Chapter 105 Phoenix

  Blizzard's game development is probably one of the smoothest companies.

  Blizzard's business is almost entirely restricted to hardware devices of computer systems.

  Due to system limitations, current games are very simple. Although the maximum capacity of cartridges can reach 16KB, which is equivalent to 128Kb (with a ratio of 1:8 between B and b), however, few games produced by Blizzard exceed 8KB.

  It has to be said that today's programmers are completely different from those of a decade or so ago.

  In fact, Katherine's C language and program coding had thoroughly changed the electronics industry at that time.

  Take DEC as an example. The PDP-8 computer they developed has a memory size of 4KB, and if you want to input a program, the keyboard is simply out of the question.

  It is necessary to use punched paper strips or cards for the computer to read these holes before it can record this data.

  In Catherine's opinion, such a computer is not even called a computer, it's more like a scam.

  This is also why Catherine's personal computer was so well received when it came out, with its punch-card programming and command input, that slow speed, it's simply infuriating.

  Using an electric typewriter disguised as a keyboard might also work, but it's absolutely not as good as the custom-built computer Catherine made for personal users - even if that was just a large Wenquxing.

  When Blizzard was first founded, those programmers who were recruited were still very confused.

  They held their own small boxes, inside which were empty codes made into paper strips and cards.

  It's already good for a programmer to have dozens of coding skills, and it's even rarer for a programmer to have hundreds of coding skills.

  They thought their coding skills would be put to good use, but after arriving here, they suddenly discovered that the code snippets in their hands could be thrown away completely.

  A computer using paper slips as input devices? Absolutely not!

  Then, Catherine did something that left these programmers even more stunned. She took the source code of C language and a series of things that needed attention, compiled them into a booklet, and handed it over to them for use.

  This leaves programmers at a loss.

  In fact, it wasn't until 1981 that the world's first software patent application was approved. Prior to this, source code should have been copyrighted. In other words, if someone took someone else's code directly and used it, it would be illegal. Although many source codes were given away at that time, selling these source codes or generated programs would also lead to legal troubles.

  Those programmers grasped the software coding with copyright, thinking they could dominate the world, but after coming to Blizzard, they found that things were completely different from what they had imagined!

  In fact, after software had patents, "Zeng" created a large number of software giants, such as Microsoft, which rose to the occasion.

  However, in the process of protecting software patents, there have also been cases of overcorrection. Once a C compiler manufacturer registered all library function names as patents, and other companies could only add prefixes to their own provided function names.

  Most of Blizzard's games are built on a foundation of C and assembly languages.

  Although such games have little comparability with Super Mario, they are highly playable.

  Especially games like "Snake" and "Tetris".

  After playing several popular games on the Little Emperor platform, Catherine began to think about other things.

  "Sanders, I think we should set up another department, specifically for software development," Catherine said.

  Sanders nodded, and this seemed indeed very necessary.

  "But where does this department go? It doesn't seem quite right at Blizzard."

  Catherine nodded.

  "Let's put it under Apple. This time we're not just going to develop software, but something else."

  Catherine smiled mysteriously.

  "Another one?"

  "Yes, we need an operating system. Not just a simple program like Microsoft's PC, but a real software platform that can run all our programs on top of it. Through this platform, we call up system resources and then run the programs we need, and this platform will become the foundation of everything."

  Sanders barely understood.

  "On this side, programmers have basically adapted to C language and assembly language programming. We can pull out a batch of past software development from Blizzard, I think that's completely no problem."

  Indeed, outside programmers still need to adapt, but programmers who have been in Blizzard for several years no longer have that concern.

  Catherine has no advantage in traditional industries because the United States is originally one of the hegemons in the world. Moreover, their technological development speed is also among the best in the world.

  Catherine has no confidence in this regard at all.

  But in today's high-tech, especially in the electronics industry, Catherine's role is indeed extraordinary.

  Because she can help technicians point out the general direction, let them take less detours, and Catherine can also use her knowledge of electronics to tell them about some possible difficulties they may encounter.

  "What's our operating system called again?"

  Catherine suddenly stopped.

  DOS？

  How tacky!

  How can it be that there isn't a cool name for one's own operating system? How could something as great as this just be called "Disk Operating System" (DOS)?

  "We had a CPU project that was abandoned before we produced Z80, called FanHan, what do you think of this?"

  Catherine shook her head with a sense of phonetics. Such a name didn't have the feeling that would make one's eyes light up at all.

  "Call Windows?"

  Catherine absolutely won't do it.

  Anything is fine, just don't mention this piece of crap.

  Unix？Linux？

  No way, it's too tacky.

  Red Dragon?

  Sounds cool but absolutely inappropriate

  "Uh... how about... Phoenix?"

  Phoenix, Phoenix, Bird of Immortal Life.

  Compared with the derogatory "dragon", this word seems okay.

  "Our operating system will be called Phoenix!"

  Catherine burst out laughing.

  Phoenix, this name sounds great and has a good meaning, giving people a mysterious atmosphere, but also fashionable.

  "This name is not bad."

  Sanders nodded too.

  ……

  Part of this chapter is dedicated to Wan Nian Tai Jian Fan Zhong. Respectfully presented to Uncle Fan.