# Flashcard (Emacs package)

> former software package maintained by Damien Elmes

**Wikidata**: [Q113131012](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113131012)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/flashcard-emacs-package

## Summary
Flashcard was a software package for creating and managing flashcards within Emacs, written in Emacs Lisp and distributed under the GNU General Public License. It was initially created by Jorgen Schäfer and later maintained by Damien Elmes before being replaced by the more widely spaced repetition software Anki.

## Key Facts
- Flashcard was an Emacs package designed for creating and managing flashcards
- The software was written in Emacs Lisp, the dialect of Lisp used in GNU Emacs
- It was licensed under GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later
- Jorgen Schäfer was the original creator of the software
- Damien Elmes maintained the package during its later development
- The package was eventually replaced by Anki, which became one of the most popular spaced repetition software
- Flashcard was classified as both a software package and free software
- The software was described on the Emacs Wiki website

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Flashcard (Emacs package)?
A: Flashcard was designed as a tool for creating and managing flashcards within the Emacs text editor, leveraging Emacs's extensibility to provide a spaced repetition learning environment.

### Q: Who were the key people involved in developing Flashcard?
A: Jorgen Schäfer initially created the software, while Damien Elmes maintained it during its later development. Both held copyright to different components of the package.

### Q: What happened to Flashcard and why was it replaced?
A: Flashcard was replaced by Anki, which became one of the most popular spaced repetition software. The transition occurred as the project evolved from an Emacs package into a standalone application with broader functionality and user base.

## Why It Matters
Flashcard represents an important milestone in the history of spaced repetition learning software within the Emacs ecosystem. As one of the early implementations of spaced repetition techniques in Emacs Lisp, it demonstrated the extensibility and customization capabilities of Emacs for specialized learning tools. The software's evolution into Anki highlights how niche tools within specialized environments can develop into mainstream applications that transform entire fields of educational technology. Flashcard's transition from Emacs package to standalone application illustrates the development path many specialized software tools take when they outgrow their initial environment and seek broader adoption.

## Notable For
- Being one of the early implementations of spaced repetition learning within Emacs
- Its transition from an Emacs package to the more widely adopted Anki software
- Demonstrating the extensibility of Emacs for specialized learning applications
- Its dual copyright structure with both Jorgen Schäfer and Damien Elmes as copyright holders
- Its role as a predecessor to one of the most popular spaced repetition software globally

## Body
### Development History
Flashcard was initially created by Jorgen Schäfer as an Emacs package for creating and managing flashcards. The software was later maintained by Damien Elmes, who played a significant role in its development. The package had a dual copyright structure with both Schäfer and Elmes holding rights to different components of the software.

### Technical Specifications
- Programming Language: Emacs Lisp
- License: GNU General Public License, version 2.0 or later
- Platform: GNU Emacs
- Classification: Software package and free software
- Status: Former software package (no longer actively maintained)

### Transition to Anki
Flashcard was eventually replaced by Anki, which became one of the most popular spaced repetition software. This transition marked a significant evolution from an Emacs package to a standalone application with broader functionality. The software was archived and is no longer actively developed, with its functionality being superseded by Anki.

### Documentation and Availability
- Described at: https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/FlashCard
- Archived at: https://web.archive.org/web/20080206134803/http://ichi2.net/flashcard/
- Available in English on the Emacs Wiki

### Relationship to Anki
Anki, which replaced Flashcard, has become one of the most popular spaced repetition software globally. The connection between these two software packages highlights the evolution from specialized Emacs tools to mainstream educational applications.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/FlashCard)
2. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20080107060411/http://ichi2.net/emacs/flashcard/flashcard.el)
3. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20080206134803/http://ichi2.net/flashcard/)
4. [Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uraPXeLfWcM)
5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20080107060406/http://ichi2.net/emacs/flashcard/fc.el)