Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10.1
                           AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT

         THIS AMENDMENT TO LOAN AGREEMENT ("Amendment") dated as of January 17,
2001 (the "Amendment Effective Date") is made and entered into by and among
SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC. (the "Borrower"), a Delaware corporation, the banking
institutions (each, together with its successors and assigns, a "Bank" and
collectively, the "Banks") from time to time a party to the Loan Agreement (as
hereinafter defined), as amended by this Amendment, ABN AMRO BANK N.V., HOUSTON
AGENCY and DEN NORSKE BANK AS, as Co-Agents (in such capacity, together with
their successors in such capacity, collectively called the "Co-Agents") and THE
CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as agent for the Banks (in such capacity, together with
its successors in such capacity, the "Agent").

RECITALS:

         WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Banks, the Co-Agents, and the Agent are
parties to a Loan Agreement dated as of April 4, 1996, as heretofore amended
(the "Loan Agreement"); and

         WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Banks, the Co-Agents, and the Agent have
agreed, on the terms and conditions herein set forth, that the Loan Agreement be
amended in certain respects;

         NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED:

         Section 1. Definitions. Terms used herein which are defined in the Loan
Agreement shall have the same meanings when used herein unless otherwise
provided herein.

         Section 2. Amendment to the Loan Agreement. On and after the Amendment
Effective Date, Section 8.1 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended to read in
its entirety as follows:

                  8.1      Indebtedness. Create, incur, suffer or permit to
         exist, or assume or guarantee, directly or indirectly, or become or
         remain liable with respect to any Indebtedness which constitutes
         Borrowed Money Indebtedness, whether direct, indirect, absolute,
         contingent or otherwise, except (subject to Section 7.3 hereof) the
         following:

                           (a)      Borrowed Money Indebtedness of the Borrower
                  and its Subsidiaries outstanding on December 31, 1998 and
                  described on Exhibit H hereto or disclosed to the Agent in the
                  financial statements delivered on or prior to such date
                  pursuant to Section 7.2 hereof;

                           (b)      Borrowed Money Indebtedness evidenced by the
                  Notes (including contingent liabilities under the Guaranty);

                           (c)      Borrowed Money Indebtedness evidenced by the
                  M-I Drilling Facility (including contingent liabilities of the
                  Borrower with respect thereto);

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                           (d)      Borrowed Money Indebtedness of any
                  Subsidiary owing to the Borrower or another wholly-owned
                  Subsidiary and Borrowed Money Indebtedness of Borrower owing
                  to any Subsidiary, provided such Borrowed Money Indebtedness
                  is expressly subordinated, in a manner reasonably acceptable
                  to the Agent, to the payment in full of all Obligations of
                  Borrower under the Loan Documents;

                           (e)      contingent liabilities incurred by M-I by
                  with respect to performance letters of credit and bid and
                  performance bonds required by M-I in support of contracts
                  entered into by M-I in the ordinary course of its business (or
                  guaranties of such contingent liabilities by the Borrower);

                           (f)      Borrowed Money Indebtedness of Wilson
                  Industries, Inc. (which may be assumed by the Borrower in
                  connection with the release of the security interests securing
                  such Borrowed Money Indebtedness, the Banks acknowledging that
                  for a period of one (1) Business Day after such assumption
                  such Borrowed Money Indebtedness shall continue to be secured)
                  an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000 in the
                  aggregate;

                           (g)      other Borrowed Money Indebtedness of the
                  Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal
                  amount not exceeding, at any one time outstanding, the sum of
                  (i) fifteen percent (15%) of Tangible Net Worth of the
                  Borrower plus (ii) $250,000,000, and

                           (h)      obligations under any interest rate swap
                  agreement, interest rate cap agreement or similar arrangement
                  entered into between the Borrower and any Bank for the purpose
                  of reducing Borrower's exposure to interest rate risk and not
                  for speculative purposes.

         Section 3. Limitations. The amendments set forth herein are limited
precisely as written and shall not be deemed to (a) be a consent to, or waiver
or modification of, any other term or condition of the Loan Agreement or any of
the other Loan Documents, or (b) except as expressly set forth herein, prejudice
any right or rights which the Banks may now have or may have in the future under
or in connection with the Loan Agreement, the Loan Documents or any of the other
documents referred to therein. Except as expressly modified hereby or by express
written amendments thereof, the terms and provisions of the Loan Agreement, the
Notes, and any other Loan Documents or any other documents or instruments
executed in connection with any of the foregoing are and shall remain in full
force and effect. In the event of a conflict between this Amendment and any of
the foregoing documents, the terms of this Amendment shall be controlling.

