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The Greatest Software Ever
What would you say is the greatest software ever written? Snood would probably top my list, but I must admit InformationWeek's list is a bit more.. practical. Charles Babcock's What's the Greatest Software Ever Written? is a great mini-survey of the history of software, terminating in a list of 12 of the world's most historic software developments. I won't ruin the final 3 for you, but here are items 4-12.12. The Morris worm
11. Google search rank
10. Apollo guidance system
9. Excel spreadsheet
8. Macintosh OS
7. Sabre system
6. Mosaic browser
5. Java language
4. IBM System 360 OS
Number 1 will not surprise you, but 2 and 3 are interesting choices. So, if you had Babcock's job, what would top your list of the Greatest Software Ever?
[Via Lifehacker]
Comments
7
Subscribe to commentsPeterAug 15th 2006 3:08PM
How can you leave out MS Windows itself? Say what you will about it, but Windows brought computing to the masses and entire industries have developed around the mass use of computers that was enabled by Windows.
The large scale adoption of computers also helped drive down prices and fuel massive technological changes. I can't believe we would be where we are today if everyone had to use DOS or a text-based UNIX interface.
blaAug 15th 2006 3:20PM
@peter: i wondered exactly the same thing. but look at the other items on the list. no list i'd take too seriously...
GiveMeAFrickinStar(Please)Aug 15th 2006 4:35PM
Isn't Charlie Babcock the name of the co-stars character on the TV show Pepper Dennis.
Oh God,.. I hate myself for knowing that.
Richard FrischAug 15th 2006 5:01PM
Leaving out Lotus 1-2-3 is to forget what drove the PC revolution. It was far more important to getting the PC launched and accepted than Excel ever can be.
ErzengelAug 16th 2006 1:03AM
Interesting list, but too much scientific for my own taste. No ofense intended, but looks like the dreamlist of some sort of ubergeek. Im a MS hater like anyone else, but truth be told... where is windows? and what about graphic appz like Photoshoop?
IMHO, his point of view was too narrow, too closed minded. Maybe im being too ignorant, or maybe its just because i have never used any of his top 3.
orangeguruAug 16th 2006 8:51AM
I agree that 1-2-3 is missing - Excel shouldn't be there at all. Also Java is a suprise to me - why not BASIC?
h0miAug 16th 2006 8:24PM
The criteria they use to define "great" is:
"Superior programming can be judged only within its historical context. It must represent a breakthrough, technical brilliance, something difficult that hadn't been done before. And it must be adopted in the real world. "
That should've excluded Excel. And it's inconsistant the way the article deals with Excel, Visicalc and Lotus 123 vs. how it treats Netscape and Mosaic. I also think the article sells DTP short, and the evolution of the WYSIWYG word processors. Word Perfect ought to be on this list.