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.