EarthWeb's stock more than tripled on its first day, in a week when New York's internet companies could do no wrong. The Manhattan startup ran a network of websites for computer professionals, with directories of Java code, technical references and a paid library called ITknowledge.com. Advertisers who wanted to reach programmers paid to be there. In November 1998, Silicon Alley had its first real stars, and EarthWeb was one of them.

Three Founders, One Audience

Jack Hidary, his brother Murray Hidary and Nova Spivack started the company, first known as IdentiNet, and began operating as EarthWeb in October 1996. Jack Hidary became CEO. Their bet was a narrow one. EarthWeb would own a single crowd: developers, network engineers and the managers who bought technology. It earned money from ads, sponsorships, and subscriptions to premium technical content.

From Content to Careers

EarthWeb priced its IPO at $14 a share in November 1998 and traded on Nasdaq as EWBX. In 1999 it bought Dice.com, a tech jobs board, and the job listings soon mattered more than the content. EarthWeb sold its content sites in 2000 and renamed itself Dice Inc. Debt from the boom years forced a Chapter 11 filing in 2003. Dice came out of bankruptcy and returned to the market in 2007 as Dice Holdings.

Cover: Men Playing a Game of Dice, Unknown artist. Art Institute of Chicago, public domain. Chosen for men playing at dice (Dice).