More retro goodies – Microsoft open sources 86-DOS and PC-DOS

Following on from formally open sourcing MS-DOS 4.0 back in 2024, Microsoft have introduced extra early DOS code has been made out there.

The announcement at this time notes the code now consists of sources for the 86-DOS 1.00 kernel, a number of improvement snapshots of the PC-DOS 1.00 kernel, and a few well-known utilities reminiscent of CHKDSK. Microsoft stated: “Not solely had been these assembler listings, however there have been additionally listings of the assembler itself! This work affords uncommon perception into how MS-DOS/PC-DOS got here to be, and the way working system improvement was completed on the time, not because it was later reconstructed.”

You additionally get some hand-written notes together with it, preserved instantly by Tim Paterson (creator of 86-DOS). Microsoft’s Scott Hanselman talked about on Bluesky: “The earliest DOS supply code was discovered on printer paper in Tim Paterson’s storage so we have open sourced it on 86-DOS 1.00’s forty fifth anniversary! That is next-level software program archaeology for preservation, and plain ol’ curiosity”.

Fairly cool for retro computing and preservation fans. At all times good to get one other little look backstage in the case of older platforms.

See extra within the Microsoft blog post and the GitHub.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.