British computer scientist who developed and integrated system software and Extended BASIC for the Dragon 32 and later served as Dragon Data’s systems software manager.
| Biographical Information | |
|---|---|
| Known for | BASIC Developer, Software Developer, Software Engineer |
| Nationality | British |
Duncan Smeed is a British computer scientist and software engineer whose work helped turn the Dragon 32 hardware into a usable home computer. While at the University of Strathclyde, he became involved with the outside team developing the machine for Mettoy and Dragon Data.
Smeed worked on the Dragon’s system software and adapted Microsoft Extended BASIC to its hardware. He prepared and tested ROM code using the university’s DEC PDP-11 system and helped integrate the machine’s graphics, input/output and startup behaviour under an extremely compressed development schedule.
He later joined Dragon Data as systems software manager and worked on the Dragon 64 and planned successor projects. With Ian Sommerville he co-authored Inside the Dragon, a detailed technical guide that became an important reference for owners learning machine-code programming and hardware interfacing.
Developed Dragon software and later served as the company technical software manager.
Worked on Dragon 64 system software and later Dragon development projects.
Developed and integrated system software and Extended BASIC for the Dragon 32.
The Joystick Port - The virtual museum of Vintage & Retro computers, peripherals, advertising, software and more.
this site and its contents are
© 2026 The Joystick Port
