SherbyNet - /page/wikibook/entry.mu

Micron Document

`:top

`!KAMAS`!, an acronym for `*Knowledge and Mind Amplification System`*, from Compusophic Systems, then Kamasoft (`F33f`_`[Aloha, Oregon`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Aloha,_Oregon]`_`f), was, in the 1980s the most influential `F33f`_`[outliner`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Outliner]`_`f or outline processor, and the first for `F33f`_`[CP/M`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=CP/M]`_`f.`:cite-ref-1[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-1]`_`f]`:cite-ref-2[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-2]`_`f] It was a type of `F33f`_`[word processor`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Word_processor]`_`f that edited outline elements, enabling showing, hiding, promotion, demotion, and moving (cutting and pasting) of outline trees ("branches"). Each string of text occupied a "leaf". While some modern word processing programs include limited outline capability, none has the features of KAMAS. A number of outline processors exist for `F33f`_`[MS-DOS`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=MS-DOS]`_`f, `F33f`_`[Microsoft Windows`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Microsoft_Windows]`_`f, and the `F33f`_`[Apple`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Apple_Inc.]`_`f `F33f`_`[Mac`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Macintosh]`_`f platforms.`:cite-ref-3[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-3]`_`f] None has achieved a significant market share, or the enthusiastic user base which supported KAMAS.

Adam Trent was president of Kamasoft and the central figure in the development of the program. The initial price was $147.

In addition to the outline processor, KAMAS was also released with a programming language, a `F33f`_`[threaded interpreter`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Threaded_code]`_`f most similar to `F33f`_`[FORTH`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=FORTH]`_`f. It was found to be "complex and not easily learned," and most purchasers of KAMAS never used it.`:cite-ref-4[`F5bf`_`[4`#cite-note-4]`_`f]

A simpler version without the programming facilities, `!Out-Think`!, was released in 1986.`:cite-ref-5[`F5bf`_`[5`#cite-note-5]`_`f] The code was retooled for `F33f`_`[8080`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Intel_8080]`_`f and `F33f`_`[NEC V20 and V30`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=NEC_V20]`_`f compatibility (KAMAS required a `F33f`_`[Zilog Z80`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Zilog_Z80]`_`f). The price was $69.95; the price for KAMAS had dropped to $99.95.

Some disks of auxiliary utility programs were sold.`:cite-ref-6[`F5bf`_`[6`#cite-note-6]`_`f]

KAMAS, released in 1984, was the last important `F33f`_`[application`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Application_software]`_`f written for the `F33f`_`[CP/M`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=CP/M]`_`f operating system. Its "home" computer was the `F33f`_`[Kaypro`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Kaypro]`_`f. An `F33f`_`[MS-DOS`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=MS-DOS]`_`f version was released, without the programming language.

The only output was print, or an untagged file image of the printed output, which required extensive editing to import into a word processing program. Except for a limited export in the MS-DOS version to other outline processors such as ThinkTank, there was no file export mechanism preserving the outline structure, nor did any third party develop a converter.

>>Contents

• `F0af`_`[References`#references]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[Further reading`#further-reading]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[External links`#external-links]`_`f

-─

>>References

`:cite-note-1`!1.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-1]`_`f `:citerefjames-larue2001`aJames LaRue (September 2001). "A Blast from the Past: Classic Outliners". Retrieved 7 September 2014.

`:cite-note-2`!2.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-2]`_`f `:citerefjames-larue2002`aJames LaRue (February 18, 2002). "Outliners Redux". Retrieved 7 September 2014.

`:cite-note-3`!3.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-3]`_`f They are reviewed by `F33f`_`[Allen Kent`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Allen_Kent]`_`f, "Computer Programs: Outliners", `*Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science`*, Volume 48, Supplement 12, CRC Press, 1991, `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 0256116997, pp. 175-220, by John Redmood, "Overview of Windows Outlining Programs," no date, but states "not updated since 2004," http://john.redmood.com/organizers.html Archived 2014-09-04 at the `F33f`_`[Wayback Machine`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Wayback_Machine]`_`f, retrieved 2014-09-07, and the two articles of LaRue already cited.

`:cite-note-4`!4.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-4]`_`f Mark Renne, "KAMAS. The first outline processor for CP/M machines", `*Infoworld`*, October 8, 1984, pp. 64-66, retrieved September 2015 and http://chiclassiccomp.org/docs/content/computing/Kamasoft/KamasInfoWorldAarticleFlyerOct8_984.pdf, retrieved September 2015

`:cite-note-5`!5.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-5]`_`f Advertisement published in `*Profiles`* (`F33f`_`[Kaypro`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Kaypro]`_`f Corporation's magazine), Volume 4, No. 1, July, 1986, p. 19, archived at https://archive.org/stream/PROFILES_Volume_4_Number_1_1986-07_Kaypro_Corp_US#page/n19/mode/2up, retrieved September 2015. It was reviewed in the same issue, Ted Silveira, "Idea Processors", pp. 21-26.

`:cite-note-6`!6.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-6]`_`f Untitled, http://gopherproxy.meulie.net/gopher.floodgap.com/0/archive/walnut-creek-cd-simtel/LAMBDA/CATALOG.TXT, retrieved September 2015; untitled, http://www.retroarchive.org/cpm/cdrom/_BBS/WC30/ALLFILES.TXT, retrieved September 2015

>>Further reading

• Jonathan Price, `*Outlining Goes Electronic`*, Bloomsbury Publishing, 1999, `F33f`_`[ISBN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISBN_(identifier)]`_`f 1567503780

>>External links

• "Brochure advertising the program" (PDF). Retrieved 7 September 2014.

• "Letters from publisher to purchaser; technical specifications" (PDF). 1985. Retrieved 7 September 2014.

• "Brochure advertising Version 2, the MS-DOS version, price $69.95" (PDF). Retrieved 7 September 2014.

• [1] `*80 Micro`* review of KAMAS running on `F33f`_`[TRS-80 Model 4`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=TRS-80_Model_4]`_`f under Montezuma CP/M

• [2] `*Byte`* product preview of KAMAS including short example of KAMAS program code

`c`F0af`_`[↑ Back to top`#top]`_`f`a