Legacy of Gary Kildall: The CP/M IEEE Milestone Dedication

The Legacy of Gary Kildall: The IEEE Milestone Plaque Dedication April 25, 2014

In 1974, Gary Kildall, an instructor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey and a consultant to Intel, developed CP/M (Control Program for Microcomputers), the first portable disk operating system for microcomputers, in his tool shed office in Pacific Grove. Together with his wife Dorothy McEwen, Kildall founded Digital Research, Inc. in Pacific Grove, California in 1976 to promote the software that, together with the microprocessor and the disk drive, would provide one of the three fundamental building blocks of the personal computer revolution. By the early 1980s DRI employed several hundred people and reported that "More than a million people are now using CP/M controlled systems." The stories of DRI's demise in the face of competition from Microsoft and IBM and of Kildall's tragic death in 1991 continue to fuel myths and conspiracy theories to this day.

This video records a session recorded in Pacific Grove City Hall and the unveiling of a plaque outside the former DRI headquarters at 801 Lighthouse Avenue on April 25, 2014 installed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering to commemorate the first working prototype of CP/M. The IEEE Milestone in Electrical Engineering and Computing program honors important events in electrical engineering and computing. Achievements such Thomas Edison's electric light bulb, Marconi's wireless communications, and Bell Labs first transistor are recognized with a plaque in an appropriate location.

The program includes comments by Howard Michel, IEEE President-Elect, a conversation with former DRI vice presidents Gordon Eubanks and Tom Rolander moderated by Computer History Museum Semiconductor Curator David Laws, and reminiscences by former National Semiconductor CEO Brian Halla and software consultant John Wharton recalling their roles as Intel engineering liaison to DRI. Brian Berg, a member of the IEEE Santa Clara Valley History Committee and the Asilomar Microcomputer Workshop Organizing Committee, one of the sponsors of the event introduces the speakers, including Gary Kildall's son, Scott.

More information on the IEEE Milestone is posted at:

Background on Gary Kildall and CP/M is at:

Catalog Number: 102746908
Lot Number: X7170.2014

[amirzareie]

I wish Stewart Cheifet had also been invited to be part of the panel. One of the significant contributions of Gary was ‘Computer Chronicles, ’ which he co-hosted with Cheifet. I guess there are many stories that Stewart could share about Gary on the panel

[perplexedmoth]

I discovered and started studying CP/M just recently, and right now writing a file system implementation of it for fun and learning purposes. I've known about Gary Kildall from Computer Chronicles that I also found on Youtube (I'm both not old enough to remember, and had no access to any of these when I was younger). I watched this video until the end, and thoroughly enjoyed the entire memoirs and things said about him. It's amazing that his legacy is still remembered, hopefully will continue to do so.

[BrokebackBob]

I used CP/M on a Heathkit H-8 microcomputer (it also ran Heath Disk Operating System, written by Heath Co) and the main thing I remember is how much both of them looked like the operating systems that Digital Equipment Corp mini and mainframe computers ran. I used TOPS-10 (Terminal Operating System for the DECsystem-10). As far as I am concerned, CP/M was the biggest contribution to making  the 8-bit computer programmable, usable and useful. Rest in heavenly peace, Gary, you are a national treasure.

[PacRimJim]

In a previous life, I worked for Gary at DRI. Long, long ago.

[AndrewPagett]

Great to see this. Gary is hugely unappreciated overall for his achievements and vision.

[climbeverest]

I wrote a cp/m based data acquisition software using pl/m, I was amazed at how well the compiler manual gave me full access to the os, and how easy it was to pass values from pl/m to assembly language, those were heady days.

[SteveLeicht]

My only real exposure to Gary Kildall is the dozens of Computer Chronicles episodes I've watched on here.  (Also, I've read a little of the brief bios available online.)  I think it is a tragedy that he is known best in some circles only as the person that lost DOS.  From all appearances, he was extremely intelligent, creative, humble, kind, and truly interested what others had to offer and express.

[kilroy]

The Great and Amazing Dr. Gary Kildall

[QuaaludeCharlie]

I still have a Lot of Gary's  Digital Research Computers and some Early CP/M Operating System install disks <3 This :) QC

[BruceStephan]

Gary's work that was used for the ATARI ST's operating system helped create a powerful inexpensive computer ideal for hobbyists . Much of the ST software was developed by mom&pop independent companies .

[johnmcafee]

Best thing I ever watched! Gary was so amazing

[danrichards]

In 5, 000 years, this video will have trillions of views and Gary will be viewed on par with Alexander the Great.

[nurlatifahmohdnor]

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