“Idea processing software and how it relates to production software. Just some of the thinking behind the OPML editor that I’m working on.”
Dave discusses his work on “idea processing” software, which he sees as a different category from traditional “productivity” or “production” applications. He explains that idea processing software, like outliners, allows users to easily organize and rearrange their thoughts, in contrast to paper-based methods. Winer notes that hierarchical structures and recursive data models are common in software, and he believes formalizing these concepts in a general-purpose “idea processor” could be valuable. He is currently working on developing OPML and other tools for this purpose, and invites listeners who are interested in idea processing to share their thoughts and experiences with him.