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Was Stack Exchange named after Experts Exchange, or is the former using the word "Exchange" a coincidence?

2 Answers 2

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I remember I first heard this name from the Stack Overflow podcast. They were talking about "knowledge exchange" and they added stack to the mix and it turns out the actual product was named after that.

Since one of the unofficial goals of Stack Overflow has been "expertsexchange.com without the evil," I wouldn't be surprised that it has indirectly influenced the naming, but I can't imagine they've named the product after the hyphen site intentionally.

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    It's Podcast 58; the discussion starts around 4:50. Quoting Joel: Jason told us it was a knowledge exchange [...] Nobody uses that word, but what the hell, I like it. And, uhm, so the product is a knowledge exchange server I guess. And we want to have, uh, we want to allude at least to the original Stack Overflow. So the long version of the name might be something like "The Stack Overflow Knowledge Exchange Server Hosted Edition".
    – balpha StaffMod
    Commented Dec 9, 2010 at 10:21
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    @balpha: Wow. I did remember it correctly! I miss the podcast. Jeff, Joel, I WANT THE PODCAST BACK! :(
    – mmx
    Commented Dec 9, 2010 at 10:23
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    @balpha TSOKESHE has a kinda neat ring to it...
    – Grace Note StaffMod
    Commented Dec 9, 2010 at 11:45
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    TSOKESHE "so catchy"
    – sova
    Commented Jan 6, 2011 at 7:00
  • @Grace I'm imagining that in some outdated language it means, "inedible fibrous root".
    – Pollyanna
    Commented Jan 17, 2011 at 19:15
  • @AdamDavis Funny... I thought katana-esque weapon. Commented Apr 29, 2012 at 7:15
  • Every time I see "expertsexchange.com" without the hyphens, I read "Expert Sex Change". Geez, talk about Freudian...
    – Yawus
    Commented Jul 11, 2012 at 16:02
  • @Yawus: Good that something like that can't happen with the "S. Exchange" we use here...
    – sth
    Commented Jul 11, 2012 at 17:46
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Stack Exchange, Inc is located in One Exchange Plaza, 26th Floor, NY NY 10006. Coincidence? I don't know.

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    Exchange Plaza may be named after the New York Stock Exchange, at least according to one MSO commenter.
    – Pops
    Commented Apr 29, 2012 at 6:59
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    @PopularDemand that's a reasonable assumption but its name is actually derived from the Merchant's Exchange Building which burned in 1835, which then moved north one block to wall street. Incidentally the name "Exchange Plaza" doesn't appear on the property description of the deed or any of the New York city tax maps but rather "Exchange Alley" so I suspect some real estate maneuvering here even though the Street Signs do read "Exchange Plaza". Commented Jul 11, 2012 at 18:28

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