NeXTSTEP: Difference between revisions

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'''NeXTSTEP''' is a discontinued [[object-oriented]], [[computer multitasking|multitasking]] [[operating system]] based on the [[Mach kernel]] and the [[UNIX]]-derived [[BSD]]. It was developed by [[NeXT]], founded by [[Steve Jobs]], in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was initially used for its range of proprietary [[workstation]] computers such as the [[NeXT Computer]]. It was later ported to several other [[computer architecture]]s.
'''NeXTSTEP''' is a discontinued [[Object-oriented programming|object-oriented]], [[computer multitasking|multitasking]] [[operating system]] based on the [[Mach kernel]] and the [[UNIX]]-derived [[BSD]]. It was developed by [[NeXT]], founded by [[Steve Jobs]], in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was initially used for its range of proprietary [[workstation]] computers such as the [[NeXT Computer]]. It was later ported to several other [[computer architecture]]s.


Although relatively unsuccessful at the time, it attracted interest from computer scientists and researchers. It hosted the original development of the Electronic AppWrapper,<ref name="CT-AW3">{{cite web|url=http://www.kevra.org/TheBestOfNext/SWCatalogs/page274/page274.html|title=Electronic AppWrapper|website=Kevra.org|access-date=November 22, 2013}}</ref> the first commercial electronic software distribution catalog to collectively manage encryption and provide digital rights for [[application software]] and [[digital media]], a forerunner of the modern "[[app store]]" concept. It is the platform on which [[Tim Berners-Lee]] created the first [[web browser]], and on which [[id Software]] developed the video games ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'' and ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]''.<ref name="kHz0g">{{Cite web|url=https://rome.ro/news/2016/2/14/apple-next-merger-birthday|title=Apple-NeXT Merger Birthday!|date=December 20, 2006|website=rome.ro|language=en|access-date=October 5, 2019}}</ref><ref name="eZXqK">{{Cite web|url=https://rome.ro/news/2015/12/13/gametales-cray-ymp|title=GameTales: Cray 6400|date=January 31, 2010|website=rome.ro|language=en|access-date=October 5, 2019}}</ref>
Although relatively unsuccessful at the time, it attracted interest from computer scientists and researchers. It hosted the original development of the Electronic AppWrapper,<ref name="CT-AW3">{{cite web|url=http://www.kevra.org/TheBestOfNext/SWCatalogs/page274/page274.html|title=Electronic AppWrapper|website=Kevra.org|access-date=November 22, 2013}}</ref> the first commercial electronic software distribution catalog to collectively manage encryption and provide digital rights for [[application software]] and [[digital media]], a forerunner of the modern "[[app store]]" concept. It is the platform on which [[Tim Berners-Lee]] created the first [[web browser]], and on which [[id Software]] developed the video games ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'' and ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]''.<ref name="kHz0g">{{Cite web|url=https://rome.ro/news/2016/2/14/apple-next-merger-birthday|title=Apple-NeXT Merger Birthday!|date=December 20, 2006|website=rome.ro|language=en|access-date=October 5, 2019}}</ref><ref name="eZXqK">{{Cite web|url=https://rome.ro/news/2015/12/13/gametales-cray-ymp|title=GameTales: Cray 6400|date=January 31, 2010|website=rome.ro|language=en|access-date=October 5, 2019}}</ref>
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It introduced the idea of the [[Dock (macOS)|Dock]] (carried through [[OpenStep]] and into [[macOS]]) and the [[Shelf (computing)|Shelf]]. NeXTSTEP originated or innovated a large number of other [[GUI]] concepts which became common in other operating systems: 3D chiseled widgets, large full-color [[icon (computing)|icon]]s, system-wide drag and drop of a wide range of objects beyond file icons, system-wide piped [[Services menu|services]], real-time scrolling and window dragging, properties dialog boxes called "inspectors", and window modification notices (such as the saved status of a file). The system is among the first general-purpose user interfaces to handle publishing color standards, transparency, sophisticated sound and music processing (through a [[Motorola 56000]] [[Digital signal processor|DSP]]), advanced [[graphics primitives]], internationalization, and modern [[typography]], in a consistent manner across all applications.
It introduced the idea of the [[Dock (macOS)|Dock]] (carried through [[OpenStep]] and into [[macOS]]) and the [[Shelf (computing)|Shelf]]. NeXTSTEP originated or innovated a large number of other [[GUI]] concepts which became common in other operating systems: 3D chiseled widgets, large full-color [[icon (computing)|icon]]s, system-wide drag and drop of a wide range of objects beyond file icons, system-wide piped [[Services menu|services]], real-time scrolling and window dragging, properties dialog boxes called "inspectors", and window modification notices (such as the saved status of a file). The system is among the first general-purpose user interfaces to handle publishing color standards, transparency, sophisticated sound and music processing (through a [[Motorola 56000]] [[Digital signal processor|DSP]]), advanced [[graphics primitives]], internationalization, and modern [[typography]], in a consistent manner across all applications.