         Section 4. Payment of Expenses. The Borrower agrees, whether or not the
transactions hereby contemplated shall be consummated, to reimburse and save the
Co-Agents, the Agent and the Bank(s) harmless from and against liability for the
payment of all reasonable substantiated out-of-pocket costs and expenses arising
in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and enforcement of, or
the preservation of any rights under this Amendment, including, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of any local or other counsel for
the Agent, and all

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stamp taxes (including interest and penalties, if any), recording taxes and
fees, filing taxes and fees, and other similar charges which may be payable in
respect of, or in respect of any modification of, the Loan Agreement and the
other Loan Documents. The provisions of this Section shall survive the
termination of the Loan Agreement and the repayment of the Loans.

         Section 5. Governing Law. This Amendment and the rights and obligations
of the parties hereunder and under the Loan Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with and be governed by the laws of the State of Texas and the United
States of America.

         Section 6. Descriptive Headings, etc. The descriptive headings of the
several Sections of this Amendment are inserted for convenience only and shall
not be deemed to affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions
hereof.

         Section 7. Entire Agreement. This Amendment and the documents referred
to herein represent the entire understanding of the parties hereto regarding the
subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous oral and
written agreements of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof, including, without limitation, any commitment letters regarding the
transactions contemplated by this Amendment.

         Section 8. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number
of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts and all of
such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
Complete sets of counterparts shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Agent.

         Section 9. Amended Definitions. As used in the Loan Agreement
(including all Exhibits thereto) and all other instruments and documents
executed in connection therewith, on and subsequent to the Amendment Effective
Date the term (i) "Agreement" shall mean the Loan Agreement as amended by this
Amendment, and (ii) references to any and all other Loan Documents shall mean
such documents as amended as contemplated hereby.

             NOTICE PURSUANT TO TEX. BUS. & COMM. CODE SECTION 26.02

         THIS AMENDMENT AND ALL OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE
PARTIES BEFORE OR SUBSTANTIALLY CONTEMPORANEOUSLY WITH THE EXECUTION HEREOF
TOGETHER CONSTITUTE A WRITTEN LOAN AGREEMENT AND REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR,
CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO
UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
duly executed and delivered by their respective duly authorized offices as of
the date first above written.

                                    SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                    By:  /s/ MARGARET DORMAN
                                       --------------------------------------
                                    Name:  MARGARET DORMAN
                                         ------------------------------------
                                    Title:    SVP & CFO
                                          -----------------------------------

                                       4
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                                      THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                      as the Agent and as a Bank

                                      By:   /s/  MONA M. FOCH
                                         -----------------------------------
                                      Name:      MONA M. FOCH
                                           ---------------------------------
                                      Title:     Managing Director
                                            --------------------------------

                                       5
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                               ABN AMRO BANK N.V., HOUSTON AGENCY,
                         as Co-Agent and as a Bank

                               By:      ABN AMRO North America, Inc.,
                                        as agent

                                        By:   /s/  W. BRYAN CHAPMAN
                                           -----------------------------------
                                        Name:      W. BRYAN CHAPMAN
                                             ---------------------------------
                                        Title:     Group Vice President
                                              --------------------------------

                                        By:   /s/ DANA L. MONTGOMERY
                                           -----------------------------------
                                        Name:     DANA L. MONTGOMERY
                                             ---------------------------------
                                        Title:    Assistant Vice President
                                              --------------------------------

                                       6
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                                      DEN NORSKE BANK AS,
                                      as Co-Agent and as a Bank

                                      By:   /s/ J. MORTEN KREUTZ
                                         ------------------------------------
                                      Name:     J. MORTEN KREUTZ
                                           ----------------------------------
                                      Title:    First Vice President
                                            ---------------------------------

                                      By:   /s/ PHILIP KURPIEWSKI
                                         ------------------------------------
                                      Name:     PHILIP KURPIEWSKI
                                           ----------------------------------
                                      Title:    First Vice President
                                            ---------------------------------

                                       7
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                                      BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
                                      fka Bank of America, NT & SA

                                      By:   /s/ PATRICK M. DELANEY
                                         ------------------------------------
                                      Name:     PATRICK M. DELANEY
                                           ----------------------------------
                                      Title:    Managing Director
                                            ---------------------------------

                                       8
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                                   WELLS FARGO BANK (TEXAS), NATIONAL
                                   ASSOCIATION

                                   By:   /s/ SPENCER N. SMITH
                                      ----------------------------------------
                                   Name:     SPENCER N. SMITH
                                        --------------------------------------
                                   Title:    Vice President
                                         -------------------------------------

                                       9
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                                     UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA N.A.

