VisiCalc Introduction: The world's first spreadsheet software

When we look back at the history of computers, it is more about those initial PCs, such as kenbak-1[, which were considered the first ' Personal computer ', producing and selling 40 units, 1970, and Altair 8800[full name: MITS Altair 8080, is considered the world's first ' minicomputer ', based on Intel 8080 CPU design, 1975]. Of course, a similar machine, even if it appears, can only cause a huge response among some computer enthusiasts and programmers.

The main purpose of our manufacturers is to bring computers into the tens of thousands of households, but also include a variety of corporate enterprises.

The first case of great success in this area is Apple's Apple ii[1979.10] personal computer [series]. It owes its success to attractive prices, strong marketing, and software developed specifically for personal computers.

Software is one of the cornerstones of the success of the Apple II series. In addition to games like [Where in the U.S.A. Carmen Sandiego 1985], the second generation of Apple PCs has swept the world, into millions of households, and should also thank a software, that is: VisiCalc spreadsheet.

VisiCalc is the first commercial spreadsheet software with a software size of not more than 27,52kb. If you are using Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Now, then you should know that the history of such software dates back to 1979, the year VisiCalc with Apple II officially marketed to the market.

In those days, although there were some data-computing programs, they were applied to mainframe computers in some enterprises, which performed sequential operations, had to be recalculated when data changed, and no commercial spreadsheet software was available for individual users. Or computers like IBM 5100, specifically for math problems, statistical analysis, and financial calculations, are too expensive and not easy to operate for ordinary users.

Bobb Frankston [L] and Dan Brickling [R]