Gary Kildall - The Man That Should Have Been Bill Gates - Part I
TLDRThe story of Gary Kildall, a pioneering figure in the early days of computing, is explored in this engaging narrative. Kildall, who could have been as influential as Bill Gates, was instrumental in the development of the microprocessor, operating systems, and graphical user interfaces. Despite his significant contributions, including the creation of CP/M, a revolutionary operating system, his legacy is less well-known. The narrative delves into the intrigue surrounding a pivotal meeting between IBM and Kildall in 1980, which could have led to a different trajectory for Microsoft and the IT industry. Kildall's character is portrayed as kind and dedicated to education, in contrast to the aggressive business tactics of his contemporaries. The summary leaves viewers with questions about the potential impact of Kildall's products on the computing world and the fairness of the IT competition landscape.
Takeaways
- 💡 Gary Kildall was a pivotal figure in the early days of computing, potentially influential enough to overshadow Bill Gates and Microsoft.
- 🛠️ Kildall was instrumental in the development of the microprocessor's practical use, creating the first microcomputer operating systems, APIs, and graphical user interfaces.
- 🚀 He was a visionary, advocating for preemptive multitasking and modern PC networking, and was a champion for early multimedia technologies like videodiscs and CD-ROMs.
- 📚 Kildall was dedicated to education, authoring books and documents to help people understand the burgeoning computer industry, often without personal profit.
- 🤝 Despite his significant contributions, Kildall was known for his kindness and lack of aggressive business tactics, which set him apart from contemporaries.
- 🏢 At Intel, Kildall created the PL/M programming language, which was used by Intel for decades and marked a significant advancement for microcomputers.
- 💿 Recognizing the need for data storage in personal computers, Kildall developed the CP/M operating system with the help of John Torode, enabling the use of floppy disks.
- 🌐 Digital Research Incorporated, the company founded by Kildall and his wife Dorothy, played a key role in the personal computing revolution.
- 📈 CP/M became a cornerstone of the personal computer industry, with a thriving software market developing around it, and was a significant factor in the success of early computers like the Altair 8800.
- 🤝 Microsoft's early success with the Z80 Softcard for the Apple II was closely tied to CP/M, leading to a bulk licensing deal with Digital Research for CP/M copies.
- ⏳ The pivotal moment involving IBM's entry into the personal computer market and the subsequent negotiations for an operating system could have greatly impacted the computing landscape had things gone differently for Kildall and CP/M.
Q & A
Who is the main character in the story of computer folklore presented in the transcript?
-The main character in the story is Dr. Gary Kildall, a founding figure in the computer industry and the creator of Digital Research Incorporated.
What significant contribution did Gary Kildall make to the early microprocessor technology?
-Gary Kildall was pivotal in the practical use of the microprocessor, creating the first microcomputer operating systems, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and a Graphical User Interface based Desktop operating environment.
What was the name of the operating system that Gary Kildall developed?
-Gary Kildall developed an operating system called CP/M, which stood for Control Programme for Microcomputers or sometimes referred to as Control Programme Monitor.
What was the significance of the BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) in CP/M?
-The BIOS in CP/M was an abstraction layer that allowed CP/M to be highly portable across different hardware. It created a 'digital pancake' where the top layer of the system did not require modification for different computers, making software development more efficient and independent of specific hardware.
Why did Microsoft approach Gary Kildall for a licensing deal for CP/M?
-Microsoft needed a legitimate version of CP/M to ship with their Z80 Softcard for the Apple II computer. They wanted to avoid the burden of users having to purchase and configure CP/M separately, so they struck a deal with Gary Kildall for a bulk discount on CP/M licenses.
What was the impact of IBM's entry into the personal computing market on the relationship between Digital Research and Microsoft?
-IBM's decision to enter the market led to a significant shift. IBM sought a programming language and an operating system for their upcoming PC. Bill Gates facilitated the introduction of IBM to Gary Kildall for the operating system, which could have potentially led to a major business opportunity for Digital Research.
Why was the Intel 8086 CPU significant for the development of the IBM PC?
-The Intel 8086 CPU was significant because it was a 16-bit CPU capable of addressing up to 1MB of memory, which was a substantial leap from the 8-bit systems of the time. IBM chose the 8086's cut-down version, the 8088, for their PC to capitalize on this increased capability.
What was the role of Tim Paterson in the development of the Z80 Softcard for the Apple II computer?
-Tim Paterson, an employee of Seattle Computer Products, developed the Z80 Softcard, a hardware expansion card that allowed Apple II users to access CP/M and run software written for Z80 CP/M computers.
What was the Z80 Softcard's significance in the market of the time?
-The Z80 Softcard was significant because it enabled the Apple II computer, which used a MOS 6502 CPU, to run CP/M and access a wide range of CP/M software. This made the Apple II more versatile and increased its appeal to consumers.
What is the 'abstraction layer' in the context of CP/M?
