The FreeDOS ProjectJan 1, 2024

https://josem.co/the-beauty-of-finished-software/

I liked this article about Finished Software, and the WordStar example. That was from an era when online updates and patches weren't yet a Thing. Once you shipped that version, that was it.

My favorite Finished Software is As Easy As spreadsheet on DOS. Very solid, no issues.

But I'd say many DOS programs were that way too. What was your favorite Finished Software?

The Beauty of Finished Software

Let me introduce you to WordStar 4.0, a popular word processor from the early 80s. WordStar 4.0 As old as it seems, George R.R. Martin used it to write “A Song of Ice and Fire”. Why would someone use such an old piece of software to write over 5,000 pages? I love how he puts it: It does everything I want a word processing program to do and it doesn't do anything else. I don't want any help. I hate some of these modern systems where you type up a lowercase letter and it becomes a capital. I don't want a capital, if I'd wanted a capital, I would have typed the capital.George R.R. Martin This program embodies the concept of finished software — a software you can use forever with no unneeded changes.

Jose M. Gilgado
Graeme Bell Jan 1, 2024
Show threadzxm

@freedosproject

mostly utilities i've been using since late 80s early 90s on all systems running dos.

pkzip 2.04g - for all your compression needs as long as it's 8.3 filenames.
ted - tiny editor 2k in size and much much more useable than edlin
ll3 - laplink 3. file manager and transfer over serial or parallel cable transfer program
whereis - a file finding utility that has saved me many many hours.

Jan 1, 2024 at 12:53pmWeb
Show threadLance, Enjoying Copious PollenJan 1, 2024
@zxm @freedosproject One of my favorite DOS utilities was list.com. It was great for getting a visual view of directories, and super fast to navigate with arrow keys. It also displayed the contents of text files.