Mihai Parparita

What are good examples of early Mac OS X software (10.0-10.4 era, pre-Intel switch)? My list so far

- OmniWeb, OmniGraffle, OmniOutliner and other Omni Group software
- Transmit 2, Unison, Candy Bar, Pixadex, and other Panic software
- Audio Hijack and other Rogue Amoeba software
- NetNewsWire and MarsEdit
- Watson
- Acorn
- TextMate
- Quicksilver
- VoodooPad
- BBEdit
- SubEthaEdit
- GraphicConverter
- iCab
- Camino
- Fetch
- Default Folder X
- MenuMeters
- DEVONthink
- CodeWarrior
- Resorcerer
- FruitMenu, WindowShadeX and other Unsanity haxies
- LiteSwitch X
- DragThing and PCalc
- TinkerTool
- LaunchBar
- Path Finder
- Konfabulator

Feb 10, 2025 at 3:23amWeb
Show threadbradexampleFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip Adium
Show threadTony ArnoldFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip anything by MacRabbit 🫶🏻
Show threadDenton GentryFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip Cyberduck
Show threadHovav ShachamFeb 10, 2025

@mihaip Salling Clicker!

https://web.archive.org/web/20050531205109/http://homepage.mac.com/jonassalling/Shareware/Clicker/index.html

Salling Software

Show threadR.L. Dane    🍵 Feb 10, 2025

@mihaip

Anyone remember #Bodega, the Mac app store before the (Mac) app store?

https://www.cultofmac.com/news/meet-bodega-the-awesome-mac-app-store-alternative-you-didnt-know-existed-feature

Meet Bodega, The Awesome Mac App Store Alternative You Didn't Know Existed [Feature]

The Mac has had a vibrant, growing community of developers for many years, and Apple has continued to encourage third-party developer participation with

Cult of Mac
Show threadMihai ParparitaFeb 10, 2025
@rl_dane TIL. Though looks like that's a bit later (2009, requires 10.5/Leopard: https://web.archive.org/web/20090901092806/http://appbodega.com/)
Bodega: Your corner store for apps

Your corner store for apps.

Show threadR.L. Dane    🍵 Feb 10, 2025

@mihaip

I remembered it being earlier, although memories can be funny like that.

Wikipedia says the Mac App Store came out in October 2010, so this would be in between the iOS App Store and Mac App Store.

Mac App Store - Wikipedia

Show threadNicholas RileyFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip some apps I still miss: Drop Drawers. MT-NewsWatcher. Palm Desktop (formerly Claris Organizer).
Show threadScott Small 🇨🇦Feb 10, 2025
@mihaip Growl
Show threadMarcantonio RendinoFeb 10, 2025
@smallsco @mihaip yep - I managed to keep Growl (esp Growl Notify) working for a LONG time (via some silly command-line hackery); just gave up on it a few years ago, when I could get Notification Center to do most of what I wanted (and still, sadly, lost a few things, like notification of volume mount / unmount)
Show threadAllen PikeFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip Are Delicious Library and Acquisition too late? 10.4 era I’d say
Show threadMihai ParparitaFeb 10, 2025
@apike Thanks, I think those work. Delicious Library ran on 10.3 per http://www.atpm.com/11.01/delicious-library.shtml.
Acquisition is even earlier (needs 10.2 per https://web.archive.org/web/20030201143030/http://www.acquisitionx.com/)
ATPM 11.01 - Review: Delicious Library 1.0.6

Show threadPhil DokasFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip All I can spot in old screenshots of mine on Flickr are DragThing, SpamSieve, and Adium.
Show threadBrent SimmonsFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip Colloquy
Show threadCharlie SorrelFeb 10, 2025
@brentsimmons @mihaip Still using Colloquy!
Show threadPatrick NesbittFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip xPad
Show threadSean Pang-DykemanFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip Adium!
Show threadMutesplashFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip Adium
Show threadSamuel GoodwinFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip Adium
Show threadJPFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip @brentsimmons Disco was awesome; it *just worked* as a simple CDR/DVD burning app, but also the whole window smoked as it “burned” your disc 😄🔥
Show threadJochen WoltersFeb 10, 2025

@mihaip @jgamet
UPDATE: Just spotted MarsEdit on the list. 😬

That’s a great list!

Did Little Snitch ~~and MarsEdit~~ already exist back then?

Also, given the stunning #UX garbage introduced in recent releases of macOS, I’d include Mac OS X itself on that list.

Show threadJim LutherFeb 26, 2025
@jochenwolters @mihaip @jgamet Daniel would know @danielpunkass
Show threadDaniel JalkutFeb 26, 2025
@jimluther @jochenwolters @mihaip @jgamet It did just BARELY predate the first Intel Macs, but I didn't take it over until 2007.
Show threadJim LutherFeb 26, 2025
@danielpunkass @jochenwolters @mihaip @jgamet I did check your web site before tagging you, but there was no history and dates in the release notes weren’t in earlier releases.
Show threadNicolas BouilleaudFeb 10, 2025

@mihaip @brentsimmons iConquer! (there were few mac *games* written in cocoa)

Relatedly, there used to be a wikipedia page about the Delicious Generation, but it got deleted after a while.

