Salamander - History

Salamander is one of the best tools for using your computer with Windows. I came across this tool in 2000. I used to use freeware version (1.6) that time. My first impression with the tool was not so good. I saw just two panes showing different (or same) folders on the file system. I though, what is so great about it? Unknowingly, I started using it and kept using it. Within few days, I discovered all the fun hidden behind those two panes.
Just like mathematical expressions, most of the user operations performed by the user on computer are binary. Meaning, they need one or two inputs (operands) for evaluating (executing) expression (operation). DOS used to provide console based user interface. User used to give commands on the command with additional input passed to the command as command line arguments (switches).
copy sourcefiles destination
It used to give maximum flexibility to the user with compromised usability. User had to be somewhat expert in using computers. With evolution of Graphical User Interface (and Windows operating system to be specific), interaction with computers was at ease for an average computer user. For exploring and managing files on the storage devices, Windows Explorer (referred as Explorer henceforth) was distributed as part of Windows. Explorer introduced tree based the look and feel while showing hierarchy in folder structure. This helped users a lot in clearly visualizing, how they are managing their files.
Problem with Explorer was, it restricted user to locate only one folder at a time. As discussed above, typical user operations are unary or binary. For binary operations, user had to navigate to other folder in order to complete the operation. The navigation is possible in same as well as a different explorer window. For example, explorer allows you to select files that needs to be copied from the current view. But the user will have to leave the current view and navigate to the destination folder in order to paste the files. When you start managing volumes of files in little bit deep hierarchy, this restrictions creates lot of frustration. With release of Windows 98, Microsoft started shipping Internet Explorer as inetgrated part of the operating system. With this, look and feel as well as usability of Explorer was totally changed and was made easy for any general purpose computer user. Power users (who need lot of control and willing to use shotcuts frequent operations) got frustrated with this new behaviour of Explorer. So power users started looking back to the good old commandline days.
In 1986, Peter Norton Computing came up with a tool Norton Commander, which started giving users a two pane interface. Users were able to locate source and destination folders in two different panes and perform desired operations. This tool became popular amongst DOS users as DOS was lacking in allowing users to perform recursive operations. Copying, moving and deleting folders recursively bacame riddle on DOS where Norton Commander came to the rescue. Lot of product companies followed the approach of Norton Commander and started selling/distributing their products as specialised file managers on different platforms. Altap came up with their own tool, Altap Salamander (formerly know as Servant Salamander) on Windows platform which became most popular file manager on this platform amongst different file manager users other than Explorer. Finally, Explorer remains the dominant file manager on the Windows platform as it is freely shipped with the OS and can be used with very less learning.

Software tools

Software and software tools are air and water for me. I can’t live my life without them. I use software on weekdays and weekends. I can’t imagine what will happen to me if I will have to survive without computers for 3 days or more. I have been using computers more than 10 year. I never write software or software tools. But I am a good consumer of them.
I have been there since 2 B.D. (before DOS). Over the period of time tools have greatly and drastically evolved with their operating systems (referred as OS henceforth). From the day one, UNIX, Linux (and their different flavors) got labeled as for geeks. Microsoft came to the rescue of an average computer user and started selling Windows. This does not mean Windows does not provide first-class exquisite software tools. But ease of use was deliberately exercised within development of Windows and now that has become its culture. (Calm down. This is not the place to start fighting Windows vs. Linux war.)
I started my life on computers with Microsoft’s products and developed myself as a good computer user on Windows. Microsoft ships tools with Windows which satisfy bare minimum needs of an average user. Obviously, if you are a power user, you will demand for more. Lot of third party application developers and vendors came to the market with their own tools on Windows OS. Their tools not only meet your needs, but also offer additional rich set of features you ever had dreamed of. Finally, Microsoft is the master amongst all. They have developed their products heavily usable (and learnable if not usable). Classic examples are Office, Visual Studio, so on and so forth.
Every OS comes to you with abundance of services. All these services allow you to use the computer hardware and other electronic devices effectively and efficiently. File system, for example, is a service provided by OS. It allows you to store and organize data on wide variety of storage devices. Tools cook these services for you with added spice and cheese and present you a mouth-watering dish.
Tools have done their job. You need to go to the dining table; sniff the dish and taste it with your tongue. What I mean is you need to develop your own understanding about the tools and master them. Try to understand what’s which’s and how’s about the tools. You need to evolve yourself for the OS and have essence of how tools work on them. It obviously needs patience. If you enjoy learning, patience will come for free.
Hold on. You just said, “Why the hell do I need to do all this?” The answer is pretty straight forward. You will be able to configure tools as per your needs. You will be able to automate your activities. You will be able to use different tools in combination with each other to enjoy their combined effectiveness. All this will greatly raise your productivity. They will start calling you a power user. Cool?
I am on the way with you. ;) I am here to share my experience about some of the tools which are available on Windows. Others are available in the form of online services on web. Altap Salamander is my favorite. I love it. I will share my romance with Salamander as much as I can. I will also cover how to use different text editors, command prompt services and combine them with each other. Google is serving world class online services. I will be sharing my experiences on these too. If time permits, I will start sharing about tools which are popular in software programming space.
Your feedback on this will be appreciated. I will try to post my next blog ASAP.
Till then, Alvida!!

First Page

I have just created this blog. I will soon start posting technical discussions here. All of them will be mostly on Microsoft platform, Microsoft operating systems and tools.

Keep patience for some more time. ;)

See you soon.