Stéphane Dalbera wrote: “In an era where almost everything is marketed as a disruptive evolution and incredible innovation, I thought it would be worthwhile to revisit a truly game-changing piece of software.” His post is devoted to 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐜. Nowadays, DMN-like decision tables placed in spreadsheets or similar graphical interfaces (without VisiCalc/Excel formulas) allow business analysts to represent and execute the most complex business logic with no code. Link

Forty-five years ago, Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston created what is undoubtedly one of the first 𝐍𝐨𝐂𝐨𝐝𝐞 tools, profoundly changing the way data is processed on a computer: the 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭.

As is often the case with brilliant ideas, their innovation seemed obvious in hindsight, but its impact was extraordinary.

Previously, even the simplest data processing operations required some programming knowledge.

The 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭, however, empowered countless individuals with the ability to create problem-solving tools without needing to write a single line of code.

𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐜 is one of the earliest examples of metaphor-driven user interface design, resembling paper spreadsheets.

This metaphor made the program intuitive and familiar to accountants, economists, and bookkeepers who were not accustomed to using computers.

𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐜 release marked a pivotal moment when personal computers transitioned from a hobbyist obsession to a compelling business tool.

Absolutely all the 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 you use today are inherited from this innovation, which remains by far the most widely used 𝐍𝐨𝐂𝐨𝐝𝐞 product.