1974

Gary Kildall creates CP/M

Gary Kildall created CP/MControl Program for Microcomputers — an early OS that ran on many pre-IBM PC microcomputers. in 1974 — the first widely used disk operating system for microcomputers, running on Intel 8080 and Z80 machines.

What it was for

CP/MCP/MControl Program for Microcomputers — an early OS that ran on many pre-IBM PC microcomputers. gave early S-100 bus computers a standard command line, file system, and BIOSBasic Input/Output System — firmware that initializes hardware when a PC boots, before the OS loads. interface. IBMInternational Business Machines — a major computer and enterprise technology company since the early 20th century. chose MicrosoftThe software giant behind Windows, Office, Azure, and Xbox — founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.'s PCPersonal computer — a computer designed for individual use, especially desktop or laptop machines. DOSDisk Operating System — an OS centered on disk storage; often refers to MS-DOS on PCs. over CP/MControl Program for Microcomputers — an early OS that ran on many pre-IBM PC microcomputers. for the 1981 PCPersonal computer — a computer designed for individual use, especially desktop or laptop machines. — but CP/MControl Program for Microcomputers — an early OS that ran on many pre-IBM PC microcomputers.'s design influenced DOSDisk Operating System — an OS centered on disk storage; often refers to MS-DOS on PCs. and proved micros needed real operating systems, not just monitor ROMs.

People

  • Gary Kildallcreator

Why it's here

CP/MControl Program for Microcomputers — an early OS that ran on many pre-IBM PC microcomputers. was the de facto OSOperating system — software that manages hardware and provides services to applications. for 8-bit microcomputers before the IBMInternational Business Machines — a major computer and enterprise technology company since the early 20th century. PCPersonal computer — a computer designed for individual use, especially desktop or laptop machines..

Why it mattered

It separated hardware BIOSBasic Input/Output System — firmware that initializes hardware when a PC boots, before the OS loads. from portable OSOperating system — software that manages hardware and provides services to applications. code — a model DOSDisk Operating System — an OS centered on disk storage; often refers to MS-DOS on PCs. and later systems copied.

What it solved

MicrocomputerA small computer built around a microprocessor — the category that became personal computers. owners needed disk file management and a consistent program environment.

Media

  • CP/M
    ImageCP/M

    Digital Research, Inc., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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