Google to launch the early access program of the .dev domain, a dedicated space for developers

Last year in November at the Chrome Dev Summit keynote, Google introduced .dev, a domain dedicated to developers and technology. The registration process has already started on Feb 16 and the team is set to launch its Early Access Program.

The registration process has already started on Feb 16. According to the timeline shared at the Chrome Dev Summit, the Early Access Program will start on Feb 19th at 8:00 am PST to February 28th at 7:59 am PST. Under this program, users can register available .dev domains by giving an extra fee. This fee will decrease as we get closer to the General Availability phase, which starts February 28 onwards. After registering the domain, users will be required to pay $12/year cost for .dev domains.

In addition to a dedicated space for developers, this domain will provide built-in security, as it is included on the HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) preload list. This essentially means that all the connections to .dev websites and pages will be made using HTTPS.

Looking at Google’s track record of killing its products over time, some Hacker News users were little skeptical about this service. One user commented, “I wouldn't lease the domain through Google domains. Use a different registrar --- if possible, one that you'll be able to trust. That registrar will work with the registry of the TLD, which would be google in this case, and has a much better chance of actually resolving issues than if you were a direct customer of Google Domains.”

Another user said, “They have a well-established track record of enthusiastically backing exciting new projects way outside of their core competency just to dump them like hot garbage several years later...It doesn't seem like a smart move to lease a domain from a politically active mega-monopoly that might decide to randomly become your competitor in 2 years.” Countering this argument, one of the Google developers from the team launching .dev said, “You'll be glad to know that TLDs can't simply be discontinued like other products might be. ICANN doesn't allow it. The procedures in place preventing a live TLD from shutting down are called EBERO.”

Read more about the .dev domain on its official website.