October 11, 1979: Visicalc – First Killer PC App Released

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Visicalc - Dan Bricklin
Dan Bricklin Shows off Visicalc

1979Visicalc is released by Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston. The spreadsheet application is called the first killer app for personal computers. It turned the PC from a hobby to a business tool.

The software was released under their company name “Software Arts”. It was developed for the Apple II computer with 6502 assmebler. 

Only downfall for the company was they did not patent the system, therefore, clones like SuperCalc, Microsoft’s MultiPlan and Lotus 1-2-3, would show up.

Visicalc is short for “Visual Calculator”. 


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