Computing Atlas

How Computing Was Built
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
System

MP/M

Operating System

MP/M, short for Multi-Programming Monitor Control Program, was a multi-user operating system that Digital Research developer Tom Rolander created in 1979 as a multi-user extension of the company's single-user CP/M. It let several users connect to one computer at once, each from a separate terminal, and let each user run and switch between several of their own programs at the same time, using a priority-scheduled multitasking kernel with memory protection, concurrent input and output through XIOS, and support for print spooling and queueing. Digital Research built versions of MP/M for both 8 bit processors, the 8080 and Z80, and 16 bit processors, the Intel 8086 and 80286, each under its own version name. Originally proprietary, MP/M was later open sourced, with Caldera and then Lineo permitting redistribution and modification of Digital Research's source code starting in 1997. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Classification
License
Proprietary (Closed Source) 2
Status
Status
Discontinued 1
Year
1979 2
FAQs

How was MP/M different from CP/M?

MP/M was very similar to CP/M but added virtual terminals that each ran their own application.

MP/M was very similar to CP/M, but it added virtual terminals. Each terminal could run an application while another terminal was brought to the screen with a special key combination, so several terminals could each keep a program running at once.
Connections

In Field

Source Wikipedia: MP/M

Invented By

Gary Kildall, Pioneers
Source Wikipedia: MP/M

Licensed Under

Long-Form Articles

In the Other Atlases

Developed By

Also in Business Atlas: the developer of this subject.

Sources
1. Wikipedia: MP/M
  • Infobox: working_state
    Discontinued
  • Invented By: Gary Kildall, Infobox, developer field
    Digital Research, Inc. / Tom Rolander, Gary Kildall, Frank Holsworth
  • In Field: Operating Systems, Lead paragraph
View the Source
2. Wikidata: MP/M
  • Wikidata Q3317219, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
  • Wikidata Q3317219 P571 (inception)
  • Wikidata Q3317219 P275 (license)
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.