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CP/M was initially developed in 1974 by Gary Kildall and was designed for microcomputers using the Intel 8080 processor.
Answer: True
The source confirms that CP/M was initially developed in 1974 by Gary Kildall and was designed for microcomputers utilizing the Intel 8080 processor.
The acronym CP/M originally stood for 'Control Program for Microcomputers'.
Answer: False
The acronym CP/M originally signified 'Control Program/Monitor.' While 'Control Program for Microcomputers' became its official registered designation, the initial meaning was distinct.
Gary Kildall's experience with DECsystem-10's TOPS-10 operating system influenced the design of CP/M.
Answer: True
Gary Kildall's prior experience with the TOPS-10 operating system on DEC mainframe computers significantly influenced the design principles and features incorporated into CP/M.
John Pierce was the primary developer responsible for the initial release of CP/M in 1974.
Answer: False
Gary Kildall is credited as the primary developer of the initial release of CP/M in 1974. John Pierce was responsible for CP/M 2.0.
Who is credited as the primary developer of CP/M, and which company was it associated with?
Answer: Gary Kildall of Digital Research, Inc.
Gary Kildall is recognized as the primary developer of CP/M, and it was developed under the auspices of his company, Digital Research, Inc.
What was the original meaning of the acronym CP/M?
Answer: Control Program/Monitor
The acronym CP/M originally signified 'Control Program/Monitor,' reflecting its foundational role in managing system operations.
Which mainframe operating system influenced Gary Kildall's design choices for CP/M?
Answer: TOPS-10
Gary Kildall's design decisions for CP/M were influenced by his experience with the TOPS-10 operating system, which was utilized on DECsystem-10 mainframe computers.
The core components of CP/M were the BIOS, the CCP, and the File System Manager (FSM).
Answer: False
The core components of CP/M were the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), the Basic Disk Operating System (BDOS), and the Console Command Processor (CCP). A File System Manager (FSM) was not a standard core component.
Manufacturers customized CP/M primarily by modifying the BDOS component to support different disk drive types.
Answer: False
Customization of CP/M for specific hardware primarily involved adapting the BIOS component, which handled hardware-specific input/output operations, rather than the BDOS.
The Transient Program Area (TPA) in CP/M was a read-only memory section reserved for system utilities.
Answer: False
The Transient Program Area (TPA) in CP/M was a read/write memory section designated for the execution of application programs, not a read-only section for system utilities.
Which of the following were the core components of the CP/M operating system?
Answer: BIOS, BDOS, CCP
The fundamental components of the CP/M operating system were the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), the Basic Disk Operating System (BDOS), and the Console Command Processor (CCP).
How did manufacturers typically customize CP/M for their specific hardware?
Answer: By adapting the BIOS component to match their hardware.
Manufacturers typically customized CP/M for their specific hardware configurations by adapting the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) component, which interfaces directly with hardware.
What was the Transient Program Area (TPA) in CP/M?
Answer: The memory space available for application programs to execute.
The Transient Program Area (TPA) in CP/M constituted the memory region allocated for the loading and execution of application programs.
CP/M was referred to as a 'software bus' because it provided a standardized interface for applications to interact with diverse hardware, simplifying software porting.
Answer: True
The designation of CP/M as a 'software bus' highlights its function in offering a standardized interface, enabling applications to interface with varied hardware and thereby simplifying the process of porting software across different systems.
CP/M facilitated software portability mainly by requiring manufacturers to rewrite the entire operating system for each new hardware platform.
Answer: False
CP/M's design facilitated software portability by maintaining consistency in its core components (BDOS, CCP) and requiring only the hardware-specific BIOS to be adapted for different platforms.
DDT, known as the Dynamic Debugging Tool, was a utility for managing file directories in CP/M.
Answer: False
DDT (Dynamic Debugging Tool) in CP/M served as a utility for debugging programs, allowing users to examine memory, set breakpoints, and step through code execution, rather than managing file directories.
