Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly Facebook, Inc.) is an American technology conglomerate that operates Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other products. The company has made significant contributions to open-source software and web development.
Open Source Contributions
Meta has released influential open-source projects:
- React: UI library that transformed web development
- React Native: Mobile development framework
- GraphQL: Query language for APIs
- PyTorch: Machine learning framework
- Hack: PHP variant with static typing
- Watchman: File watching service
Engineering Scale
Meta operates at unprecedented scale, driving innovations in:
- Data center design
- Caching and data distribution
- Machine learning infrastructure
- Mobile performance optimization
Research
Facebook AI Research (FAIR) conducts fundamental AI research and publishes openly, contributing to:
- Computer vision
- Natural language processing
- Reinforcement learning
- AI safety
Impact on Web Development
Through React and related tools, Meta shaped modern web development practices. The component model, virtual DOM, and declarative UI concepts became industry standards.