VisiCalc: The granddaddy of spreadsheets

iSheep and Excel geeks would hardly recognize the world’s “first killer app,” unveiled 40 years ago. VisiCalc, the prototype of today’s spreadsheets, ran only on the Apple II, taking up 32KB of RAM — a huge amount at the time. The software cost USD 100 and the computer at least USD 2k. The brainchild of Dan Bricklin, VisiCalc generated an explosion of revenue for its publisher, from virtually nothing in 1979 to USD 40 mn in 1983. But it also demonstrated that enduring success is not ensured by a brilliant and successful app, and the story of VisiCalc remains a cautionary tale against complacency for the world’s largest tech companies. The WSJ has more.