If you could bring back classic Mac OS software, what would it be?

[joshc]

If you could bring back some classic Mac OS software (or a game) that could run natively on latest macOS, what would it be? Obviously modern macOS software is pretty good and modern Macs come with loads of really great apps, but I still sometimes wish there were a few more options like what we used to have.

Here's some that come to mind that I'd love to have modern versions of:

- Hypercard
- MacPaint
- MacDraw
- Freehand
- Ambrosia's games
- REALBasic, before it got way too bloated. Something closer to versions 2 or 3, with just a simple drag and drop interface builder and super simple syntax. I suppose Xcode with Interface builder/storyboard and Swift isn't too far off these days, but the way things link up and the fact you sometimes still have to delve into Objective C still makes it a little far from the simplicity of REALBasic.

 

[LaPorta]

Mac OS itself, except made stable underneath like early OS X.

 

[Phipli]

HyperCard. Without a doubt. Cross platform so I could use it on my work PC.

It's like how you end up using Excel for absolutely everything, without really wanting to, but HyperCard was designed for it and was flexible, powerful and could look good doing it.

I still use HyperCard for prototyping :


This one sets preferences for an extension.

(Edited to hide product details because this one was for someone else)

This one pokes hardware registers in a card.

 

[joshc]

Mac OS itself, except made stable underneath like early OS X.

that's what macOS is, mate.

 

[dr.diesel]

Spaceward Ho was my Fav game from back then, still play on occasion. Wish the source code could be had.

 

[LaPorta]

that's what macOS is, mate.

Not quite the same. Today’s macOS is a kludge of useless bloat. I prefer the cleaner OS 9 and below interface.

 

[Boctor]

WindowShade. I can't even justify a use case, but I want it.

 

[finkmac]

ambrosia games have modern versions i thought? i definitely got my ev nova fix on a modern computer in 2021


i would bring back:

apple applet runner

TeachText

cd remote

 

[Snial]

WindowShade. I can't even justify a use case, but I want it.

Yes, I really loved WindowShade - I have it on all my System 7.1 installs.

But to answer the OP question, my preference would be for ClarisWorks, probably CW3 or 4 before it all got a bit clunky. The ease of use for combining word processed documents with spreadsheets, graphics or painting was unparalleled: it was so efficient I could express ideas in CW faster than any other medium.

Also, IDEs and compilers with the relative simplicity of THINK C 5.

 

[mikes-macs]

I really enjoyed playing WarCraft II Tides of Darkness and Beyond the Great Portal BattleNet edition. This was long before World of Warcraft which is nice but not even close to the same thing.
It would be great if I could play these on a modern Mac with current Mac OS either original or upgraded versions that can play natively.
I have Mac OS 9 Macs that can run these but they have aging issues that make the game unenjoyable.

 

[VMSZealot]

MacPaint, yes - or, better yet, BrushStrokes
Hypercard, of course
But… most of all… I would really like to see the result of the 'Works' type package. A separate office suite is so bloated and clunky - great for office work, but not brilliant for the home. AppleWorks for preference, but even Microsoft Office in a pinch.

I'd also like to see support for 'proper' Quicktime returned. I'd like to see support for PICT files and so forth returned. But… especially for these use-cases… I appreciate that I'm in the minority. Most people don't care.

 

[cheesestraws]

TeachText

SimpleText was still in the sample projects until really quite recently - I don't know when it dropped out.

apple applet runner

masochist. or possibly sadist, I can't decide

 

[finkmac]

masochist. or possibly sadist, I can't decide

i just really like the icon and the demo applets