CP/M originally supported resident programs similar to DOS TSRs, allowing background operations.
Answer: False
Original CP/M versions did not natively support resident programs analogous to DOS TSRs. However, CP/M 3 introduced Resident System Extensions (RSX) to provide similar functionality.
CP/M's user areas were designed to function as hierarchical subdirectories for organizing files.
Answer: False
CP/M's user areas served as logical partitions for files (numbered 0-15) but did not implement a hierarchical subdirectory structure as seen in later operating systems.
What was the primary function of CP/M as a disk operating system?
Answer: To organize files on magnetic storage media and load/run programs.
The primary function of CP/M was to manage files on magnetic storage media and facilitate the loading and execution of programs, thereby serving as a disk operating system for microcomputers.
The description of CP/M as a 'software bus' highlights its function as:
Answer: A standardized interface allowing programs to interact with diverse hardware.
The 'software bus' concept refers to CP/M's role in providing a standardized interface, enabling applications to interact with various hardware components and simplifying software portability.
How did CP/M's design contribute to software portability across different microcomputers?
Answer: By keeping core OS components consistent and requiring only the BIOS to be adapted for specific hardware.
CP/M's design promoted software portability by standardizing its core components (BDOS, CCP) and necessitating only the adaptation of the hardware-specific BIOS for different microcomputer systems.
What was the function of DDT in CP/M?
Answer: Dynamic Debugging Tool for program analysis.
DDT, or Dynamic Debugging Tool, was a utility within CP/M designed for program analysis, enabling debugging tasks such as memory inspection and code execution stepping.
Did original CP/M versions support resident programs akin to DOS TSRs?
Answer: No, but CP/M 3 introduced Resident System Extensions (RSX).
Original CP/M versions did not natively support resident programs comparable to DOS TSRs. However, CP/M 3 later introduced Resident System Extensions (RSX) to provide similar capabilities.
What was the purpose of CP/M's 16 user areas?
Answer: To partition files into different logical groups on a disk, lacking subdirectories.
CP/M's 16 user areas were designed to partition files into distinct logical groups on a disk, serving as a file organization method in the absence of subdirectories.
The retronym CP/M-80 was introduced to distinguish the original 8-bit version from the later 16-bit CP/M-86.
Answer: True
The retronym CP/M-80 was adopted to differentiate the original 8-bit iteration of the operating system from subsequent 16-bit versions, such as CP/M-86, thereby preventing confusion.
CP/M-68K was a version of CP/M designed for processors like the Intel 8086.
Answer: False
CP/M-68K was specifically designed for processors utilizing the Motorola 68000 architecture, not the Intel 8086.
ZCPR was an alternative command processor designed to replace the standard CCP in CP/M systems, offering enhanced features.
Answer: True
ZCPR (Z80 Command Processor Replacement) was developed as a functional replacement for the standard Console Command Processor (CCP) in CP/M environments, introducing advanced capabilities.
ZCPR3 included features like I/O redirection, search paths, and online help, but it was exclusively designed for 8080 processors.
Answer: False
While ZCPR3 offered advanced features such as I/O redirection and search paths, it was not exclusively designed for 8080 processors; it could be compiled for various architectures, including the Z80.
Personal CP/M was a version developed by Microsoft for low-cost systems, utilizing the Z-80 instruction set.
Answer: False
Personal CP/M was a version developed by Digital Research in partnership with Zilog and American Microsystems, aimed at low-cost systems and designed to leverage the Z-80 processor's capabilities.
Why was the retronym CP/M-80 necessary?
Answer: To differentiate the original 8-bit CP/M from newer 16-bit versions like CP/M-86.
The retronym CP/M-80 was introduced to clearly distinguish the original 8-bit version of the operating system from later 16-bit iterations, such as CP/M-86.
Which processor was targeted by the CP/M-68K version of the operating system?