                                     By:   /s/ HAGOR V. JAZMADARIAN
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                     Name:     HAGOR V. JAZMADARIAN
                                          -------------------------------------
                                     Title:    Vice President
                                           ------------------------------------

                                       10
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                           [INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

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                              FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK (successor
                              to Corestates Bank, N.A.)

                              By:   /s/ ROBERT R. WETTEROFF
                                 ---------------------------------------------
                              Name:     ROBERT R. WETTEROFF
                                   -------------------------------------------
                              Title:    Senior Vice President
                                    ------------------------------------------

                                       12<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

           Resignation Agreement dated as of January 26, 2001 between
           Registrant and Jack D. Hidary

                              RESIGNATION AGREEMENT
                              ---------------------
                  This RESIGNATION AGREEMENT is dated as of January 26, 2001,
and is entered into between EarthWeb, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Jack D. Hidary (the "Executive").
                  WHEREAS, Executive and the Company are parties to an
employment agreement, dated January 1, 1995 (the "Employment Agreement"), as
amended by that certain intercompany services agreement, dated October 25, 1996
(the "Intercompany Services Agreement");
                  WHEREAS, Executive and the Company have mutually agreed it to
be in the best interests of each party to terminate Executive's employment under
the Employment Agreement;
                  WHEREAS, Executive and the Company have mutually agreed to
embody in this Agreement the terms and conditions applicable to Executive's
termination of employment with the Company.
                  NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby agree:
         1. Termination Date. Executive's termination of employment with the
Company is effective as of the date hereof (the "Termination Date"). Executive
hereby resigns as President and Chief Executive Officer. Executive will serve as
the non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, subject to
renomination and reelection in accordance with the Company's charter and bylaws.

         2. Company Property. Except as otherwise provided herein, Executive
shall immediately return to the Company all Company-owned property in his
possession.

         3. Termination Benefits. (a) Commencing as of the Termination Date, in
full satisfaction of the Company's obligations under the Employment Agreement
and the Intercompany Services Agreement, the Company shall pay to Executive (i)
in accordance with the Company's prevailing payroll practices, severance
payments equal to Executive's current monthly salary, for a period of
twenty-five months (the "Severance Period"), and (ii) the unpaid portion of
Executive's bonus for 2000, based on an aggregate bonus of 25% of Executive's
current annual salary. In addition, to the extent permissible under the
Company's health plans, until the earlier of (A) one-year from the Termination
Date, or (B) the date on which Executive is eligible for coverage under another
group insurance plan, the Executive shall continue to receive any health, dental
and vision benefits provided to him immediately prior to the Termination Date.

                  (b) Notwithstanding any provision of any option plan or
agreement to the contrary, all vested options held by Executive on the
Termination Date shall remain exercisable by Executive for a period of one-year
following the Termination Date and shall thereafter terminate to the extent not
exercised. As of the Termination Date, all unvested shall terminate immediately.

                  (c) The Company shall transfer ownership to Executive of (i)
his Company provided laptop computer, and (ii) the items contained in
Executive's office; provided, however, that Executive shall not retain any
confidential or proprietary information.
<PAGE>

                  (d) The Company shall provide Executive (i) email and
voicemail access for the greater of (x) the period expiring on the first
anniversary of the date hereof, or (y) the period Executive remains a director
of the Company, (ii) forwarding of Executive's mail to an address provided by
Executive for a period not to exceed one-year, and (iii) three-months of
technology transition support.

         4. Benefit Plans. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this
Agreement or by law or by any employee benefit plan, Executive's participation
in all employee benefit plans and Executive compensation plans and practices of
the Company shall terminate on the Termination Date, and there shall be no other
payments or benefits payable to Executive by the Company, including, but not
limited to, any other salary, bonus, commissions, fees, benefits, or other
payments of any nature whatsoever.

         5. Taxes. The payments due to Executive under this Agreement shall be
subject to reduction to satisfy all applicable Federal, state and local
withholding tax obligations.

         6. Payment Upon Death. Executive's rights and obligations under this
Agreement are not transferable. However, if Executive should die while any
amounts would still be payable to him hereunder, all such amounts shall be
payable to Executive's estate, heirs, executors or beneficiaries in accordance
with the terms hereof.

         7. Restrictive Covenants. The Covenants set forth in Sections 11, 12
and 13 of the Employment Agreement shall continue to apply after the Termination
Date in accordance with their terms.

