Verifying against the live site and live WHOIS/DNS…
Common questions
Is joelonsoftware.com legit or a scam?
AboutUs doesn't label sites "legit" or "a scam": this page lists the dated registration, DNS, HTTPS, mail-authentication and safety checks we could verify, each with its source, so you can decide for yourself.
Who owns joelonsoftware.com?
Nobody has completed AboutUs's owner verification for joelonsoftware.com. That's true of most sites here — it isn't itself a warning sign.
Correct a description, link or other detail. Submissions are reviewed before publication.
Lifeline · joelonsoftware.com over time
Checked in the last 30 daysOlder, dated recordFrom registration records
Registered 26 years ago · on AboutUs since 2006 · 2 registrar changes since Jul 16, 2007 · no registrant change on record since 2007 · last checked Nov 1, 2026.
Registration
RegisteredJul 29, 2000joelonsoftware.com was registered on Jul 29, 2000.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 20, 2026
AboutUs record
AboutUs wiki pageAboutUs wiki pageJun 20, 2006 – Nov 5, 2013An AboutUs wiki page described joelonsoftware.com from Jun 20, 2006 to Nov 5, 2013 (4 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023Said about itself in 2006Jul 1, 2006
Registrar
TUCOWS, INC.Jul 16, 2007 – Sep 30, 2009Registrar TUCOWS, INC. in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for joelonsoftware.com, from Jul 16, 2007 to Sep 30, 2009.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)GoDaddy.com, LLCGoDaddy.com, LLCJun 30, 2011 – Apr 25, 2017Registrar GoDaddy.com, LLC (IANA 146) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for joelonsoftware.com, from Jun 30, 2011 to Apr 25, 2017.
Registrant
Registrant recordsJul 16, 2007 – Jun 23, 2026Registration records for joelonsoftware.com are held from Jul 16, 2007 to Jun 23, 2026 (373 records). None shows a change of registrant. Privacy-service and redaction changes, renames of the same organization and new contacts at it are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
No registrant changes recorded, 2007–2026
Zone file
No nameserver records held, Oct 2009 – Oct 2010Nameservers: fogcreek.comJul 16, 2007 – Sep 30, 2009Registration records listed fogcreek.com nameservers (dns3.fogcreek.com, dns5.fogcreek.com) for joelonsoftware.com from Jul 16, 2007 to Sep 30, 2009.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Certificate
Let's EncryptApr 2, 2026 – Jul 1, 2026Let's Encrypt issued 2 certificates for joelonsoftware.com from Apr 2, 2026, the latest valid until Jul 1, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
20102020Jan ’26Oct ’26← last 12 months, drawn wider
Every dated fact on this lifeline (20)
Jul 29, 2000Registration: joelonsoftware.com was registered on Jul 29, 2000.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 20, 2026
Jun 20, 2006 – Nov 5, 2013AboutUs record: An AboutUs wiki page described joelonsoftware.com from Jun 20, 2006 to Nov 5, 2013 (4 edits).Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006–2023
Jul 1, 2006AboutUs record: “I'm your host, Joel Spolsky, a software developer in New York City. Since 2000, I've been writing about software development, management, business, and the Internet on this site. More about me.”Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Jul 16, 2007 – Sep 30, 2009Registrar: Registrar TUCOWS, INC. in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for joelonsoftware.com, from Jul 16, 2007 to Sep 30, 2009.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Jul 16, 2007 – Jun 23, 2026Registrant: Registration records for joelonsoftware.com are held from Jul 16, 2007 to Jun 23, 2026 (373 records). None shows a change of registrant. Privacy-service and redaction changes, renames of the same organization and new contacts at it are not counted.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is); counted by registrant name and organization only
Jul 16, 2007 – Sep 30, 2009
“I'm your host, Joel Spolsky, a software developer in New York City. Since 2000, I've been writing about software development, management, business, and the Internet on this site. More about me.”