Answer: Motorola 68000
The CP/M-68K version of the operating system was specifically developed for processors based on the Motorola 68000 architecture.
What was ZCPR designed to be a replacement for within CP/M systems?
Answer: The Console Command Processor (CCP)
ZCPR was engineered as a replacement for the standard Console Command Processor (CCP) within CP/M systems, offering enhanced functionality and customization.
Which of these features was included in ZCPR3?
Answer: Shells, aliases, I/O redirection, and online help.
ZCPR3 incorporated advanced features such as shells, command aliasing, input/output redirection, and integrated online help, significantly enhancing the user experience.
CP/M became the dominant operating system for microcomputers in the late 1970s and mid-1980s primarily because it was bundled exclusively with IBM PC hardware.
Answer: False
CP/M achieved dominance due to its widespread adoption and ability to simplify software porting across various hardware platforms, not because it was bundled exclusively with IBM PC hardware, which adopted MS-DOS.
Digital Research initially licensed CP/M for a high price, which was later reduced due to market competition.
Answer: False
Digital Research initially licensed CP/M at a low price ($90 in 1977). As demand increased, the licensing costs were significantly raised, not reduced.
CP/M-86 became the standard operating system for the IBM PC because Digital Research offered it at a lower price than Microsoft's MS-DOS.
Answer: False
CP/M-86 did not become the standard for the IBM PC primarily because Microsoft's MS-DOS was offered at a significantly lower price point and favored by IBM due to licensing agreements.
The primary innovation of MS-DOS over CP/M was its simpler command structure and reduced memory requirements.
Answer: False
MS-DOS's principal innovations relative to CP/M included its File Allocation Table (FAT) file system and enhanced memory access capabilities. The assertion regarding a simpler command structure and reduced memory requirements is inaccurate based on the provided context.
What factor significantly contributed to CP/M becoming the de facto standard operating system for microcomputers in the late 1970s and mid-1980s?
Answer: Its ability to reduce programming effort for porting applications across different hardware.
CP/M's widespread adoption as a standard was largely due to its architecture, which minimized the programming effort required to port applications across diverse hardware configurations.
What operating system eventually displaced CP/M in popularity, particularly after the introduction of the IBM PC?
Answer: MS-DOS
MS-DOS emerged as the dominant operating system for microcomputers, particularly following the introduction of the IBM PC in 1981, leading to the eventual displacement of CP/M in market popularity.
How did Digital Research initially monetize CP/M in its early stages?
Answer: By licensing it for a relatively low fee ($90 in 1977) which later increased significantly.
Digital Research initially monetized CP/M through licensing agreements at a modest fee of $90 in 1977. This price point was subsequently elevated substantially as the operating system gained market traction.
What was the primary reason CP/M-86 did not become the standard for the IBM PC?
Answer: Microsoft's MS-DOS was significantly cheaper and preferred by IBM due to licensing terms.
CP/M-86 failed to become the standard for the IBM PC primarily because MS-DOS was offered at a substantially lower price and favored by IBM due to favorable licensing terms, overshadowing CP/M-86's market potential.
What was a key innovation of MS-DOS compared to CP/M?
Answer: Its File Allocation Table (FAT) file system and generally more memory access.
A significant innovation of MS-DOS over CP/M was its implementation of the File Allocation Table (FAT) file system, coupled with generally improved memory access capabilities.
Early versions of CP/M, like 1.0, included robust error checking to prevent data corruption if a disk was changed mid-operation.
Answer: False
Early CP/M versions, such as 1.0, lacked the capability to detect disk changes, which could lead to data corruption. Later versions addressed this by signaling a fatal error, preventing data loss but necessitating a system reboot.
A basic 8-bit CP/M system required at least 64 kilobytes of RAM and a hard disk drive.
Answer: False
A minimal 8-bit CP/M system typically required at least 16 kilobytes of RAM and a floppy disk drive, not necessarily 64 KB of RAM or a hard disk.
