HDOS

Infobox OS
name = HDOS



caption =
developer = Gordon Letwin, Richard Musgrave
source_model = Open source
kernel_type =
supported_platforms = Heath H-8, Heath H89, Zenith Z89
ui =
family =
released = 1978
latest_release_version = 3.02
latest_release_date =
latest_test_version =
latest_test_date =
marketing_target =
programmed_in =
prog_language = BASIC, Intel 8080 assembly language, COBOL, FORTRAN
language = English
updatemodel =
package_manager =
working_state = Historic
license = Public domain
website =

HDOS is an early microcomputer operating system, originally written for the Heath H-8 computer system and later also available for the Heath H89 and Zenith Z89 computers. The author was Gordon Letwin, who later was an early employee of Microsoft and lead architect of OS/2.

HDOS originally came with a very limited set of system software tools, including an assembler, but commercial and freeware programs eventually became available for it.

HDOS 2.0, is notable because it was one of the first microcomputer operating systems to use loadable device drivers to achieve a degree of device independence and extensibility.

Versions

*HDOS 1.0 – written in 1978 by J. Gordon Letwin
*HDOS 2.0 – released in 1980, released into the public domain in April 1988
*HDOS 3.0 – released into the public domain in August 1986
*HDOS 3.02 – enhanced version by Richard Musgrave [ [http://www.computermuseum.li/Testpage/HeathDOS.htm HeathDOS] ]

ee also

*Heathkit
*Zenith Data Systems

References

External links

* [http://www.computermuseum.li/Testpage/HeathDOS.htm HeathDOS]
* [http://delivery.acm.org/10.1145/360000/358070/p188-pechura.pdf?key1=358070&key2=4479237511&coll=&dl=ACM&CFID=15151515&CFTOKEN=6184618#search=%22Heath%20HDOS%22 Michael A. Pechuria, Comparing Two Microcomputer Operating Systems: CP/M and HDOS. Communications of the ACM, March 1983, vol. 26, no. 3.]