Optimized Systems Software: Difference between revisions

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'''Optimized Systems Software''' ('''OSS''') was a company that produced [[disk operating system]]s, [[programming language]]s with integrated development environments, and applications primarily for the [[Atari 8-bit familycomputers]] of home computers. The founders of OSS previously developed [[Atari DOS]], [[Atari BASIC]], and the [[Atari Assembler Editor]] for [[Atari, Inc.]], and many OSS products are substantially improved versions. {{nowrap|OS A+}} and [[DOS XL]] are based on Atari DOS. [[BASIC A+]], BASIC XL, and BASIC XE are based on Atari BASIC. EASMD and [[MAC/65]], are modeled on the [[Atari Assembler Editor]]. [[Action! (programming language)|Action!]] is an [[ALGOL]]-inspired compiled programming language with an integrated full-screen editor. OSS also sold some software for the [[Apple II]].<ref name=finest/>

OSS transitioned to the [[Atari ST]] with Personal Pascal<ref name=ppmanual>{{cite web|title=Personal Pascal for the Atari ST Manual|url=https://archive.org/details/OSSPersonalPascal|website=archive.org}}</ref> and the [[Mac (computer)|Mac]] with Personal Prolog (which was also advertised for the Atari ST, but may not have been released). OSS was not as significant in those markets. The company merged with ICD in 1988.

== History ==

Optimized Systems Software was formed in early 1981 by Bill Wilkinson, Mike Peters, Paul Laughton, and Kathleen O'Brien.<ref name="savetz">{{cite web |last1=Savetz |first1=Kevin |title=Paul Laughton Interview |url=http://ataripodcast.libsyn.com/antic-the-atari-8-bit-podcast-paul-laughton-interview |website=ANTIC: The Atari 8-Bit Podcast |date=October 21, 2014}}</ref> Laughton, the primary author of [[Atari BASIC]], was still employed by Atari, Inc. at the time, and had permission to be involved with OSS from his manager. O'Brien wrote the [[Atari Assembler Editor]] for Atari. Laughton and O'Brien (married) were not as involved with the company and were bought out by Peters and Wilkinson.

OSS purchased [[Atari BASIC]], [[Atari DOS]], and the [[Atari Assembler Editor]] products from [[Shepardson Microsystems]] who had concluded that their versions of BASIC and DOS products were not viable.{{Citation needed |date=April 2024}} The new company enhanced the programs, renaming them OS/A+ (the Disk Operating System), BASIC A+ (a disk-based language), and EASMD (an update to the Assembler Editor). OSS continued to work with [[Atari, Inc.]] (who had previously contracted with SMI) on enhanced products, most of which never reached the market.

OSS debuted at the [[West Coast Computer Faire]] in March 1981. The products they released over the next several years became respected among Atari programmers, particularly the [[MAC/65]] assembler, the [[Action! (programming language)|Action!]] programming language, and BASIC XL. In a 1984 interview, Bill Wilkinson said the company consisted of 15 people.<ref name="ellison">{{cite journal |last1=Ellison |first1=Peter |title=Bill Wilkinson Interview |journal=ROM |date=August 1984 |volume=1 |issue=7 |page=13 |url=https://archive.org/details/ROM_Magazine_v1i7/page/n12}}</ref>

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==Applications==

=== The Writer's Tool ===

A word processing application available in a bank-selected cartridge and a double-sided disk (master disk on one side, dictionary disk on the other side).<ref name="wt-antic">{{cite journal|last1=Rainbow|first1=Tom|title=8-bit Product Reviews: Writer's Tool|journal=Antic|date=March 1985|volume=3|issue=11|url=http://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n11/reviews.html}}</ref> It was developed by Madison Micro and published by OSS in 1984.<ref name="wt_manual">{{cite book|title=The Writer's Tool Manual|date=1984|publisher=Optimized Systems Software, Inc.|url=http://www.atarimania.com/8bit/manuals/The_Writers_Tool_manual.pdf|archive-date=2016-02-09|access-date=2016-04-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209103325/http://www.atarimania.com/8bit/manuals/The_Writers_Tool_manual.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to Bill Wilkinson, OSS was already building a word processor, but stopped when ''The Writer's Tool'' was submitted.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview 7: Bill Wilkinson|url=http://ataripodcast.libsyn.com/antic-interview-7-the-atari-8-bit-podcast-bill-wilkinson-oss|website=ANTIC The Atari 8-bit Podcast}}</ref>

=== SpeedRead+ ===

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[[Category:Optimized Systems Software| ]]

[[Category:Defunct software companies of the United States]]

[[Category:Atari 8-bit familycomputers]]

[[Category:Software companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area]]

[[Category:Companies based in Cupertino, California]]