content: <PAGE>
   
                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
                                  _______________
                                      FORM 8-K
                                   CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
                                    May 18, 1999
                                    ------------
  
                  Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
  
  
  
                           CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
  
  
  
           Delaware                   0-22366               94-2878499
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer 
   of incorporation)                                        Identification No.)
  
  
       215 Fourier Avenue, Fremont, California                   94539
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)
  
  
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code    (510) 657-7400
                                                        --------------
  
  
  
                                     N/A
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
  <PAGE>
   
  Item 5.  Other Events.
  
            On May 18, 1999, the Registrant issued a press release reporting the
  financial results for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 1999.
  
  
  
  Item 7.  Exhibits.
  
            Copy of the Registrant's May 18, 1999  press releases announcing its
  financial results for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 1999 is attached hereto
  as Exhibits 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
  <PAGE>
   
                                     SIGNATURES
                                     ----------
  
            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
  the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
  
  
                                      CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
                                      ----------------------------
                                      (Registrant)
  
  
  Date:  May 17, 1999                 By  /s/ Dennis P. Wolf
                                         -------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Dennis P. Wolf
                                      Title: Chief Financial Officer
  <PAGE>
   
                                 INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  
  
  
   
  Exhibit No.               Description                                   Page
  -----------               -----------                                   ----
  
  99.1         Press Release disseminated on May 18, 1999 regarding the
               Registrant's financial results for the fiscal quarter 
               ended April 30, 1999.
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8-K FOR CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3146}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORP", "cik": "0000893162", "assigned-sic": "3825", "irs-number": "942878499", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1031"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-22366", "film-number": "99629925"}, "business-address": {"street1": "215 FOURIER AVE", "city": "FREMONT", "state": "CA", "zip": "94539", "phone": "5106577400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "215 FOURIER AVE", "city": "FREMONT", "state": "CA", "zip": "94539"}}
text: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
                                  _______________
                                      FORM 8-K
                                   CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
                                    May 18, 1999
                                    ------------
  
                  Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
  
                           CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
  
           Delaware                   0-22366               94-2878499
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer 
   of incorporation)                                        Identification No.)
  
       215 Fourier Avenue, Fremont, California                   94539
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Address of principal executive offices)               (Zip Code)
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code    (510) 657-7400
                                                        --------------
  
                                     N/A
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
  Item 5.  Other Events.
  
            On May 18, 1999, the Registrant issued a press release reporting the
  financial results for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 1999.
  
  Item 7.  Exhibits.
  
            Copy of the Registrant's May 18, 1999  press releases announcing its
  financial results for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 1999 is attached hereto
  as Exhibits 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
  SIGNATURES
                                     ----------
  
            Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
  the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                      CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION
                                      ----------------------------
                                      (Registrant)
  
  Date:  May 17, 1999                 By  /s/ Dennis P. Wolf
                                         -------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Dennis P. Wolf
                                      Title: Chief Financial Officer
  INDEX TO EXHIBITS
  
   
  Exhibit No.               Description                                   Page
  -----------               -----------                                   ----
  
  99.1         Press Release disseminated on May 18, 1999 regarding the
               Registrant's financial results for the fiscal quarter 
               ended April 30, 1999.