The Family Tree By Terence L. Day Terence L. Day, genealogist and journalist, is on the Washington State University faculty. There is no one answer to this question. So many software applications have been written for genealogists that a person could practically make a career of trying to determine which is best. And what's best for one genealogist isn't best for another. First, let's touch on a few basics.
Genealogy software serves the same function that paper forms served in the good old days.
All genealogy software includes the basic forms - family group sheets and pedigree charts. Each generation lists only the child through whom the first person on the chart descends and their spouse. For instance, my pedigree chart lists me, then my mother and father, but not my siblings. Similarly, it lists my parents' parents, but my parents' siblings aren't listed. This is true whether the charts are in a computer program or printed by hand on paper.