Stone Tools

Lotus 1-2-3 on the PC w/DOS VisiCalc started it, but 1-2-3 finished it. "It" being the discussion of what a spreadsheet can be, and also VisiCalc itself.

🪨 Lotus 1-2-3 on the PC w/ #DOS 🛠️

Did you know #Lotus123 is still referenced in #Excel documentation, but not #VisiCalc? I spent time getting to know #VisiCalc's killer. When I struggled to make a chart, I called on the help of #AI. AI from 1986!
#retrocomputing

stonetools.ghost.io/lotus123-dos

私のブログをtopickappさんのフォロー皆に紹介して大変ありがたいです！

Stone Tools Exploring retro productivity software from the 8/16-bit era. No games, just work.

I’m enjoying reading @christopherdrum.bsky.social deep dive into vintage productivity software at stonetools.ghost.io

I appreciate the shoutout.👍

I was just looking at Scala on Amiga and look how beautiful!

(Source + kudos to Stone Tools: stonetools.ghost.io/scala-amiga)

You never know, it might scratch an itch you didn't know you had!

dBASE on the Kaypro II CP/M and dBASE were industry giants with everything to lose, and they did. For a time they were the power couple to beat.

🪨 dBASE on the Kaypro II 🛠️

Armed with only a blinking cursor, I build an inventory system for my failing software retail shop (just play along). I also explore #cpm add-on options for various systems, and whoops! Did I just become a #dBASE programmer?

stonetools.ghost.io/dbase-cpm
#retroComputing

It seems to have evolved into a product called Story Base, and the Plots Unlimited product was converted into book form, as a writer's aide.
storybase.net/software/faq...

The Computer Chronicles - Creative Writing Software (1993) YouTube video by The Computer Chronicles

I'm only familiar enough to know it was discussed on Computer Chronicles in their Creative Writing episode.
youtu.be/zApktGYRPac?...

Scala Multimedia on the Commodore Amiga It's no Toaster, but it doesn't need to be to hold its own. Possibly one of the most impressive cover disk giveaways in history?

🪨 Scala Multimedia on the Commodore Amiga 🛠️

As a print guy, I had to shed many misconceptions about #multimedia on the #Amiga. I also look at the glue that made such applications even possible.
Bonus: use Scala for Twitch #streaming from an iPhone?!

stonetools.ghost.io/scala-amiga/
#retroComputing

XPER on the Commodore 64 In a supreme act of hubris, I use 80s "expert system" AI technology to turn a C64 into a rain predictor. Will it fair better than a coin flip?

Fascinated by this @stonetoolsblog.bsky.social post - the idea of trying to implement an expert system on a *Commodore 64* is something I'd never even considered! stonetools.ghost.io/xper-c64/

The tension between my interest to grow closer to this software and its constant moves to push me away was the highest I've felt yet.

PaperClip on the Atari 8-Bit Imagine an oven bakes gorgeous cakes, but gives random, severe burns. "When do the burns outweigh the beauty?" is posed by this cute word processor

🪨 PaperClip on the Atari 8-bits 🛠️

Believe it or not, this story about Batteries Included's beloved word processor contains ZERO jokes about #Clippy. It does take potshots at #EA, however.

stonetools.ghost.io/paperclip-at...
#RetroComputing #wordprocessing #atari8bit

XPER on the Commodore 64 Early AI on microcomputers focused heavily on "expert systems," tools to capture domain-specific knowledge and democratize it amongst the plebians. In a supreme act of hubris, I'm going to use that sa...

🪨 XPER on the Commodore 64🛠️

We draft a #c64 into the #ai wars. This "expert system" software promised it could predict weather, so I took it at its word. Was it more accurate than a coin flip?

Also: Fifth Generation Computers and the first guy to concede his job to AI
stonetools.ghost.io/xper-c64

I had to write about Cheifet.
christopherdrum.github.io/posts/2026/0...

