#42 What was DOS?

#42 What was DOS?

Author: David Kopec, Rebecca Kopec March 29, 2021 Duration: 17:22

Microsoft became the dominant player in personal computer operating systems through the release of MS-DOS for the IBM PC. Microsoft would go on to license DOS to the many manufacturers building PC clones, eventually reaching a market share upwards of 90% in the personal computer operating system space. MS-DOS was the dominant personal computer operating system of the 1980s and early 1990s. All early versions of Windows were built on top of it. Yet, today, young computer users are often not even aware it existed. What was MS-DOS? Where did it come from? What is its legacy? All of that and some good stories in this episode of Kopec Explains Software.

Show Notes

Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains.

Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0

Find out more at http://kopec.live


Ever wondered how the apps on your phone actually work, or what really happens when you click "download"? Kopec Explains Software is here to demystify those everyday digital mysteries. Hosted by David and Rebecca Kopec, this conversation breaks down complex, software-related ideas into clear, relatable concepts you can grasp. The focus isn't on jargon or textbook definitions, but on building a genuine, intuitive feel for how technology operates. Each episode picks apart a different facet of the software world, from the fundamentals of coding to the ethics of artificial intelligence, translating technical subjects into plain English. You'll come away not just with new knowledge, but with a clearer framework for understanding the digital systems that shape our lives. It’s a straightforward, engaging resource for anyone with curiosity about the technology they use daily, whether you're a seasoned professional looking for a fresh perspective or a complete novice starting from scratch. Tune into the podcast for thoughtful discussions that make the vast and often intimidating landscape of software feel accessible and genuinely interesting.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Kopec Explains Software
Podcast Episodes
#79 The Logo Programming Language [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:15
Logo is an educational programming language that was popular in elementary school computing labs in the 1980s. A generation of programmers began their careers with Logo. Logo is based on turtle graphics, which is centere…
#78 How Does Amazon Make Money? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:05
Amazon is the world's largest online retailer. But they are so much more. They sell cutting-edge consumer electronics like the Kindle and Echo lines, they provide services to ecommerce vendors, they provide consumer stre…
#77 What is a Memory Leak? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:55
Memory leaks occur when a program allocates memory and fails to free it when the memory is no longer being used. They can cause the memory use of a program to balloon over time, eventually leading to performance problems…
#76 What is Protected Memory? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:03
Memory protection is a mechanism for protecting one program from another program, which ultimately protects the user. It stops malicious programs from interfering with legitimate programs, and it stops programmer errors…
#75 Why are Technical Interviews so Intimidating? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:31
The application process for a job in software development or software engineering typically involves what's known as a "technical interview." Technical interviews are notorious for being intimidating and exclusionary of…
#74 Hackers (1995): Fact or Fiction? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:44
Hackers is a cult classic 1995 movie about a group of teenage hackers and their counter culture. The plot revolves around an online battle between the teenagers and a nefarious corporate cyber security expert. In this ep…
#73 The Swift Programming Language [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:56
Swift is one of the top ten most popular programming languages in the world by almost any ranking or measure. Yet, it's also a niche language. That seems contradictory, until you know that it's only widely used for build…
#72 The Missouri Governor and Tech Illiterate Leadership [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:31
Last week a journalist in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on a vulnerability they discovered in the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's website that exposed the social security numbers of ind…
#71 How Does Facebook Make Money? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:55
Facebook's been in the news again, and as usual it's not a positive story. In this episode we dive into some of Facebook's financial statistics from their most recent quarterly filing with the SEC. We then talk about the…
#70 Steve Jobs Remembrance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:58
Last week marked the tenth anniversary of the death of Steve Jobs. We discuss his legacy and how he inspired people in the tech industry. David also tells the personal story of his Steve Jobs fandom. Show Notes Episode 1…