Software Gadgets

Software Gadgets must be more popular than I thought as I've received several emails asking -- no demanding (in one case) -- that I add FreeMind to the Software Gadgets list. FreeMind is a powerful and popular open source Mind Mapping program. I've be the first to admit that I just don't get mind mapping software. I've tried several mind mapping programs, and mind mapping does not help me organize my thoughts nor does it make me more productive. However, I must be weird as a lot of people swear by mind mapping software and some commercial mind mapping applications are sold to large corporations for hefty chunks of change.

According to Wikipedia:

A mind map (or mind-map) is a diagram used to represent words and ideas linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea. It is used to generate, visualize, structure and classify ideas, and as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, and decision making.

If that flies over your head as high as it did over mine, these examples from the FreeMind web site of what people are using FreeMind for may be more helpful:

* Keeping track of projects, including subtasks, state of subtasks and time recording
* Project workplace, including links to necessary files, executables, source of information and of course information
* Workplace for internet research using Google and other sources
* Keeping a collection of small or middle sized notes with links on some area which expands as needed. Such a collection of notes is sometimes called knowledge base.
* Essay writing and brainstorming, using colors to show which essays are open, completed, not yet started etc, using size of nodes to indicate size of essays. I don't have one map for one essay, I have one map for all essays. I move parts of some essays to other when it seems appropriate.
* Keeping a small database of something with structure that is either very dynamic or not known in advance. The main disadvantage of such approach when compared to traditional database applications are poor query possibilities, but I use it that way anyway - contacts, recipes, medical records etc. You learn about the structure from the additional data items you enter. For example, different medical records use different structure and you do not have to analyze all the possible structures before you enter the first medical record.
* Commented internet favorites or bookmarks, with colors and fonts having the meaning you want.

I can do all that with an ascii text editor, but what do I know? More seriously, a lot of people find mind mapping software very useful for brainstorming and for organizing information. Other people -- like me -- try it and just scratch our heads in confusion. You will not know if it clicks for you until you try it. FreeMind considered one of the better examples of mind mapping software and the price -- free -- is certainly right.

Rating: 4.0
Operating System: Any running Java 1.4 or higher
License: Open Source (GPL)
Price: Free
Version Reviewed: 0.8.0
Web Site: http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
See Screenshots