Blogs - Software Reviews

Freemind - mind mapper

Written by Marco Conti Sunday, 09 November 2008 13:22

Have ideas? Map them with Freemind.

An incredibly useful Open Source program for "Mind Mapping". A boon for software developers, website designers and anyone trying to make sense of their ideas.

Name: Freemind

Description: Mind Mapping Software

Type of license: Open Source

Price: Free

Rating: 5 out of 5

Homepage: freemind.sourceforge.net

Download URL: freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Download

FreeMind is one of my currently favorite programs. It's easy to use, incredibly useful, simple to install and free to download. You really could not ask for more.

FreeMind is an Open Source project available at freemind.sourceforge.net
It requires the Java Framework but it's otherwise very easy to use. It is cross platform and comes in a variety of packages. Like in all open source software, the variety of download options can be intimidating, but if you don't get scared by them you'll see there are really only two options that make sense: the large package for your OS and the Beta version. I decided to use the Beat as I am the adventurous kind but I have used the regular windows version on a client's computer and found little difference between the two.

Getting started

Freemind creates beautiful "Mind Maps" that resemble flowcharts and organizational charts.

After downloading and installing the program, you really need to know very few keyboard strokes to get started. "Insert" will create a new node. Hit "return" twice and you create a "sibling" (another node at the same level).

That's it. With kjust this knowledge anyone can start creating beautiful Mind Maps of their work, thoughts, website and anything you can think of.

FreeMind has an extensive knowledgebase and it would be silly of me to try to recreate it in this review. You can read more about how it works here (*needs Java framework). Or go to the homepage.

Freemind for web developers and website owners

FreeMind creates awesome website maps. After struggling for many years with paper, PowerPoint, even MS Word website maps, using FreeMind is a breath of fresh air.

If you own a website or want to build one, you owe it to yourself to give this program a try.

Get Freemind

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

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