Shepardson Microsystems
Encyclopedia
Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (SMI) was a small company producing operating systems and programming languages for the Atari 8-bit and Apple II
computer families. SMI is most noted for authoring Atari's BASIC and Disk Operating System
(DOS) products.
planned to follow up its successful Atari VCS computer game system with a more powerful home computer
(The Atari 8-bit), to be introduced at the January 1979 Consumer Electronics Show
. This required the development of a BASIC interpreter. Microsoft BASIC
had been licensed for this purpose, but the task of retrofitting the code into an 8k cartridge proved too difficult to meet schedule. Consequently, Atari turned to Shepardson Microsystems, who proposed a new BASIC instead of using Microsoft BASIC. Atari proceeded to contract with SMI not only for Atari BASIC
, but the Atari Disk Operating System (Atari DOS
) itself. Development of both products were completed ahead of schedule.
In early 1981, SMI concluded that their BASIC and DOS products were not viable, and permitted them (with the Atari Assembler Editor
product) to be purchased by Bill Wilkinson and Mike Peters, who formed Optimized Systems Software
. The new company then proceeded to enhance the products and sell them as third-party applications.
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
computer families. SMI is most noted for authoring Atari's BASIC and Disk Operating System
Disk operating system
Disk Operating System and disk operating system , most often abbreviated as DOS, refers to an operating system software used in most computers that provides the abstraction and management of secondary storage devices and the information on them...
(DOS) products.
History
Shepardson Microsystems was founded by Robert Shepardson in SaratogaSaratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
Shepardson Microsystems and Atari
AtariAtari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
planned to follow up its successful Atari VCS computer game system with a more powerful home computer
Home computer
Home computers were a class of microcomputers entering the market in 1977, and becoming increasingly common during the 1980s. They were marketed to consumers as affordable and accessible computers that, for the first time, were intended for the use of a single nontechnical user...
(The Atari 8-bit), to be introduced at the January 1979 Consumer Electronics Show
Consumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show is a major technology-related trade show held each January in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Not open to the public, the Consumer Electronics Association-sponsored show typically hosts previews of products and new...
. This required the development of a BASIC interpreter. Microsoft BASIC
Microsoft BASIC
Microsoft BASIC was the foundation product of the Microsoft company. It first appeared in 1975 as Altair BASIC, which was the first BASIC, and the first high level programming language available for the MITS Altair 8800 hobbyist microcomputer....
had been licensed for this purpose, but the task of retrofitting the code into an 8k cartridge proved too difficult to meet schedule. Consequently, Atari turned to Shepardson Microsystems, who proposed a new BASIC instead of using Microsoft BASIC. Atari proceeded to contract with SMI not only for Atari BASIC
Atari BASIC
Atari BASIC is a BASIC interpreter for the Atari 8-bit family of 6502-based home computers. The interpreter originally shipped on an 8 KB cartridge; on later XL/XE model computers it was built in, with an option to disable it, and started when the machines were booted with no other cartridges...
, but the Atari Disk Operating System (Atari DOS
Atari DOS
Atari DOS is the disk operating system used with the Atari 8-bit family of computers. Operating system extensions loaded into memory were required in order for an Atari computer to access a disk drive. These extensions to the operating system added the disk handler and other file management...
) itself. Development of both products were completed ahead of schedule.
In early 1981, SMI concluded that their BASIC and DOS products were not viable, and permitted them (with the Atari Assembler Editor
Atari Assembler Editor
The Atari Assembler Editor cartridge was a program used to edit, compile and debug assembly language programs for the Atari 8-bit computers. It was programmed by Kathleen O'Brien of Shepardson Microsystems, Inc.- Details :...
product) to be purchased by Bill Wilkinson and Mike Peters, who formed Optimized Systems Software
Optimized Systems Software
Optimized Systems Software was a small company producing operating systems and programming languages for the Atari 8-bit and Apple II computer families...
. The new company then proceeded to enhance the products and sell them as third-party applications.