BDS C
| Company type | Software |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer software |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Leor Zolman |
| Products | C compiler for Intel 8080 and Zilog Z80 CPUs |
BDS C (also known as the BD Software Compiler) is a compiler designed for a significant portion of the C language, specifically targeting the Intel 8080 and Zilog Z80 CPU architectures. It holds the distinction of being the first C compiler made available for the CP/M operating system. Created by Leor Zolman and initially launched in 1979 when he was just 20 years old, the name "BDS" is an acronym for "Brain Damage Software."
Among CP/M developers, BDS C became well-regarded because it offered faster compilation speeds than other compilers for the Z80 processor. It was capable of running effectively on single-floppy disk systems with as little as 30K of RAM, a notable advantage over commercial compilers that typically required multiple compilation passes and temporary disk storage.
Nevertheless, BDS C presented certain drawbacks: its floating point arithmetic routines and file handling functions were not compatible with those used in UNIX C compilers, and its relocatable object files could not be linked using the Microsoft MACRO-80 assembler, which made combining it with assembly language code more challenging.
In approximately 1980, BDS C was packaged together with MARC (Machine Assisted Resource Coordinator), a Unix-like environment designed to emulate CP/M programs. This initiative was halted following the passing of Ed Ziemba, its creator.
In 2002, Leor Zolman released the source code written in 8080 assembly language for BDS C, along with its associated assembler and linker utilities, dedicating them to the public domain.
Reception
BDS C achieved sales of roughly 75,000 units, including a simplified version adapted for Japanese users.
A number of commercial software titles for CP/M were developed utilizing the BDS C subset. These include PeachText from PeachTree Software; MINCE and Scribble produced by Mark of the Unicorn; and a large portion of the Perfect Software collection—such as Perfect Writer, PerfectCalc, PerfectSpeller, and PerfectFiler—which was distributed alongside the Kaypro computer.
See also
External links
- BD Software download page
- MUF Mastery – historical note on Leor Zolman and BDS C
- Interview with Leor Zolman
- BDS C Users Group