         8. Release and Waiver of Claims. (a) Effective as of the Termination
Date, subject to Section 9 hereof, in consideration of the payments, benefits,
and other consideration provided to Executive under this Agreement, Executive,
for himself and his family, heirs, executors, administrators, legal
representatives, and their respective successors and assigns, hereby releases
and forever discharges the Company, and all of its subsidiaries, officers,
directors, employees, agents, stockholders, representatives, and their
successors and assigns (collectively, "Company Entities"), from all rights,
claims or demands Executive may have, arising at any time on or before the date
hereof, based on his employment with any Company Entity or the termination of
that employment, including without limitation any claims under the Employment
Agreement. This includes a release of any and all rights, claims or demands
Executive may have, whether known or unknown, under Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in employment based on race,
color, national origin, religion or sex; the Equal Pay Act, which prohibits
paying men and women unequal pay for equal work; or under any other federal,
state or local laws or regulations regarding employment discrimination or
termination of employment. This also includes a release by Executive of any
claims for wrongful discharge under any statute, rule, regulation or under the
common law. Executive hereby agrees never individually or with any person to
file, or commence the filing of, any charges, lawsuits, complaints or
proceedings with any governmental agency, or against any Company Entity, with
respect to any of the matters released by Executive pursuant to this Section 8.

                  (b) Effective as of the Termination Date, the Company hereby
releases and forever discharges Executive, his family, heirs, executors,
administrators, legal representatives, and their respective successors and
assigns, from all rights, claims or demands the Company may have, arising at any
time on or before the date hereof, based on his employment with any
<PAGE>

Company Entity or the termination of that employment. This paragraph shall not
apply to any rights or claims that the Company may have for a breach or
enforcement of this Agreement, or any surviving provision of the Employment
Agreement expressly set forth herein.

         9. Rights Not Released or Waived. Section 8 hereof notwithstanding, by
signing this Agreement, Executive shall not have relinquished his right to (i)
benefits in accordance with the provisions of any Company retirement plans
subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or
(ii) enforce the provisions of this Agreement.

         10. Non-Admission. Each of Executive and the Company expressly
acknowledge that this Agreement does not constitute an admission by the either
party of any violation of any employment law, regulation, ordinance, or
administrative procedure, or any other federal, state, or local law, common law,
regulation or ordinance, liability for which is expressly denied.

         11. Non-Disparagement. Executive agrees that, except as required by
applicable law, or compelled by process of law, at any time following the date
hereof, neither he, nor anyone acting on his behalf, shall hereafter (a) make
any derogatory, disparaging or critical statement about the Company, or any of
the Company's current officers, directors, employees, shareholders or lenders or
any persons who were officers, directors, employees, shareholders or lenders of
the Company; or (b) without the Company's prior consent (which shall not be
unreasonably withheld), communicate, directly or indirectly, with the press or
other media, concerning the present business of the Company or of any Company
Entities; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent Executive from
speaking, giving interviews or otherwise communicating concerning issues common
to co-founders of a company. The Company agrees that, except as required by
applicable law, or compelled by process of law, neither it, nor anyone acting on
its behalf, shall hereafter (a) make any derogatory, disparaging or critical
statement about Executive; or (b) without Executive's prior written consent,
communicate, directly or indirectly, with the press or other media, concerning
Executive.

         12. Reference. Upon request, each member of the Board of Directors of
the Company shall provide to Executive a letter of recommendation.

         13. Confidentiality of Agreement. Executive and the Company hereby
agree to keep the terms of this Agreement confidential. The obligations of
Executive and the Company under this Section 13 shall not apply to disclosures
required by applicable law, regulation or order of a court or governmental
agency, to either parties counsel, or to Executive's immediate family.

         14. Opportunity for Advice. By signing this Agreement, Executive
acknowledges that with the advice of the Company, he has had a reasonable
opportunity to consider advice from his legal counsel. Fully understanding these
terms, Executive is entering into this Agreement knowingly and voluntarily.

         15. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire agreement of
the parties with respect to Executive's employment and termination thereof.
Except as specifically provided herein, this Agreement shall supersede all prior
oral and written agreements, arrangements and understandings relating to the
terms and conditions of Executive's employment relationship, termination of
employment, including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement and the
Intercompany Services Agreement. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE
<PAGE>

WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE
PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
as of the date and year first above written.

                                     /s/ Jack D. Hidary
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                     Jack D. Hidary

                                     EARTHWEB, INC.

                                     By: /s/ Brian P. Campbell
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Brian P. Campbell
                                               -------------------
                                         Title: Vice President & General Counsel
                                               ---------------------------------

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