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2009: The Year of Technical Evolution

· 3 min read
Nima Golsharifi
OrbVPN CEO & Founder

2009 marked a pivotal year for OrbVPN. After two years of running with basic systems, we made the crucial decision to rebuild our entire backend in Python. This wasn't just a technical choice – it was about creating a foundation that could support our vision for years to come.

The Python Transition​

The move to Python was significant. We didn't just want to replicate our existing system – we aimed to build something more robust, more scalable, and more secure. Our small team spent months planning and executing this transition, ensuring our users experienced minimal disruption while we essentially rebuilt the plane mid-flight.

Infrastructure Expansion​

This year also saw our first major infrastructure expansion:

  • Established presence in multiple data centers
  • Implemented proper load balancing
  • Created our first automated backup systems
  • Developed basic monitoring tools

Strengthening Privacy​

The global focus on internet surveillance made our mission more relevant than ever. We enhanced our privacy features:

  • Improved encryption implementations
  • Strengthened our no-logs policy
  • Enhanced user anonymity features
  • Developed better traffic obfuscation

Learning Through Growth​

Our invitation-based system continued to prove its worth. While other services rushed to scale up user numbers, we maintained our focus on controlled growth through trust networks. This approach helped us maintain service quality while learning from our users' experiences.

Technical Challenges​

The year wasn't without its challenges. The Python migration revealed gaps in our initial planning, and some features took longer to implement than expected. But each challenge helped us build a more resilient service. We learned that sometimes going slower meant going further in the long run.

User Trust​

Our commitment to privacy continued to attract journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious users. Their feedback and trust helped shape our development priorities. We learned that our users weren't just looking for a VPN – they needed a reliable tool for protecting their fundamental right to communicate freely.

Research and Development​

This year also marked our first steps into formal research and development. We began studying new encryption methods and traffic optimization techniques, laying the groundwork for future innovations.

Growing Team​

While still small, our team grew more cohesive. Each member developed specialized knowledge in crucial areas:

  • Protocol development
  • Infrastructure management
  • Security implementation
  • User support

Looking Forward to 2010​

As we enter 2010, our priorities are clear:

  • Further infrastructure expansion
  • Enhanced protocol development
  • Improved user interface
  • Stronger security features

A Personal Note​

This year's developments in global internet freedom (or lack thereof) reminded us why tools like OrbVPN are crucial. We're not just providing a service – we're protecting fundamental human rights.

To our users: your trust drives us to keep improving. To our team: your dedication made this year's achievements possible. And to those working for freedom of speech and human rights: we remain committed to providing the tools you need to work safely.

The foundation we've built this year, especially with our Python backend, positions us well for the future. We're excited about the possibilities ahead while remaining grounded in our core mission of protecting privacy and freedom of communication.

Nima Golsharifi
Founder, OrbVPN