Installing software on CP/M typically involved a single, centralized installation manager that configured all hardware devices automatically.
Answer: False
Software installation on CP/M typically required manual configuration or running specific installation programs to adapt applications to hardware features, as CP/M lacked a centralized, automated hardware configuration manager.
The standard 8-inch floppy disk format used with CP/M was based on the IBM 5110 standard.
Answer: False
The standard 8-inch floppy disk format for CP/M was based on the IBM System/34 and IBM 3740 standards, not the IBM 5110.
A single, universal standard 5.25-inch disk format was widely adopted across all CP/M systems due to its efficiency.
Answer: False
There was no single, universal standard for 5.25-inch disk formats within the CP/M ecosystem; various manufacturers employed different formats, complicating software distribution.
CP/M files were named using a format that allowed for long, descriptive names exceeding 30 characters.
Answer: False
CP/M utilized an '8.3' filename format, restricting names to a maximum of eight characters for the base name and three for the extension.
CP/M offered robust, standardized graphics support from its early versions, enabling complex visual applications.
Answer: False
CP/M lacked standardized graphics support in its early versions. Robust graphical capabilities were introduced later with extensions like GSX, and memory constraints on 8-bit systems limited graphical applications.
What was a significant limitation of early CP/M versions (e.g., 1.0) regarding disk operations?
Answer: They lacked the ability to detect if a disk had been changed, risking data corruption.
A critical limitation in early CP/M versions was the absence of a mechanism to detect disk changes, which posed a risk of data corruption if the system attempted operations based on outdated disk information.
What was the minimum RAM requirement for a basic 8-bit CP/M system?
Answer: 16 KB
A basic 8-bit CP/M system typically required a minimum of 16 kilobytes of RAM to operate effectively.
What was the issue arising from the lack of a standard 5.25-inch disk format in the CP/M ecosystem?
Answer: Software distributors had to support numerous formats, complicating distribution.
The absence of a standardized 5.25-inch disk format in the CP/M environment necessitated that software distributors support a multitude of formats, thereby complicating the distribution process.
How were text files conventionally marked as finished in CP/M?
Answer: With a Control-Z character (ASCII SUB).
Text files in CP/M were conventionally terminated by a Control-Z character (ASCII SUB), which served as the end-of-file marker.
The XLT86 tool was used to translate 8086 assembly code back into 8080 assembly code for CP/M compatibility.
Answer: False
The XLT86 utility was designed to translate Intel 8080 assembly source code into Intel 8086 assembly source code, facilitating the migration of applications to the CP/M-86 platform.
MS-DOS adopted the 8.3 filename format and drive letter conventions (e.g., C:) from CP/M.
Answer: True
MS-DOS incorporated several conventions from CP/M, including the 8.3 filename format and the use of drive letters (e.g., A:, B:, C:) for accessing storage devices.
What was the function of the XLT86 utility?
Answer: To translate 8080 assembly source code to 8086 assembly source code.
The XLT86 utility served the purpose of translating Intel 8080 assembly source code into Intel 8086 assembly source code, thereby aiding in the porting of applications to the CP/M-86 environment.
Which of the following conventions was *NOT* borrowed by MS-DOS from CP/M, according to the source?
Answer: The concept of a graphical user interface (GUI)
While MS-DOS adopted conventions such as drive letters and the 8.3 filename format from CP/M, the concept of a graphical user interface (GUI) was not among these borrowed features.
Which popular application software debuted on the CP/M platform?
Answer: VisiCalc
VisiCalc, a groundbreaking spreadsheet application, was among the popular software titles that debuted on the CP/M platform.
What was the 'Baby Blue' card designed for?
Answer: To allow the IBM PC to run 8-bit CP/M software.
The 'Baby Blue' card was an expansion card developed for the IBM PC, enabling it to execute 8-bit CP/M software, thereby granting access to the extensive CP/M application library.