Stewart Cheifet Obituary December 28, 2025 - Goldsteins Funeral View Stewart Cheifet's obituary, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

Sad to hear that #stewartcheifet, host of #computerchronicles and #netcafe, has passed

Tiny influences on a pivot point can exert large effects on the trajectory of a projectile, or a life. Stewart was one such influence on the trajectory of my own life.

obits.goldsteinsfuneral.com/stewart-chei...

"Or will they be TOO late?!"

I added an RSS link at the top of the page with the other items. Given the site builder tools, it was the easiest solution. I hope that works OK for everyone.

Thanks for reading, and I'm glad you found it interesting. There is an RSS feed; I get a fair amount of traffic from readers.

stonetools.ghost.io/rss

Some find it naturally, and some can't seem to. I don't use RSS myself, so I'm not sure how to make it clear. Maybe a link in the site nav bar? 🤔

HyperCard on the Macintosh How do we approach the challenge of helping non-programmers build software? Do we throw up our hands at today's complexity and say, "Just let an AI do it." Or, do we make tools so *compelling* a novic...

🪨 HyperCard on the Macintosh 🛠️

The "software erector set" that launched careers and came close to delivering us the web 6 years early. Our last post of '25 takes a deep look at this important title. Happy holidays!

stonetools.ghost.io/hypercard-mac/
#RetroComputing #hypercard #classicmac #atkinson

Bank Street Writer on the Apple II There was a time when society was hell-bent on getting "computers in the classroom." It was going to utterly transform learning! The drive fell short of that goal, but it did deliver us a sharp little...

🪨 Bank Street Writer on the Apple 2 🛠️

The "Oregon Trail" of word processors. Ostensibly built for children, it also hooked adults, including at least one lawyer who refused to give it up. I find out why!
stonetools.ghost.io/bankstreetwriter-apple2
#RetroComputing #apple2 #wordprocessing #bankstreet

My childhood computing path never crossed with Bank Street Writer, though I've met many over the years who hold very fond memories of it. It wasn't just popular with kids, adults loved it too. I spent some time getting to know it, and explored the whole "classroom of tomorrow" a bit as well.

That's wonderful to hear, thank you so much for your kind words. I'm sorry I didn't catch pydpainter on my initial investigations, but I'm happy to include that great project. My kindest regards to the dev team!

I already have it shared everywhere and commented on Mastofon. But again, what a great article ! Thanks for the kind update about pydpainter, it means a lot to the dev team.

ThinkTank on the PC w/DOS Obsession takes many forms. Some of us sift through decades of ancient software for a blog, while others spend decades reinventing the same software repeatedly. Outliner software seems to attract the ...

🪨 ThinkTank on the PC w/DOS 🛠️

Before we process words, we must first process ideas! So says "idea processor" ThinkTank's creator, Dave Winer. A veritable religion has formed around this genre. Did I see the light?

stonetools.ghost.io/thinktank-dos/
#RetroComputing #thinktank #dos #outliner #pkm

Very happy that resonated with you, and thanks for sharing the post!

This article from the excellent Stone Tools blog illustrates something that I think is really missing in modern tech life. The author calls it "friction," which I think is a great descriptor. Friction isn't bad in and of itself. We need friction to make fire, for example.

Does it also come in avocado green?

CAD-3D on the Atari ST Computing history is full of "what if" scenarios. What if Babbage built a working analytical engine? What if IBM adopted CP/M over DOS? What if Atari delivered their promised TT line on time and becam...

🪨 CAD-3D on the Atari ST 🛠️

Examining the grandfather to #3DSMax also gave me my first experience with the GEM environment. Plus, I learn the surprising ties to #DeluxePaint and
...is this right?
#Starfox for the #SNES?!

stonetools.ghost.io/cad3d-atarist
#RetroComputing #cad3d #atarist #3dsoftware

Maybe I should review ONE game.