TSR

TSR is an acronym with several meanings in technology and publishing. The two most prominent uses are Terminate and Stay Resident, a type of memory-resident software in DOS, and TSR, Inc., a former game publisher best known for Dungeons & Dragons.

Terminate and Stay Resident refers to programs in the DOS era that terminate after their initial execution but remain loaded in memory to provide services to other applications. TSRs could intercept keyboard input, manage pop-up utilities, or monitor system events while other programs ran. They were loaded into conventional, upper, or expanded memory and often required memory managers or DOS extenders to function effectively. TSRs were a common solution for background utilities before modern multitasking operating systems, but they could cause conflicts or memory pressure if not carefully designed. With advances in protected-mode operating systems and true multitasking, the use of TSRs declined.

TSR, Inc. was an American game publishing company founded in 1973 by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye. It published the original Dungeons & Dragons and related materials, contributing to the early growth of fantasy role-playing games. The company expanded through the 1970s and 1980s, releasing settings such as Greyhawk and other supplements that helped establish the D&D hobby. In 1997, TSR, Inc. was acquired by Wizards of the Coast, and the D&D catalog and related properties were integrated into Wizards’ lineup, influencing the later development and branding of the game.