Source: AboutUs wiki archive, 2006
Current AboutUs recordJun 19, 2026 – Aug 20, 2026 (latest)Authority and Safety last refreshed Aug 20, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Name.com, Inc.Name.com, Inc.Jul 28, 2017 – Oct 31, 2026 (latest)Registrar Name.com, Inc. (IANA 625) in the registration data recorded, first on Jul 28, 2017 and most recently on Oct 31, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 20, 2026
Nameservers: zerigo.netOct 15, 2010 – Jul 22, 2012Registration records listed zerigo.net nameservers (a.ns.zerigo.net) for joelonsoftware.com from Oct 15, 2010 to Jul 22, 2012.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to zerigo.netOct 15, 2010joelonsoftware.com's nameservers moved from fogcreek.com to zerigo.net at some point between Sep 30, 2009 and Oct 15, 2010. Last seen at fogcreek.com: Sep 30, 2009 (registration record). First seen at zerigo.net: Oct 15, 2010 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 12 months in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Nameservers: Amazon Route 53Jul 27, 2012 – Oct 17, 2013Registration records listed Amazon Route 53 nameservers (ns-1326.awsdns-37.org, ns-1925.awsdns-48.co.uk, ns-249.awsdns-31.com…) for joelonsoftware.com from Jul 27, 2012 to Oct 17, 2013. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to Amazon Route 53Jul 27, 2012joelonsoftware.com's nameservers moved from zerigo.net to Amazon Route 53 between Jul 22, 2012 and Jul 27, 2012. Last seen at zerigo.net: Jul 22, 2012 (registration record). First seen at Amazon Route 53: Jul 27, 2012 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Nameservers: Amazon Route 53Nameservers: Amazon Route 53Oct 18, 2013 – Apr 3, 2018Amazon Route 53 (ns-1326.awsdns-37.org, ns-1925.awsdns-48.co.uk, ns-249.awsdns-31.com…) were the nameservers listed for joelonsoftware.com at every ICANN zone-file snapshot AboutUs holds from Oct 18, 2013 to Apr 3, 2018 (snapshots exist for only part of 2013–2018).Source: ICANN zone-file snapshots, 2013–2018 (legacy archive)
Nameservers: Amazon Route 53Apr 4, 2018 – Sep 13, 2019Registration records listed Amazon Route 53 nameservers (ns-1326.awsdns-37.org, ns-1925.awsdns-48.co.uk, ns-249.awsdns-31.com…) for joelonsoftware.com from Apr 4, 2018 to Sep 13, 2019. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Nameservers: Name.comNameservers: Name.comOct 13, 2019 – Jun 23, 2026Registration records listed Name.com nameservers (ns1mtw.name.com, ns2nsw.name.com, ns3flt.name.com…) for joelonsoftware.com from Oct 13, 2019 to Jun 23, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
DNS moved to Name.comOct 13, 2019joelonsoftware.com's nameservers moved from Amazon Route 53 to Name.com between Sep 13, 2019 and Oct 13, 2019. Last seen at Amazon Route 53: Sep 13, 2019 (registration record). First seen at Name.com: Oct 13, 2019 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Seen in the .com zone fileSep 8, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026 (latest)First seen in the .com zone file records AboutUs holds on Sep 8, 2026; latest sighting Nov 1, 2026. Nameservers on Nov 1, 2026: ns1mtw.name.com, ns2nsw.name.com, ns3flt.name.com, ns4hmp.name.com.Source: ICANN CZDS zone file, snapshot Nov 1, 2026
Google Trust Services
Jun 3, 2026 – Nov 2, 2026 (latest)
Google Trust Services issued 6 certificates for joelonsoftware.com from Jun 3, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 3, 2027. Seen in use on Oct 2, 2026.
Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 2, 2026
Zone file: Registration records listed fogcreek.com nameservers (dns3.fogcreek.com, dns5.fogcreek.com) for joelonsoftware.com from Jul 16, 2007 to Sep 30, 2009.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Oct 15, 2010 – Jul 22, 2012Zone file: Registration records listed zerigo.net nameservers (a.ns.zerigo.net) for joelonsoftware.com from Oct 15, 2010 to Jul 22, 2012.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Oct 15, 2010Zone file: joelonsoftware.com's nameservers moved from fogcreek.com to zerigo.net at some point between Sep 30, 2009 and Oct 15, 2010. Last seen at fogcreek.com: Sep 30, 2009 (registration record). First seen at zerigo.net: Oct 15, 2010 (registration record). AboutUs holds no nameserver records for the 12 months in between, so the date of the move is not known more closely.Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Jun 30, 2011 – Apr 25, 2017Registrar: Registrar GoDaddy.com, LLC (IANA 146) in the WHOIS and RDAP records held for joelonsoftware.com, from Jun 30, 2011 to Apr 25, 2017.Source: WHOIS / RDAP archive (who.is)
Jul 27, 2012 – Oct 17, 2013Zone file: Registration records listed Amazon Route 53 nameservers (ns-1326.awsdns-37.org, ns-1925.awsdns-48.co.uk, ns-249.awsdns-31.com…) for joelonsoftware.com from Jul 27, 2012 to Oct 17, 2013. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Jul 27, 2012Zone file: joelonsoftware.com's nameservers moved from zerigo.net to Amazon Route 53 between Jul 22, 2012 and Jul 27, 2012. Last seen at zerigo.net: Jul 22, 2012 (registration record). First seen at Amazon Route 53: Jul 27, 2012 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Oct 18, 2013 – Apr 3, 2018Zone file: Amazon Route 53 (ns-1326.awsdns-37.org, ns-1925.awsdns-48.co.uk, ns-249.awsdns-31.com…) were the nameservers listed for joelonsoftware.com at every ICANN zone-file snapshot AboutUs holds from Oct 18, 2013 to Apr 3, 2018 (snapshots exist for only part of 2013–2018).Source: ICANN zone-file snapshots, 2013–2018 (legacy archive)
