Tim Paterson’s original 86-DOS 1.00 and PC-DOS 1.00 printouts have been transcribed into compilable 8086 assembly source code.
Key Takeaways
The repo covers three artifact layers: raw printer output, extracted printed files, and fully compilable source code targeting Seattle Computer Products’ ASM assembler.
Source spans 86-DOS 1.00 kernel, PC-DOS 1.00 pre-release kernels and utilities, EDLIN, CHKDSK, and the Microsoft BASIC-86 Compiler runtime library across 10 paper bundles.
To assemble, you need SCP’s ASM and HEX2BIN utilities from any 86-DOS or MS-DOS Seattle Computer Products release; the build process is two commands per source file.
Bundles 9 and 10 (BASLIB.PRT, PAINT.ASM, CIRCLE.ASM) are not yet transcribed; the project accepts pull requests for direct transcription contributions only.
Original scans in PDF and PNG are archived at archive.org; technical writeups are at thebrokenpipe.com and jscarsbrook.me.
Hacker News Comment Review
The transcription accuracy was achieved partly through OCR plus CRC checksums printed in the original margins, a clever self-verification mechanism commenters flagged as the real technical feat here.
Commenters noted this finally enables direct scrutiny of the Gary Kildall CP/M code-copying claim, since the 8086 assembly is now available for line-by-line comparison.
Microsoft published an official companion blog post with additional context and links, suggesting this release has institutional backing beyond the community effort.
Notable Comments
@martinwoodward: Highlights Joshua Scarsbrook’s OCR+CRC margin verification work as the technical standout; links to the full writeup at jscarsbrook.me/doshistory.
@shrubble: The CP/M code controversy “can now be examined in full” with the assembler source available for scrutiny.
