outsourcing software was indeed good.

What made him even more surprised was that the storm this time was a bit inexplicable. Many teams are not attacking his technology, but attacking his overall view. Many people say that his technology is great, but they also criticize his narrow vision. This half-praising and half-derogatory behavior makes him feel like he is Being targeted.

[Evelin, I will figure out things here in DoD myself, but it will take time. 】

[So, I’ll leave the matter to you in California. 】

[Previously, after investigating the company, Ethan said that the company was not embezzling CIA funds, but at the same time, they only had eight people and should not be able to support the development of the project. But now they are successful, so I want to know, why did that company develop the database so quickly? 】

[I don’t understand, how can a R\u0026D team of eight people make something before us? 】

[Is there anyone else behind them? 】

[I think someone may be targeting me. 】

Seeing this, the last paragraph of the fax made Ethan sigh in relief.

Although Vinton Cerf was a little angry, dissatisfied, and unhappy, he was still very rational and did not put all the blame on his head before the matter was investigated clearly.

Vinton Cerf's sane behavior also made Ethan feel a little guilty.

While he attached great importance to his relationship with Vinton Cerf, he did not go to the site to investigate and investigate in person. This was really inappropriate.

Even if there are accidents by Nintendo, these can't actually be the reasons, can they?

He raised his head again and looked at his sister. The serious face made him purse his lips, I don't know why things turned out like this, but... I can guarantee that I didn't mean to deal with Wenton.

I know he taught you a lot, and his business is your business, so...

I've never been perfunctory with you, right?

Ethan looked at his sister with a frank expression.

Evelin's face also softened.

Then what do you think the situation is now?

I don't know. Ethan shook his head, But judging from Vinton Cerf's description, he should have been targeted? After all, where there are conflicting interests, there will be different factions.

After reading the fax sent by Vinton Cerf, Ethan felt that the professor's feeling should be right.

As the saying goes, where there are people, there are rivers and lakes, and where there are rivers and lakes, there will be battles.

The cause of this fight can be fame or profit, but no matter what it is for, what everyone is fighting for is an opportunity to get ahead, and even more limited resources.

And Ethan's words also caused Evelin to fall into silence.

It seemed like he was thinking about the probability, but it was more like he was thinking about Ethan's attitude.

But soon, she set her sights on the lunch box in front of Ethan.

Just when she was about to speak, Ethan directly covered the lunch he had just taken two bites.

I'm done eating.

ah?

Let's go and see the scene.

Ethan took out a tissue and wiped his mouth, rolled up the fax document and walked out of the office.

After jumping a few meters away, he stepped back again.

Looking at the stunned figure, he said: Hey hey hey - you don't want to wait for me here, do you?

After coming back to her senses, Evelin raised her hand and pointed at the lunch box. This action made Ethan curl his lips and said: You will not die of hunger if you don't eat one meal, but you will really die if you are targeted by the enemy.

Let's go. If everything's okay, just come back and eat later.

Ethan took a step forward, grabbed Evelin's wrist, and dragged her out.

Two years ago, when Vinton Cerf told Ethan and Evelyn about the software development laboratory, the address he gave was Santa Clara on the edge of Palo Alto, but when Ethan drove here in person , the company with the insurance sign made the two of them blink.

After the accompanying bodyguard inquired, he found out that the software development laboratory had moved long ago.

Moved? Where?

Redwood City...

This address made Ethan turn the car around, slam on the accelerator and drive back to Silicon Valley, running towards the number plate pointed out by the insurance company. When the huge sign of the related software company appeared, Ethan instinctively squinted his eyes.

He always felt like something was wrong.

The strange feeling that suddenly appeared made him give up decisively. The bodyguard first asked him about the operation of the door, got out of the car, and took steps. As he appeared, the front desk of the company suddenly opened his mouth.

you you you you--

The young female receptionist's eyes widened and she was speechless in shock.

Ethan Jones.

Ethan introduced himself, nodded and smiled at the receptionist.

After appearing many times on national radio and television networks, he was prepared to be recognized when he walked on the street, so he was not surprised at this moment.

Looking around, the palm-sized facade fits the description of a start-up company in the information.

but--

How could such a big company make the software that the CIA wanted before Vinton Cerf did?

This is a bit incredible no matter how you look at it!

Is your boss here? I have something to ask him about.

After a brief observation, Ethan turned his attention to the receptionist at the front desk.

He decided to go straight to the point.

Although he doesn't understand technology and doesn't understand why this company is so popular, he knows how to tell whether a company is popular or not - as long as he meets the founder of the company.

Because if the other person is really a master of technology, Ethan will definitely recognize him.

This is the confidence of a time traveler!

The straightforward words also helped the receptionist regain her composure.

Even though Ethan smiled like a spring breeze, the female receptionist still chose to keep things business-like, Uh... I'm sorry, Mr. Jones, our boss is not in the company right now.

