I just recently downloaded FreeMind, which is mind-mapping software. I’m using it to help me sort through the plot of my novel. It’s a pretty handy program for any kind of brain-storming. It’s really hard to explain all the things it can be used for. It can be used to create almost any kind of free-form database.
One of the nice things about FreeMind, if you’re a technical sort, like myself, is that the latest version, currently in beta, supports scripts written in Groovy, a powerful scripting language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This allows you to extend the capabilities of the software quite a bit. One group has developed a way interface FreeMind with a project tracking system, so they can use mind mapping to brain-storm solutions and generate estimates.
Since the program is written in Java, I’ve decided to join the developer team and see if I can add a few features I’d like to have. They mostly have to do with improving the utility of scripts and improving the user interface.
