FreeMind is a premier free mind-mapping (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map) software written in Java. The recent development has hopefully turned it into high productivity tool. Current users of FreeMind use it for the following purposes: Keeping track of projects, including subtasks, state of subtasks and time recording Project workplace, including links to necessary files, executables, source of information and of course information Workplace for internet research using Google and other sources Keeping a collection of small or middle sized notes with links on some area which expands as needed. Such a collection of notes is sometimes called knowledge base. Essay writing and brainstorming, using colors to show which essays are open, completed, not yet started etc, using size of nodes to indicate size of essays. I don't have one map for one essay, I have one map for all essays. I move parts of some essays to other when it seems appropriate. etc.