FlexOS

Not to be confused with FLEX (operating system).

FlexOS
DeveloperDigital Research
Written inC
Working stateDiscontinued
Source modelClosed source
Initial release1986; 38 years ago (1986)
Latest release2.33 / May 1998; 26 years ago (1998-05)
Latest preview2.34 / 1999; 25 years ago (1999)
Marketing targetIndustrial, PoS
Available inEnglish
PlatformsIntel 80186, Intel 80286, Intel 80386, Motorola 68000, V60, V70
Kernel typemodular
Default
user interface		various frontends, X/GEM
LicenseProprietary
Preceded byConcurrent DOS 286, Concurrent DOS 68K, Concurrent DOS V60[1]
Succeeded byS5-DOS/MT, 4680 OS, 4690 OS

FlexOS is a discontinued modular real-time multiuser multitasking operating system (RTOS) designed for computer-integrated manufacturing, laboratory, retail and financial markets. Developed by Digital Research's Flexible Automation Business Unit in Monterey, California, in 1985.[2][3]

The system was considered to become a successor of Digital Research's earlier Concurrent DOS, but with a new, modular, and considerably different system architecture and portability across several processor families.[4] Still named Concurrent DOS 68K and Concurrent DOS 286, it was renamed into FlexOS on 1 October 1986 to better differentiate the target audiences.

FlexOS was licensed by several OEMs who selected it as the basis for their own operating systems like 4680 OS, 4690 OS, S5-DOS/MT and others. Unrelated to FlexOS, the original Concurrent DOS system architecture found a continuation in successors like Concurrent DOS XM and Concurrent DOS 386 as well.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Glass_1991_Infoworld was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Watt_1986_Reorg was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference BW_1991 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference CBR_1987_FlexOS-286 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).