Jul 28, 2017 – Oct 31, 2026Registrar: Registrar Name.com, Inc. (IANA 625) in the registration data recorded, first on Jul 28, 2017 and most recently on Oct 31, 2026.Source: RDAP, fetched Aug 20, 2026
Apr 4, 2018 – Sep 13, 2019Zone file: Registration records listed Amazon Route 53 nameservers (ns-1326.awsdns-37.org, ns-1925.awsdns-48.co.uk, ns-249.awsdns-31.com…) for joelonsoftware.com from Apr 4, 2018 to Sep 13, 2019. Days a zone file covers are shown from the zone file instead.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Oct 13, 2019 – Jun 23, 2026Zone file: Registration records listed Name.com nameservers (ns1mtw.name.com, ns2nsw.name.com, ns3flt.name.com…) for joelonsoftware.com from Oct 13, 2019 to Jun 23, 2026.Source: From registration records (WHOIS / RDAP archive, who.is)
Oct 13, 2019Zone file: joelonsoftware.com's nameservers moved from Amazon Route 53 to Name.com between Sep 13, 2019 and Oct 13, 2019. Last seen at Amazon Route 53: Sep 13, 2019 (registration record). First seen at Name.com: Oct 13, 2019 (registration record).Source: Derived from the nameserver records on this lifeline (registration record → registration record)
Apr 2, 2026 – Jul 1, 2026Certificate: Let's Encrypt issued 2 certificates for joelonsoftware.com from Apr 2, 2026, the latest valid until Jul 1, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader)
Jun 3, 2026 – Nov 2, 2026Certificate: Google Trust Services issued 6 certificates for joelonsoftware.com from Jun 3, 2026, the latest valid until Jan 3, 2027. Seen in use on Oct 2, 2026.Source: Certificate Transparency logs (AboutUs's own certificate-log reader); TLS check, Oct 2, 2026
Jun 19, 2026 – Aug 20, 2026AboutUs record: Authority and Safety last refreshed Aug 20, 2026.Source: AboutUs checks
Sep 8, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026Zone file: First seen in the .com zone file records AboutUs holds on Sep 8, 2026; latest sighting Nov 1, 2026. Nameservers on Nov 1, 2026: ns1mtw.name.com, ns2nsw.name.com, ns3flt.name.com, ns4hmp.name.com.Source: ICANN CZDS zone file, snapshot Nov 1, 2026
3 of 4 safety checks passed (Nov 2, 2026).
Registered 2000 · site is live · HTTPS valid
JoelOnSoftware.com - A software development resource authored by an NY programmer
I'm your host, Joel Spolsky, a software developer in New York City.
Add the HSTS, Content-Security-Policy, and X-Frame-Options response headers.
AboutUs has not vetted this site. Everything below is what we could measure automatically. Anything you do on the site — paying, sharing personal details, downloading — is between you and the site, not AboutUs.
Current facts
Latest available measurements; dated entries retain their dates. These are measurements, not an endorsement of the site.
latest result
Domain registered Jul 29, 2000 — 26 years old.
latest result
Registrar on record: Name.com, Inc. — unchanged since AboutUs began tracking (Aug 20, 2026).
latest result
HTTPS request succeeded for www.joelonsoftware.com.
checked Sep 29, 2026
The live front page reads as a personal site or blog that is a personal, non-commercial site, mainly for specialists in its field.
Authority 67/100— ahead of 67% of the August 2026 scored sampleClear
Why this authority score
67 is a percentile: higher than 67% of sites we score.
How it's calculated
Prominence (Tranco rank #18,417)+8
Verified continuity: 26.3 years (RDAP registration)+11
Security & email hygiene+2
Calibration adjustment (published map)+13
Model score: 34/99 — what these reason lines add up to.
Published Authority (percentile): 67/100 — this site's rank against the August 2026 scored sample. Public Authority is capped at 99.
Safety evidence
No unexpired threat-feed result; name-similarity check available (recorded about 73 days ago); 3/3 transport and email checks available (oldest recorded about 73 days ago). This is evidence coverage, not a probability that a website is safe.
What joelonsoftware.com said about itself, 2006
Quoted from the site's AboutUs wiki page in each year it changed (1 version). These are the page's own words at the time, not AboutUs's assessment. New words · dropped words
2006
I'm your host, Joel Spolsky, a software developer in New York City. Since 2000, I've been writing about software development, management, business, and the Internet on this site. More about me.
Site history
Dated record — historical facts always carry their date; self-description below is the 2013 record.
2000
Domain registered (Jul 29, 2000).
2006
First tracked by AboutUs (Jun 20, 2006); profile edited 4 times through 2013.
2013
Self-description at the time:
“JoelOnSoftware.com - A software development resource authored by an NY programmer”