CP/M
/C.P.M/, n.
[Control Program/Monitor; later {retcon}ned to Control Program for
Microcomputers] An early microcomputer {OS} written by hacker Gary
Kildall for 8080- and Z80-based machines, very popular in the late
1970s but virtually wiped out by MS-DOS after the release of the IBM
PC in 1981. Legend has it that Kildall's company blew its chance to
write the OS for the IBM PC because Kildall decided to spend a day
IBM's reps wanted to meet with him enjoying the perfect flying weather
in his private plane (another variant has it that Gary's wife was much
more interested in packing her suitcases for an upcoming vacation than
in clinching a deal with IBM). Many of CP/M's features and conventions
strongly resemble those of early {DEC} operating systems such as
{TOPS-10}, OS/8, RSTS, and RSX-11. See {MS-DOS}, {operating system}.
Control Program for Microcomputers
CPM
CP/M
<operating system> (CP/M) An early {microcomputer} {operating
system} written by Gary Kildall of {Digital Research} for
{8080} and {Zilog Z80}-based 8-bit computers. CP/M was very
popular in the late 1970s but was virtually wiped out by
{MS-DOS} after the release of the {IBM PC} in 1981.
Many of CP/M's features and conventions strongly resemble
those of early {DEC} operating systems such as {TOPS-10},
{OS/8}, {RSTS} and {RSX-11}.
CP/M might have been the {OS} for the {IBM PC} instead of
{MS-DOS} but Kildall wanted to keep control of his creation
and only license it to IBM. Big Blue however wanted to own
and control it completely. Kildall spent the day IBM's reps
wanted to meet him enjoying the perfect flying weather in his
private plane.
[Did CP/M use the same {FAT} file system as MS-DOS?]
(1996-01-07)
CPM
Communication Processor Module (Motorola)
CPM
Control Program for Microcomputers (OS, DR), "CP/M"