# WordStar

28 Hacker News commenters recommended WordStar and 4 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 6 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Fast, distraction-free DOS word processor that people still write in once its keyboard shortcuts are memorized. Critics say it is irritating on screen and needs rote-learned multi-key commands.

## Why people recommend it

- Keyboard shortcuts that stick in memory (3 comments): "I used it so much as a kid that I still have the WordStar keybindings stuck in my muscle memory." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48122380)) "WordStar was great once you had the keycombos memorized." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48700364)) "WordStar's keybindings were easy to learn and remember" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48697346))
- Simple, powerful, does everything needed (4 comments): "astonishingly powerful considering how long ago it was king of word processors" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45820560)) "It did pretty much everything you needed, and it didn't get in your way." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48121989)) "the applications are simple, powerful, and pleasing to use" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46064740))
- Good programming text editor (3 comments): "my favourite was WordStar (not for Windows), for both word processing and as a programming editor" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47512577)) "Text-mode versions of Wordperfect, Wordstar, and Lotus 1-2-3 were pretty good too." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47901791)) "Using its text mode, WordStar made a pretty good programming editor." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48695689))
- Distraction-free writing environment (2 comments): "It's typing on a keyboard without the confusion of the internet or clicking on glowing icons." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47825501)) "These programs are great for sitting down and writing with no distractions" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48695247))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Google Docs](https://hackerapproved.com/p/google-docs.md): 144 recommend
- [Microsoft Word](https://hackerapproved.com/p/microsoft-word.md): 129 recommend
- [Apple Pages](https://hackerapproved.com/p/pages.md): 39 recommend
- [WordPerfect](https://hackerapproved.com/p/wordperfect.md): 36 recommend
- [LibreOffice Writer](https://hackerapproved.com/p/libreoffice-writer.md): 28 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "WordStar", https://hackerapproved.com/p/wordstar/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).