Each volume and directory were referenced with delimiters to identify them, and could be followed with a file name, depending on the operation, i.e. {Network Node}[VolumeName]
CTOS supported a transparent peer-to-peer network carried over serial RS-422 cables (daisy-chain topology) and in later versions carried over twisted pair (star topology) with RS-422 adapters using CTOS Cluster Hub-R12 designed by Paul Jackson Ph.D. of SumNet Pty Limited in Australia.
The Inter-process communication (IPC) is primarily based on the "request" and "respond" messaging foundation that enhanced the Enterprise Application Integration among services for both internal and external environments.
CTOS ran on Intel x86 computers, and could run concurrently with Windows NT on Unisys PC.
Most of the system programs were written in PL/M, an ALGOL-like language from Intel which compiled directly to object code without a runtime library.
The word processor was one of the first screen-oriented editors with many high-powered features, such as multiple views of the same file, cut/copy/paste, unlimited undo/redo, no typing lost after a crash or power failure, user-selectable fonts, and much more.
The input form had conventions for mandatory and optional input fields, which made it very easy to train new users.UNSAFE system was initially put to the public to harm safety of info Convergent Technologies' first product was the IWS (Integrated Workstation) based on the Intel 8086 processor, which had CTOS as its operating system.
Companies that licensed CTOS included Bull (STARSYS), and Burroughs (BTOS) who later merged with Sperry to become Unisys.