Using CP/M - Computerphile

TL;DR

A walkthrough of the CP/M operating system, its capabilities, and its historical significance.

Transcript

What we're looking at here is actually a year's NIT based code blue computer kit original CP/M was written for the 8080 The said 80s is an extension of the 8080. So it runs all of the 8080 code So this is actually running one of the original versions of CP/M exactly as it would have done back in the day, right? So Initially, there's a small little ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧡 CP/M was a significant operating system for early 80s computers and offered a wide range of software options.
• 👨‍💻 Users could write their own programs in CP/M using assembly code and the built-in assembler.
• 🤶 CP/M's popularity and familiarity influenced the design of MS-DOS.
• 🤶 CP/M could be run on different computer systems, including the Illustrated PCW 1512.
• 💦 CP/M did not natively support graphics but could work with a suitable graphics card and BIOS.
• 🤶 CP/M had a syntax similar to MS-DOS, making it easy for DOS users to transition to MS-DOS.
• 🤶 Users often made backup copies of their CP/M floppies to prevent data loss.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the main advantage of using CP/M for business applications?

CP/M provided a wealth of software, including business-specific applications like WordStar and database programs, making it an ideal choice for businesses to handle their accounts and other tasks.

Q: Can CP/M run games?

Yes, CP/M featured a variety of games, including adventure games like Zork, that users could play on their machines. There are also CP/M emulators available to run CP/M on modern computers.

Q: Which computer systems can run CP/M?

CP/M was originally written for the 8080 but was subsequently ported to other systems, including the 68000 and 8086 IBM PC infrastructure.

Q: Does CP/M support graphics?

CP/M itself is not capable of graphics, but with a suitable graphics card and BIOS, it can provide good graphics capabilities.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• CP/M is an operating system written for the 8080 and 80s computers, allowing them to run original versions of CP/M.

• CP/M offered a wide range of software, including business applications like WordStar and database programs, as well as games and utility programs.

• It was fairly easy to write custom programs in CP/M using assembly code, thanks to built-in tools like the assembler.