[Control Program/Monitor; later {retcon}ned to Control Program for
Microcomputers] An early microcomputer {OS} written by hacker Gary
Kildall for 8080- and Z80-based machines, very popular in the late
1970s but virtually wiped out by MS-DOS after the release of the IBM
PC in 1981. Legend has it that Kildall's company blew its chance to
write the OS for the IBM PC because Kildall decided to spend a day
IBM's reps wanted to meet with him enjoying the perfect flying
weather in his private plane (another variant has it that Gary's wife
was much more interested in packing her suitcases for an upcoming
vacation than in clinching a deal with IBM). Many of CP/M's features
and conventions strongly resemble those of early {DEC} operating
systems such as {TOPS-10}, OS/8, RSTS, and RSX-11. See {MS-DOS},
{operating system}.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {MS-DOS}{operating system}]