-The 'abstraction layer' in CP/M, known as the BIOS, was a layer of software that created a standard interface between the application software and the hardware specifics of the computer. This allowed CP/M to run on different hardware without needing to be rewritten for each system.
Why did Gary Kildall's Digital Research incorporate the name 'Intergalactic Digital Research' initially?
-Gary Kildall's company was initially called 'Intergalactic Digital Research' because the name 'Digital Research' was already claimed by a consultant in Sausalito, California. After the consultant went out of business two years later, 'Intergalactic' was dropped, and the company became known simply as 'Digital Research'.
Outlines
😀 The Enigmatic Visionary of Computing
The video introduces Dr. Gary Kildall, a pioneer in the computer industry whose contributions are often overlooked. Despite his significant influence on technologies like the microprocessor and the software industry, his story remains largely untold. Kildall was known for creating the first microcomputer operating systems, APIs, and graphical user interfaces. His forward-thinking vision included modern PC networking and multimedia on CD-ROMs. The video promises to reveal the dramatic and mysterious story of Kildall, his wife Dorothy, and their company, Digital Research Incorporated, which could have changed the course of computing history.
📚 Early Beginnings and the Birth of CP/M
The narrative begins with Gary Kildall's early involvement in computing in the 1960s, focusing on his work with compilers. His career took off in the 1970s, notably with his consulting work for Intel, where he developed the PL/M programming language. Kildall's vision for personal computing led him to create CP/M, the first disk operating system for microcomputers, in collaboration with John Torode, who helped with the hardware. The establishment of Digital Research and the licensing of CP/M marked a pivotal moment in the personal computing industry.
💼 The Business of CP/M and the Homebrew Revolution
This section discusses the business side of Digital Research and the growing market for CP/M software. The release of Popular Electronics magazine featuring the Altair 8800 sparked a surge in hobbyist computing. Kildall's CP/M became a cornerstone for the emerging industry, leading to collaborations with companies like IMSAI. The story also touches on the Homebrew Computer Club and the early days of Apple's Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, highlighting the interconnected nature of the tech community at the time.
🌐 The Abstraction Layer and Software Freedom
The paragraph delves into the innovative BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) developed by Gary Kildall, which served as an abstraction layer for CP/M, allowing it to run on various hardware without modification. This was a revolutionary concept that liberated software from hardware constraints. The story also explores the growing software market around CP/M, emphasizing the benefits of competition, lower prices, and quality control for consumers.
💼 The Emergence of Microsoft and the Softcard
The focus shifts to the collaboration between Microsoft and SCP (Seattle Computer Products), leading to the development of the Z80 Softcard, which enabled the Apple II to run CP/M. This partnership was beneficial for Microsoft as it bundled their popular BASIC software with CP/M. The story reveals a licensing deal between Digital Research and Microsoft, which allowed Microsoft to distribute CP/M with the Softcard at a significant discount, propelling the success of both companies.
📈 The Shift in the Computing Ecosystem
The final paragraph sets the stage for a major shift in the computing industry with IBM's entry into the personal computer market. As IBM sought to quickly establish a presence, they turned to Microsoft for a programming language and an operating system. The story hints at the contentious relationship between Digital Research and IBM, with Kildall's CP/M being the preferred choice for IBM's new PC. The narrative suggests that the upcoming meeting between IBM and Digital Research could significantly alter the course of personal computing.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Gary Kildall
💡Digital Research Incorporated
💡CP/M
💡Microprocessor
💡PL/M
💡BIOS
💡IBM
💡Microsoft
💡Z80 Softcard
💡Intel 8080
💡Software Freedom
Highlights
Dr. Gary Kildall was a pivotal figure in early computing technology, potentially as influential as Bill Gates.
Kildall's company, Digital Research Incorporated, could have dominated the market like Microsoft does today.
He was instrumental in the practical use of the microprocessor and the rise of the software industry.
Kildall created the first microcomputer operating systems, including CP/M.
He developed Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and a Graphical User Interface (GUI) based desktop environment.
Kildall was a proponent of pre-emptive multitasking, a feature that became a staple of modern operating systems.
He envisioned modern PC networking and was a pioneer in multimedia on videodiscs and CD-ROMs.
Kildall's innovations were arguably a decade ahead of his time.
His story involves intrigue, with a meeting with IBM in 1980 that could have changed the course of computing history.
Kildall was known for his caring and empathetic nature, in contrast to the aggressive business tactics of his contemporaries.
He was heavily invested in teaching and spent much of his time educating others about the potential of computing.
Kildall's work on the Intellec-8 computer and the development of the floppy disk revolutionized data storage.
CP/M, created by Kildall, became a cornerstone for the personal computing industry.
The BIOS abstraction layer, developed by Kildall, allowed for greater portability of software across different hardware.
Kildall's meeting with IBM, which was arranged through Bill Gates, is a point of significant controversy in the story.
The outcome of the IBM meeting and the subsequent actions of the companies involved had a profound impact on the future of the IT industry.
Kildall's legacy is often overshadowed by the success of Microsoft and the rise of Windows.