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A word processor program is a computer program that provides word processing functions. Originally a separate type of application to desktop publishing, the two program types now overlap, with many word processors now including what were once desktop publishing functions.
The first known electronic word processor program was Electric Pencil, released in 1976, as a tool for programmers to write documentation and manuals for their code. Electric pencil featured basic formatting and navigation, and supported external devices such as cassette recorders and printers. Electric Pencil II was released shortly after, targeting the CP/M operating system. Several other word processing programs were released shortly after, including EasyWriter and WordStar. [1]
WordStar was created in four months by Seymour Rubinstein after founding MicroPro International in 1978. WordStar is commonly attributed as the first WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor, as the WordStar editor replicated the printed output. Inspired by the success of WordStar, many competitors began to release their offerings, including WordPerfect in 1979, MultiMate in 1982, and Microsoft Word in 1983. [1] [2]
Notable programs include:
| Word processor | Year |
|---|---|
| Electric Pencil | 1976 |
| WordStar | 1978 |
| WordPerfect | 1979 |
| EasyWriter | 1979 |
| IBM DisplayWrite | 1981 |
| MultiMate | 1982 |
| Volkswriter | 1982 |
| Microsoft Word | 1983 |
| MacWrite | 1984 |
| StarWriter | 1985 |
| Lotus Manuscript | 1986 |
| TextMaker | 1987 |
| Sprint | 1987 |
| IBM Lotus Word Pro | 1988 |
| Nisus Writer | 1989 |
| InPage | 1994 |
| WordPad | 1995 |
| TextEdit | 1996 |
| Ability Write | 1996 |
| KWord | 1998 |
| AbiWord | 1998 |
| Adobe InCopy | 1999 |
| Atlantis Word Processor | 2000 |
| Jarte | 2001 |
| OpenOffice.org Writer | 2002 |
| Pages | 2005 |
| JWPce | 2005 |
| Google Docs | 2006 |
| Scrivener | 2007 |
| WordGrinder | 2007 |
| PolyEdit | 2010 |
| LibreOffice Writer | 2011 |
| Apache OpenOffice Writer | 2012 |
| Calligra Words | 2012 |
| Macro | 2023 |
A word processing function is an essential part of any office suite, and may be provided as a stand-alone program (for example Word in Microsoft Office) or as a function of a more general program (for example LibreOffice Writer in LibreOffice) or other (for example TextMaker in SoftMaker). With the emergence of the internet, different cloud-based word processor programs began to emerge, as Google Docs which allow people to work faster and more efficiently.
Software is a collection of programs and data that tell a computer how to perform specific tasks. Software often includes associated software documentation. This is in contrast to hardware, from which the system is built and which actually performs the work.
A word processor is an electronic device for text, composing, editing, formatting, and printing.
WordPerfect (WP) is a word processing application, now owned by Alludo, with a long history on multiple personal computer platforms. At the height of its popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s, it was the dominant player in the word processor market, displacing the prior market leader WordStar.
WordStar is a word processor application for microcomputers. It was published by MicroPro International and originally written for the CP/M-80 operating system, with later editions added for MS-DOS and other 16-bit PC OSes. Rob Barnaby was the sole author of the early versions of the program.
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The following tables compare general and technical information for a number of office suites:
Electric Pencil, released in December 1976 by Michael Shrayer, was the first word processor for home computers.
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MicroPro International Corporation was an American software company founded in 1978 in San Rafael, California. They are best known as the publisher of WordStar, a popular early word processor for personal computers.
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A word processor (WP) is a device or computer program that provides for input, editing, formatting, and output of text, often with some additional features.
CU Writer, also known as "Word Chula", is a word processor capable of Thai language processing. First released to the public domain in 1989, the application runs on IBM PC compatible machines, originally with Hercules graphics card. Later versions support VGA, EGA, EDA, and other graphic technologies. CU Writer was one of the most popular word processors in Thailand until Microsoft Windows supplanted MS-DOS.
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