Gary Kildall

Gary Kildall
Kildall, Gary Arlen
Born	May 19, 1942 Seattle, Washington
Died	July 11, 1994 Monterey, California
Occupation	Software Developer, Founder

Career

Early Life and Education

Gary Kildall developed an early interest in electronics and mathematics, which later evolved into a fascination with computing. Kildall attended the University of Washington, where he earned a degree in mathematics in 1967. He then joined the faculty at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and eventually earned his Ph.D. in computer science in 1972.

While teaching, Kildall gained access to early computers and became one of the first individuals outside of major corporations to experiment with Intel’s early microprocessors. His work at the Naval Postgraduate School and his deep interest in compiler theory and systems programming positioned him to become a central figure in the emerging personal computing revolution.

Programming Breakthrough: PL/M and Intel Consulting

In the early 1970s, Kildall began working as a consultant for Intel Corporation, which had recently introduced the 4004 and 8008 microprocessors. At a time when microprocessors were typically programmed in low-level assembly, Kildall believed that high-level languages could be adapted for microcomputers. In response, he created PL/M (Programming Language for Microcomputers), a variant of PL/I tailored for microprocessor-based systems. PL/M became Intel’s official development language and marked one of the first high-level languages available for microcomputers.

This effort made Kildall one of the earliest proponents of microprocessor software tools—positioning software as essential, not just peripheral, to computing hardware.

CP/M and the Birth of Digital Research

Kildall’s most influential contribution came in 1974 when he developed CP/M (Control Program for Microcomputers), a command-line operating system designed for the Intel 8080 and Zilog Z80 microprocessors. CP/M was simple, modular, and device-independent, with a BIOS layer that allowed it to be easily adapted to new hardware. It featured a consistent user interface, file system, and tools like PIP, ED, and ASM that formed the foundation of microcomputer software environments.

Recognizing the growing market for microcomputer software, Kildall and his wife Dorothy McEwen founded Digital Research Inc. in Pacific Grove, California, in 1976. CP/M quickly became the de facto standard operating system for early personal computers, powering machines from companies such as IMSAI, North Star, Kaypro, and Osborne. CP/M's popularity encouraged a wave of third-party software development, including early word processors, spreadsheets, and development tools.

By the late 1970s, Kildall had built a thriving software business— one of the first of its kind—serving a burgeoning ecosystem of independent microcomputer manufacturers.

The IBM PC Opportunity and Missed Deal

In 1980, IBM approached Digital Research to license CP/M for its upcoming IBM Personal Computer. The negotiations between IBM and Digital Research ultimately failed— accounts vary, but many reports suggest that Digital Research was unwilling to accept IBM’s stringent non-disclosure agreements and licensing terms without legal review. In the interim, IBM turned to Microsoft, which offered an alternative: PC-DOS (MS-DOS), derived from QDOS (Quick and Dirty Operating System), which Microsoft had recently acquired.

The result was one of the most consequential decisions in computing history: MS-DOS became the standard operating system for the IBM PC and its compatibles, displacing CP/M and Digital Research from the industry’s center. Although Digital Research later released CP/M-86 for the IBM PC, it was too late to gain meaningful traction.

Later Work and GEM

Despite the setback, Kildall and Digital Research continued to innovate. In the mid-1980s, Digital Research introduced GEM (Graphical Environment Manager), a graphical user interface for MS-DOS systems. GEM found limited adoption— most notably by Atari, which used it as the GUI for the Atari ST line of computers— but it could not compete with Microsoft Windows, which by then had established a growing presence.

Digital Research also developed Concurrent DOS, Multiuser DOS, and DR-DOS, alternative multitasking and multiterminal operating systems, some of which found niche success in embedded systems and vertical markets. In the late 1980s, Kildall sold Digital Research to Novell, which sought to compete with Microsoft in the desktop OS market.

Public Recognition and Later Years

In the 1990s, Kildall remained a prominent figure in computing and media. He co-hosted the PBS television series The Computer Chronicles, where he introduced and explained emerging computer technologies to a wide audience. Despite his early achievements, he was increasingly overshadowed by Microsoft's rise and the narrative that Bill Gates had defined the PC revolution.

Kildall's technical legacy, however, was profound. His early work on CP/M laid the groundwork for the PC software industry, and his belief in software portability, high-level languages, and open platforms helped shape the microcomputer era.

Death and Legacy

Gary Kildall died on July 11, 1994, at the age of 52 under circumstances that are somewhat unclear. Officially, his death was attributed to complications from a head injury, though details have been subject to speculation.

Today, Kildall is recognized as one of the unsung pioneers of personal computing. His contributions— particularly CP/M— set the stage for the rise of operating systems in the personal computer industry. Though often overshadowed by others in the history of Silicon Valley, his vision of software as central to computing lives on.

Gary Kildall was one of the true architects of the personal computer era. A brilliant programmer, systems thinker, and early advocate for high-level microcomputer tools, he created one of the first widely used microcomputer operating systems and launched one of the first software companies. His story is both a triumph of technical innovation and a cautionary tale about the power of timing, business decisions, and the competitive nature of the software industry.

Links

• Wikipedia
• Computer History Museum: In his own words: Gary Kildall
• Software People, Page 186