Then when will he come back? Ethan continued to ask with a smile.

Mr. Jones, I can't answer your question. The receptionist said with regret: Mr. Jones, do you have anything to do with our boss? I can record it first.

This way, when our boss comes back, I can immediately tell him about your visit.

The words that were neither humble nor arrogant made Ethan turn his head.

When he looked at Evelin, the girl also gave him a knowing look.

At this moment, both of them felt that the boss of this company should be in Washington.

They may have been left there by the CIA and did not return.

And if this is the case, things will be a little troublesome.

Because this means that the CIA has just obtained the database, and the DoD has received news of the test. Perhaps before the test is completely completed, some people in the DoD have already attacked Vinton Cerf.

'enemy. ’

Ethan blinked at his sister.

'enemy. ’

Evelin returned the affirmative look.

Okay. Now that the two of them had reached a consensus, Ethan stopped covering up.

He explained to the receptionist in a calm tone: It's like this. I recently heard that your company is developing a computer database product, so I wanted to find out more about it.

“If there are results and it’s easy to use, then we will definitely be interested in purchasing it.”

Since you recognize me, you should know that we are preparing for a national competition for video games, and now, according to estimates from our partner, the National Football League, there should be a lot of contestants this time, so we need a Tools that aggregate their personal information.”

“Instead of traditional paper documents.”

We want the simplicity and convenience of Excel.

do you understand?

According to the normal visit procedure, Ethan should leave a message and wait for the other party to contact him.

But when the enemy's identity has been revealed, catching low-level employees off guard before the other party is alert is the best way to obtain information.

Sure enough, when Ethan explained his purpose, the receptionist immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

She smiled and nodded at Ethan and said, Oh - Mr. Jones - you are so well-informed.

Our company is indeed developing a database product and has already sold it to the outside world. If you want to know more about this database, you can sit in our reception room for a while and I will call the technical specialist for you and ask him to give it to you. Can you introduce the product?

Of course! Ethan liked the result very much.

“Then this is—” The receptionist looked at Evelin.

My sister.

Oh - Ms. Johnson, it's so nice to meet you.

The receptionist girl nodded and smiled at Evelin, walked out of the workbench, made an invitation gesture to the two of them, and guided them to the reception room nearby.

After serving the mineral water that Ethan and Evelin asked for, she stepped on high heels and walked upstairs.

Like the front of the small company, the reception room of the associated software company only had two sofas and a coffee table, so there was no extra information for Ethan to capture.

But it didn't matter. Two minutes after they sat down, the sound of footsteps coming downstairs came from far and near. The receptionist came in with a middle-aged white man in his thirties.

This guy is wearing a blue plaid shirt and thick-soled black-rimmed glasses. He is not tall and has slightly round cheeks, giving him a naive look.

After he saw Ethan, he decisively reached out and wanted to hold hands with him.

After a brief hello, the three people who sat down again started chatting about business.

As soon as this little chubby guy opened his mouth, Ethan's heart skipped a beat, because——

Mr. Jones, Ms. Johnson, I'm glad you chose our associated software company.

Our product Oracle has been developed to the second version...

Wait! When Ethan heard the word Oracle, he immediately interrupted the other party, What did you say? The name of your product is Oracle?

The rude behavior startled the two people in the reception room.

Evelin cast a doubtful look at Ethan.

The little fat man blinked his eyes and returned to normal in an instant, Oh - Mr. Jones, you heard that right, our company's product is called Oracle.

You may think this name is a bit strange, because it is the religious word 'oracle' and comes from ancient Greece, but this is actually a preference of our founder. He thinks this name can bring him good luck, so he Used it...

This kind of behavior is actually not strange, right?

Just like your company is named after destiny, what we want is a bright future.

Although Xiaopangdun explained it beautifully, the smile on Ethan's face was gone.

Isn’t the name ‘Oracle’ strange?

certainly!

For an American, this name is normal!

But for Ethan, all this is problematic!

Because in a few decades, someone will translate ‘Oracle’ into ‘Oracle Bones’!

And the product of the associated software company is called Oracle?

Is your boss's name Larry Ellison?

Ethan asked pretending to be calm.

But there was already a tsunami in my heart.

Yeah!

Little Fatty was pleasantly surprised and said, Mr. Jones, have you ever heard of our boss's name?

Oh - this is such an unexpected surprise!

‘Fuck——’

Ethan didn't answer, he was already cursing in his heart!

He doesn't know Larry Ellison!

But he knew something was serious!

Because the company that makes Vinton Cerf uncomfortable is Oracle!

Note: ① In real life, Larry Ellison handed over the first version of the Oracle database to the CIA in 1979. ② Before officially changing its name to Oracle in 1982, they used the three names of Software Development Laboratory, Relational Software Company and Relational Software Company. ③The literal translation of Oracle is oracle, which is related to ancient Greek divination. The reason why it is translated into oracle bone script is that it is faithful and elegant.