Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Lineo Frees CP/M

Posted by timothy on from the if-you-have-the-hardware dept.

rbeattie writes: "The Register is reporting that the code for 'the first generic operating system for microcomputers' is now open source. It's interesting to see the final chapter for the code that could have been what was MS-DOS. The article includes the requisite background of CP/M from Gary Kildall's snubbing of IBM to its transformation into DR-DOS, later being sold to Novell then to Caldera who spun it off with Lineo who finally opened up the source in October." The original story is actually at NewsForge. Update: 11/27 22:13 GMT by T : Note, thanks to reader Greg Head, that DR-DOS source appears available only for money; the original headline implied that DR-DOS source was also now available at no charge.

7 of 245 comments (clear)

  1. no matter what anyone says... by night_flyer · · Score: 2, Funny

    I still like DOS

    --


    Thanks to file sharing, I purchase more CDs
    Thanks to the RIAA, I buy them used...
  2. Ms. Dos dead at age 21 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I just heard some sad news on CNET radio. Ms. Dos, was found murdered in her home this morning. She was 21 years old. We are still looking for Mr. Dos. If you see him, please contact me immediately.

    1. Re:Ms. Dos dead at age 21 by calags · · Score: 3, Funny

      Her husband was Dr. DOS (whereabouts unknown) - there is speculation that the murderer entered and left through the broken Windows.

      Ms Dos' twin P.C. Dos was unavailable for comment.

      --
      Never attribute to stupidity what can be construed as a monopoly preservation tactic.
  3. The Freshest Evil by hal200 · · Score: 1, Funny

    (Enter smarmy marketroid. Linus Torvalds typing at his PC in the background.)

    Here at Evil Inc., we're always on the lookout for the freshest evil money can buy. To that end, we've replaced Linus's 2.5 Kernel Tree with CP/M...Let's see if he notices! ;)

    (Focus on Linus at his PC)

    "What the?!? What happened to the VM?!? Wait a minute! This isn't my OS! DAMN YOU GREG KILDALL!!!!!"

    (Cut back to marketroid. Background switches between images of Linux developers screaming after installing 2.5.1-evil-herring)

    Don't you just love the smell of steaming hot Evil in the morning? I know I do! Mmmm! Mm! Refreshing!

    This message has been brought to you by the fine folks at Evil Incorporated.

    --

    I just want to take over the world...Why does that automatically make me EVIL?

  4. New life for C128 by SomeoneGotMyNick · · Score: 4, Funny
    Does this mean I can FINALLY upgrade the CP/M for my Commodore 128?

    Lately, the Z-80 CPU in there only gets to boot the machine and never does any other computing.

    -----

  5. Finally! by ryanr · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now I no longer have to pay the CP/M tax, and I can continue writing software for a FREE operating system.

  6. Re:Day late and a dollar short by arnex · · Score: 1, Funny

    particularly POS systems and some industrial controllers use DOS.

    Yeah, I've got a piece of s--- 286 system at home that still runs DOS.

    Oh, wait, did you mean Point Of Sale?