Office software remains stuck where it began. Development has cycled twice (mid-1980s and the mid-1990s) between a preference for standalone applications and integrated office suites. Neither is optimum and both are offspring of early applications, which artificially compartmentalise tools into separate functional work areas. The upshot is that office software has grown more useful for generating elaborate documents than for providing tools that help efficiently organise and manage one's work process. Professionals want to improve their productivity, but is the industry listening? We can continue upgrading through the process of diminishing returns, or we can actually solve our problems by improving the office toolset. Taking advantage of software progress over the past 25 years, we can develop tools that offer improved capabilities for people. While several projects are creating components for developers, a project to develop modular tools for people is not on the horizon. The GPL community could take the lead by modularising the tool capabilities found in office suites for use in a more integrated and process-oriented work environment. With separate tools, functionality can be clarified and learning curves minimised. People could customise their workshop to include only the tools they need and to perform the same work that's currently done using office suite applications. Tools could be added or upgraded one at a time. And new, open file standards could also evolve. But most important, a process-oriented environment would enable users to set up systems to manage their work. GNU/Linux can flourish in the enterprise sector and still be a desktop dud. Though opportunity exists, the market won't abandon Windows except for something significantly better. Currently, the desktop is more of a low-budget sideshow, with the enterprise sector being the main event. This can change, but it will take an aggressive new approach that provides for both the necessary revenue and a mechanism to establish better relationships with computer users. To refine the user interface and evolve more useful tools, development must move beyond creative cloning. To prevail over proprietary systems, it must take the lead in providing both ease of use and productivity for the desktop user.
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