Software History – Which Word Processor Came First? Among the following well-known titles from personal computing history, identify the earliest word processor to be released.

Introduction / Context:
Word processing software evolved rapidly from the late 1970s through the 1990s. Knowing the chronology helps place important shifts—from command-line interfaces to graphical UIs—into context.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Candidates include WordStar, WordPerfect, MS Word, and Lotus Notes.
• We are concerned with initial release dates, not peak popularity.
• Platform differences (CP/M, DOS, Windows) are not the focus, only which came first.

Concept / Approach:
WordStar was released around 1979 (CP/M), preceding WordPerfect (circa 1980–1982, DOS), and MS Word (1983 for MS-DOS; 1984 for Macintosh). Lotus Notes (1989) is primarily groupware/group messaging rather than a dedicated word processor and arrived much later.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical software catalogs and computing timelines place WordStar as a pioneering CP/M word processor, widely used before DOS dominance.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• WordPerfect: Arrived after WordStar and became dominant later on DOS.
• MS Word: Introduced after both WordStar and WordPerfect.
• Lotus Notes: Groupware/email platform, not an early word processor; released much later.

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming the brand you used most is the oldest; popularity peaks do not reflect first release dates.

Final Answer:
WordStar