Show threadJonathan Z SimonFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip Canvas 8, QuicKeys X, StuffIt Deluxe / Expander, Flying Toasters, PCalc, Interarchy
Show threadJochen WoltersFeb 10, 2025
@jzsimon @mihaip Ohyessssss, Interarchy!!
Show threadpulusoundFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip TextWrangler, VirtueDesktops, XChat Aqua
Show threadpulusoundFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip also various apps by Ambrosia Software, Snapz Pro X and WireTap Pro come to mind
Show threadJakobFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip @brentsimmons Growing up, I really loved using Camino on my dad‘s PowerBook
Show threadMarcantonio RendinoFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip such good SW, from so long ago - still use many, of course
Show threadRiccardo MoriFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip @ecschwarz AppZapper
Linotype FontExplorer X
Notational Velocity
Pacifist
Synergy
Skim
Apple's Disk Utility was certainly better back then than it is now.
Show threadvga256Feb 10, 2025
@mihaip great idea - I hadn't heard of some of these.
for an FTP client, I've never found anything better than YummyFTP. I was crushed when the programmer passed away unexpectedly, and the company wasn't able to create a 64-bit Intel version.
Show threadben morettiFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip nisus writer!
Show threadLandon EppsFeb 10, 2025

@mihaip Since you didn’t specify 3rd party: iDVD.

Made it super easy to create the flashiest group video project in school when everyone else just used Windows Media Player to burn a basic video file.

Show threadWiley WigginsFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip the Boxer.app implementation of DOSBox was great and I miss it a lot.
Show threadLaurentFeb 10, 2025

@mihaip As your list is pretty much complete and others have already added stuff I liked, I would mention also RBrowser that I used with 10.0 and later (FTP/SFTP client)

Also, there was a graphic suite coming from NeXTSTEP/OPENSTEP but I can't remember the name. I remember using it to show the concept of bundle apps in demos

Edit: typo

Show threadHovav ShachamFeb 11, 2025
@lolopb Stone Design Create, maybe? https://www.stone.com/Create/Create.html
((Create(R))) -> Create

Create(R) from Stone Design Corp, http://www.stone.com, is the original page layout, illustration and web authoring 3 in 1 application for Mac OS X. With ancient roots in NeXT Computer, Create goes beyond what InDesign, Quark, and others try. And it's about 1/5 the cost!

Show threadLaurentFeb 11, 2025
@hovav that’s it! Thank you
Show threadsaljamFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip so much nostalgia in this thread
Show threadlolcatFeb 10, 2025

@mihaip

Codetek Virtual Desktop Pro?

It was expensive ($40!!), but did what is says on the tin, and played well with X11.

Happy to See Omni* and Rogue Amoeba represented.

Show threadTobiasFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip Aquamacs (May be odd choice, yes)
TextWrangler
Show threadDavid DunhamFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip I worked for a while on Print Explosion.
Show threadangst-ridden wandererFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip Apple’s own Aperture was a big one for me.
Show threadJochen WoltersFeb 10, 2025

@angst_ridden @mihaip Great choice!

The clarity and sheer “Mac-ness” of Aperture’s UI was a brilliant achievement.

Such a bummer that none of the contemporary photo applications have a feel even remotely similar. 😕

Show threadangst-ridden wandererFeb 10, 2025
@jochenwolters @mihaip I agree. I’m stuck using Lightroom Classic, and although the tools have become more advanced, I really miss Aperture.
Show threadlaura lemayFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip @brentsimmons No one’s mentioned Now Up-to-Date and Contact yet, which for me were the high water mark for what used to be called PIMs
Show threadPhilippFeb 10, 2025
@mihaip Transmission probably.
Show threadvia unreachableFeb 10, 2025

@mihaip QLab might just fit in at the end of that period?

https://web.archive.org/web/20060216235421/http://figure53.com/

Show threadiRodknockerFeb 12, 2025
@mihaip @brentsimmons You forgot the Internet Explorer 😬
Show threadKenneth RussellFeb 12, 2025

@mihaip I still use MenuMeters on my current macOS Sequoia Macs! 😃

https://github.com/yujitach/MenuMeters/

GitHub - yujitach/MenuMeters: my fork of MenuMeters by http://www.ragingmenace.com/software/menumeters/

my fork of MenuMeters by http://www.ragingmenace.com/software/menumeters/ - yujitach/MenuMeters

GitHub
Show threadGaëlFeb 13, 2025
@mihaip Skitch
Show threadMisko KranjecFeb 26, 2025
@mihaip GyazMail and Camino browser
Show threadcherpumple 🥧🍰Feb 26, 2025
@mihaip Little Snitch (works with 10.2 and later)
Show threadThomas BrandFeb 26, 2025
@mihaip I was a big fan of the Stone Studio applications that came over from NextStep. Create was a nstive alternative to Freehand and Illustrator during the early days of Mac OS X.
https://www.stone.com/Create/Create_Resources.html
((Create(R))) -> Create Resources

Create(R) from Stone Design Corp, http://www.stone.com, is the original page layout, illustration and web authoring 3 in 1 application for Mac OS X. With ancient roots in NeXT Computer, Create goes beyond what InDesign, Quark, and others try. And it's about 1/5 the cost!

Show threadDavid Kocher Feb 26, 2025
@mihaip @cyberduck using Cocoa.framework has been around since 2003.
Show threadkillvoreFeb 26, 2025
@mihaip Delicious Library, and Disco (optical burn utility) are both very "tasty"-looking early OS X apps
Show threadschredderFeb 26, 2025
@mihaip Adium
Camino
Quinn (the Tetris clone, RIP)
Show threadkillvoreMar 2, 2025
@mihaip ooh ComicLife! Really fun!