Gary Kildall

Profession: Computer Scientist

Biography: Gary Kildall was an American computer scientist and microcomputer entrepreneur who founded Digital Research, Inc. (DRI). He is best known for creating the CP/M operating system, which played a significant role in laying the groundwork for the personal computer revolution.

CP/M, which stands for Control Program for Microcomputers, was developed in the 1970s. This operating system was used in many of the early personal computers and was essential to the business world. In addition to CP/M, Kildall also developed PL/M, one of the first high-level programming languages for microprocessors.

Kildall's work had an immense impact on the field of computer science. However, he is often remembered for a missed business opportunity with IBM that eventually went to Microsoft, leading to the dominance of MS-DOS and later Windows in the personal computer market. Despite this, his contributions to the early days of personal computing are still recognized and respected.

In addition to his technological innovations, Kildall made contributions to the growth and commercialization of the microcomputer industry through his company, DRI. The company was instrumental in making personal computing accessible and viable for the average person and small businesses.

Born: May 19, 1942
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, USA

Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Horse
Star Sign: Taurus

Died: July 11, 1994 (aged 52)
Cause of Death: Blunt force trauma to the head