[BillF]

This starts with historical programming and goes on to present a mini-history of some of the modern computer programs that changed our lives. Thanks to http://www.slashdot.org for pointing me towards the article.

Care to comment on the program or type of program that you find most useful or that you want to sing the praises to others about?

Browsers are probably used most often by me, Firefox being the preferred.

Microsoft Outlook has been incredibly useful for contacts, appts, tasks, and email, but I wish for a non-MS equivalent that synchs well and easily with my Palm cellphone.

I've used IM (instant message) software (specifically, free Trillian) for communicating mainly with a hard-of-hearing elderly relative. Same software worked well to set up a private IRC (Internet Relay Chat) room for several relative to discuss the best ways to spend our Halliburton profits and identify the best yacht dealers.:) However, I don't generally use IM software.

FTP software is quite useful to send large groups of photos to a temp web page for friends to download w/o causing email problems.

Text message software on cellphones is very useful to send addresses, cellphones, or similar data to others for their immediate use. (Easier than calling them and having them try to write down the info as they drive.)

I've used GPS radios with built-in software for hiking/camping in wilderness areas, but would always want a map backup.

Any FReepers care to tell us about the software that, once we use it, will wonder how we ever lived without it? Or maybe, even a program that helps less dramatically?

[kingu]

I'd have to vote for the word processor as an application. For pure piece of software, the video controller. Because, as someone who did it, let me tell you, typing on a teletype machine is the pits.

[Terpfen]

OS X?

[BillF]

Most unfairly, the free databases that Buford's company designed for Katrina victims in need of database help, did not make the cut. :)

[Calpernia]

Word Perfect before it was hijacked by MS Word.

I was able to write the most awesome macros.

Now I waste too much time battling MS Word because it always wants to think for me.

[grey_whiskers]

Obviously.

The code behind Free Republic.

Cheers!

[mazack]

Unix.

[Mr_Moonlight]

While I can't vouch for what came before, XTREE GOLD for DOS is the gold standard for file management in the DOS age ... hands down one of the finest and well developed DOS interfaces ever ...

XTree Fan Page

[ClaudiusI]

I'd say Spore, but it's up in the air how well it actually works.

[JimSEA]

I would have to say that, for its day, Lotus 123 brought the most office applications and made the PC a "have to have" piece of equipment. I used to for cost modeling for everything from mine planning to labor contract modeling. I knew nothing about computers when I went on salary in 1980 and Lotus literally saved my job.

[HAL9000]

The list in the article is pretty good.

In my opinion, the greatest software ever written is Adobe Photoshop.

[spinestein]

ms dos

[kittycatonline.com]

PKZip

[foldspace]

This is just another biased article from the IT MSM. In concert with the naysayers.

The Microsoft Windows Operating System is without exception the finest software ever written, and continues to be. It's success and usability is witness to that.

No other software is attacked so blatantly and directly each day than this OS. Yet for the most part. It stays intact on a BILLION machines every day.

I once heard that if Windows OS was an airplane, would you accept all the crashes it had?

The answer is yes, If the hosted software manufacturers wrote to the proper specification, you'd eliminate 90% of crashes.

The answer is yes, if you consider that 50% of the 'passengers' on this OS are there to do it WRONG.

The answer is yes, if you know that it is the DAILY TARGET of 99% of all software viruses, hackers, OS cheats, agents and other software criminals that ever existed.

Microsoft Windows: You're using it now...

[dayglored]

Best software?

Operating System: Unix, as instantiated in MacOS-X -- the ideal combination of solid BSD Unix (the best foundation) and the best GUI. I tend to use Linux and Windows more for various business reasons, but MacOS-X is the best.

Application: Email. Mundane, but completely essential.

I started in 1985 with VMS Mail on a VAX and mailx on System-V Unix, and have used it continuously for over 20 years, through Compuserve, Netscape, Outlook, Eudora, you name it. These days the Mozilla family (Thunderbird) on Linux or Windows is my personal favorite.

[roadcat]

For me it's any database program. My favorite was the dBase series. I've written many programs in dBase and Clipper, unfortunately a few are still in use almost 25 years later by some of my clients (ported from mini's to current-day servers).

And I agree, typing on teletypes sucked. I hated feeding in the paper-tapes of my saved code (still have some sitting in shoeboxes somewhere, but alas no reader).

[Obie Wan]

Are you kidding me? Sid Miers Civilization tops em all !!!

[A CA Guy]

D-Basic

[The Brush]

Pinnacle is a program for video editing (there are many)
With it I eliminated thousands of dollars worth of editing equipment and the results are incredible.
Digital editing programs for video and pictures are astounding...
Many programs had to exist before this could evolve though

[Vicki]

Photoshop

[Political Junkie Too]

There's only one answer:

Hello World

Like singing the song Happy Birthday, Hello World has become the most-written program ever. It as practically mandatory in every progamming language manual ever written, or will be written.

-PJ