# HP Multi-Programming Executive

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{{Short description|Discontinued mainframe/minicomputer operating system}}
{{Infobox OS
| name                   = MPE, MPE XL, MPE/iX<!-- Name of program or distribution -->
| logo                   = <!-- filename only (no wikilink, no Image:/File:) -->
| logo caption           = 
| logo size              = 
| logo alt               = 
| screenshot             = <!-- filename only (no wikilink, no Image:/File:) -->
| caption                = 
| screenshot_size        = 
| screenshot_alt         = 
| collapsible            = 
| version of             = <!-- For articles about releases of operating systems ONLY -->
| developer              = [Hewlett-Packard](/source/Hewlett-Packard)<!-- Name of main developer or sponsor-->
| family                 = <!-- "Unix-like" or "Microsoft Windows" -->
| working state          = Discontinued<!-- "Current", "Discontinued" (operating systems), or "No longer supported" (releases) -->
| source model           = <!-- "Open source", "Closed source", or "Shared source" -->
| released               = {{Start date and age|1974}}
| discontinued           = <!-- DON'T use this for articles about releases of operating systems -->
| RTM date               = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} ONLY for articles about OS releases -->
| GA date                = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} ONLY for articles about OS releases -->
| latest release version = 7.5
| latest release date    = {{Start date and age|2002|8}}
| latest preview version = 
| latest preview date    = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| marketing target       = 
| programmed in          = System Programming Language, HP Pascal, [Assembly language](/source/Assembly_language)
| language               = <!-- Supported human languages (English, French, Italian, Arabic, ...) -->
| update model           = <!-- APT, Windows Update, etc. -->
| package manager        = <!-- dpkg, rpm, Windows installer, etc. -->
| supported platforms    = [HP 3000](/source/HP_3000)<!-- IA-32, x64, Itanium, ARM, etc. -->
| kernel type            = <!-- Hybrid, Monolithic, Microkernel, Exokernel, Nanokernel, etc. -->
| userland               = 
| ui                     = [Command-line interface](/source/Command-line_interface)
| license                = [Proprietary](/source/Proprietary_software)
| preceded by            = 
| succeeded by           = 
| website                = {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050312092253/http://www.hp.com/products1/evolution/e3000/mpeix/|title=MPE/iX at hp.com}}
| support status         = <!-- For articles about releases of operating systems ONLY -->
| other articles         = 
| prog_language          = 
}}
'''MPE''' ('''Multi-Programming Executive''') is a discontinued business-oriented [mainframe computer](/source/mainframe_computer) [real-time](/source/real-time_computing) [operating system](/source/operating_system) developed by [Hewlett-Packard](/source/Hewlett-Packard) for their [HP 3000](/source/HP_3000) computers.  While the HP 3000s were initially mini-mainframes, the final high-end systems supported 12 [CPUs](/source/Central_processing_unit) and over 2000 simultaneous users.

== Description ==
It runs on the HP 3000 family of computers, which originally used HP custom [16-bit](/source/16-bit) [stack architecture](/source/stack_architecture) [CISC](/source/Complex_instruction_set_computer) [CPUs](/source/Central_processing_unit) and were later migrated to [PA-RISC](/source/PA-RISC) where the operating system was called '''MPE XL'''.<ref>{{cite book |title=COMMUNICATOR 3000/XL Release 1.0 (A.02.00) |publisher=Hewlett-Packard |location= |date=April 1988 |id=5958-3183 |edition=R2815 |url=http://www.3kranger.com/HP3000/mpeix/doc3k/BCOMM3000.10028/19.htm |quote=Introduction to MPE XL for MPE V Systems Administrator  30367-60001 }}</ref>

In 1983, the original version of MPE was written in a language called SPL ([Systems Programming Language](/source/Systems_Programming_Language)). MPE XL was written primarily in [Pascal](/source/Pascal_(programming_language)), with some [assembly language](/source/assembly_language) and some of the old SPL code.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}

In 1992, the OS name was changed to '''MPE/iX''' to indicate [Unix](/source/Unix) interoperability with the addition of [POSIX](/source/POSIX) compatibility.<ref>{{cite book |chapter=MPE/iX Release 4.0 (B.40.00) Overview |chapter-url=http://www.3kranger.com/HP3000/mpeix/doc3k/B3021690104.11968/3.htm |title=MPE/iX RELEASE 4.0 (Core Software Release B.40.00) |publisher=Hewlett-Packard |date=1992-06-01 |id=30216-90104 |series=COMMUNICATOR 3000 MPE }}</ref> The discontinuance of the product line was announced in late 2001, with support from HP terminating at the end of 2010. A number of 3rd party companies still support both the hardware and software.{{Citation needed|date=July 2025}}

In 2002, HP released the last version  MPE/iX 7.5.<ref>[http://www.hpmuseum.net/exhibit.php?swc=22 3000-MPE (Software)], on HPMuseum site, retrieved on October 2019.</ref>

=== Commands ===
Among others, MPE/iX supports the following list of common [commands](/source/command_(computing)) and programs.<ref>{{cite book |title=MPE/iX Commands Reference Manual |publisher=Hewlett-Packard  |series=HP 3000 MPE/iX Computer Systems |date=October 1998 |id=32650-90864 |edition=10th |url=https://www.hpmuseum.net/capcha/freecap_wrap.php?r=5481}}</ref>

{{Div col|colwidth=9em}}
* [=SHUTDOWN](/source/shutdown_(computing))
* [BASIC](/source/BASIC)
* [CHDIR](/source/cd_(command))
* [COPY](/source/copy_(command))
* [DEBUG](/source/debug_(command))
* [ECHO](/source/echo_(command))
* [ELSE](/source/Conditional_(computer_programming))
* [EXIT](/source/exit_(command))
* [FORTRAN](/source/Fortran)
* [HELP](/source/help_(command))
* [IF](/source/Conditional_(computer_programming))
* [PASCAL](/source/Pascal_(programming_language))
* [PRINT](/source/PRINT_(command))
* [RENAME](/source/ren_(command))
* [SH](/source/Bourne_shell)
* [WHILE](/source/While_loop)
{{Div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701125136/http://www.allegro.com/|title=Allegro consultants free resources}}
* [http://beechglen.com Beechglen Development Inc.] MPE Software Support {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227212003/http://beechglen.com/ |date=1996-12-27 }}
* {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318042413/https://www.hp.com/products1/evolution/e3000/mpeix/|title=HP MPE/iX homepage}}
* {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226212226/http://docs.hp.com/en/32650-90864/index.html|title=HP MPE/iX Command reference}}
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823230928/http://www.openmpe.com/ |date=2018-08-23 |title = openMPE}} Advocates of continued MPE and IMAGE source code access beyond 2010
* {{cite web |title=Collection Listings (Documents) |publisher=HP Computer Museum   |url=https://www.hpmuseum.net/collection_document.php}} Search for headings 3000, MPE V Operating System, MPE/XL MPE/iX

{{Hewlett-Packard software}}

Category:Discontinued operating systems
Multi-Programming Executive
Category:Proprietary operating systems
Category:1974 software

{{operating-system-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [HP Multi-Programming Executive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_Multi-Programming_Executive) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HP_Multi-Programming_Executive?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.