Because BASIC is a programming language (and was included with DOS, cf MS BASIC) DOS won because it offered a consistent way to manage your files and applicati

Because BASIC is a programming language (and was included with DOS, cf MS BASIC) DOS won because it offered a consistent way to manage your files and applications, it was "better" than CPM, and it was available on more machines than anything else. (DOS didn't win. The PC won. DOS tagged along) It's worth noting that it didn't, for a long time, "win" the home computer market. That was wildly diverse, until PCs were good & cheap enough to replace home computers. And at that point, sheer prevalence started squeezing out home machines. That world ended, more or less, with the Atari ST and the Amiga 500 - because both of those were great, and both were niche tools. PCs were the thing that you could use for games and work stuff. It turns out "getting stuff done" matters much more to people than engaging in purity debates. (Also relevant in this context: https://www.dreamsongs.com/RiseOfWorseIsBetter.html https://www.dreamsongs.com/RiseOfWorseIsBetter.html)