I'm building an app that is, in a way, a modern take on Lotus Notes (https://github.com/superegodev/superego), and I couldn't feel this more:

> It is hard, today, to explain exactly what Lotus Notes was.

Whenever I try to explain what it does to a non-tech person, I'm met with confused looks that make me quickly give up and mumble something like "It's for techies and data nerds". I think to myself "they're not my target audience".

But I actually would like them to be, at some point. In the 90s "the generality and depth of its capabilities meant that it was also just plain hard to use", but now LLMs lower a lot the barrier to entry, so I think there can be a renaissance of such malleable¹ platforms.

Of course, the user still needs to "know what they need" and see software as something that can be configured and shaped to their needs which, with "digital literacy" decreasing, might be a bigger obstacle than I think.

¹ https://www.inkandswitch.com/malleable-software

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dharmatech 5 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Just watched your demo here:

https://youtu.be/vB3xo2qn_g4?si=y2udkdfezSR9ktUO

Pretty cool!

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dharmatech 4 hours ago | parent [-]

I like that you can generate new programs from within the system.

That's something I miss with Notion. I basically want a Notion but extensible and malleable like Emacs.

	▲	pscanf 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Yes! That's more or less the angle I'm going for. I mean, I don't aim just yet for Emacs-levels of malleability, but at least for something where you can create some useful day to day personal tools.

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dharmatech 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Is there a story behind the old guy in the logo?

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allenu 4 hours ago | parent [-]

It must be a nod to Freud (i.e. id, ego, and super ego)

	▲	pscanf 3 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Correct. Admittedly, graphic design is not even my passion, so there's probably lots of room for improvement. But at this point I've grown accustomed to the friendly face. :D
	▲	4 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		[deleted]

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dharmatech 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Many people seem to associate "ego" with negative connotation.

The name gives a weird vibe. But, it's free and it's your project so, whatever. ¯ \ _ ( ツ ) _ / ¯

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pscanf 3 hours ago | parent [-]

Yeah, I agree, though it wants to be slightly provocative as well: it's all about you, your data, your software, your rights.

	▲	dharmatech 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Ah... Ok, that makes sense.