Additional kits were added to the product line. These include Portable Distributed Objects (PDO), which allow easy [[remote invocation]], and [[Enterprise Objects Framework]], an [[object-relational]] [[database]] system. The kits made the system particularly interesting to custom application programmers, and NeXTSTEP had a long history in the financial programming community.<ref name="kevra" />
Additional kits were added to the product line. These include Portable Distributed Objects (PDO), which allow easy [[remote invocation]], and [[Enterprise Objects Framework]], an [[object-relational]] [[database]] system. The kits made the system particularly interesting to custom application programmers, and NeXTSTEP had a long history in the financial programming domain.<ref name="kevra" />


==History==
==History==
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}}


Some features and [[keyboard shortcuts]] now common to web browsers originated in NeXTSTEP conventions. The basic layout options of [[HTML]] 1.0 and 2.0 are attributable to those features of NeXT's Text class.<ref name="EA2Zg">{{cite web|url=http://www.w3.org/People/Berners-Lee/WorldWideWeb.html|title=Tim Berners-Lee: WorldWideWeb, the first Web client}}</ref>
Some features and [[keyboard shortcut]]s now common to web browsers originated in NeXTSTEP conventions. The basic layout options of [[HTML]] 1.0 and 2.0 are attributable to those features of NeXT's Text class.<ref name="EA2Zg">{{cite web |url=http://www.w3.org/People/Berners-Lee/WorldWideWeb.html |first1=Tim |last1=Berners-Lee |title=The WorldWideWeb browser |publisher=W3C}}</ref>


[[Lighthouse Design|Lighthouse Design Ltd]]. developed ''Diagram!'', a drawing tool, originally called BLT (for Box-and-Line Tool) in which objects (boxes) are connected together using "smart links" (lines) to construct diagrams such a [[flow chart]]s. This basic design can be enhanced by the simple addition of new links and new documents, located anywhere in the local area network, that foreshadowed Tim Berners-Lee's initial prototype that was written on NeXTSTEP in October–December 1990.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}
[[Lighthouse Design|Lighthouse Design Ltd]]. developed ''Diagram!'', a drawing tool, originally called BLT (for Box-and-Line Tool) in which objects (boxes) are connected together using "smart links" (lines) to construct diagrams such a [[flow chart]]s. This basic design can be enhanced by the simple addition of new links and new documents, located anywhere in the local area network, that foreshadowed Tim Berners-Lee's initial prototype that was written on NeXTSTEP in October–December 1990.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}


In the 1990s, the pioneering PC games ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'', ''[[Doom II]]'', ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]'', and their respective level editors were [[Development of Doom#Programming|developed]] by [[id Software]] on NeXT machines. Other games based on the [[Doom engine|''Doom'' engine]] such as ''[[Heretic (video game)|Heretic]]'' and its sequel ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic|Hexen]]'' by [[Raven Software]], and ''[[Strife (1996 video game)|Strife]]'' by [[Rogue Entertainment]] were developed on NeXT hardware using id's tools.<ref name="iQQWn">{{cite web|url=http://rome.ro/2006/12/apple-next-merger-birthday.html|title=Apple-NeXT Merger Birthday!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305165006/http://rome.ro/2006/12/apple-next-merger-birthday.html|archive-date=March 5, 2007}}</ref>
In the 1990s, the pioneering PC games ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'', ''[[Doom II]]'', ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]'', and their respective level editors were [[Development of Doom#Programming|developed]] by [[id Software]] on NeXT machines. Other games based on the [[Doom engine|''Doom'' engine]] such as ''[[Heretic (video game)|Heretic]]'' and its sequel ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic|Hexen]]'' by [[Raven Software]], and ''[[Strife (1996 video game)|Strife]]'' by [[Rogue Entertainment]] were developed on NeXT hardware using id's tools.<ref name="iQQWn">{{cite web|url=http://rome.ro/2006/12/apple-next-merger-birthday.html|title=Apple-NeXT Merger Birthday!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070305165006/http://rome.ro/2006/12/apple-next-merger-birthday.html|archive-date=March 5, 2007}}</ref>


[[Altsys]] made the NeXTSTEP application Virtuoso, version 2 of which was ported to Mac OS and Windows to become [[Macromedia FreeHand]] version 4. The modern "Notebook" interface for [[Mathematica]], and the advanced spreadsheet [[Lotus Improv]], were developed using NeXTSTEP. The software that controlled [[MCI Communications|MCI]]'s Friends and Family calling plan program was developed using NeXTSTEP.<ref name="rnZlL">{{cite web|url=http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/RDM.Tech.Q1.07/141B0B5A-C8DE-49D2-BFDF-DB75E44A3285.html|title=Why OS X is on the iPhone, but not the PC|date= January 24, 2007|website=Roughly Drafted|quote=MCI used NeXT software to power its revolutionary Friends and Family networking referral campaign, which other rivals couldn't match for years.}}</ref><ref name="mJqf8">{{cite web|url=http://www.stepwise.com/Articles/Business/NextOrderOfBusiness.html|title=Water Utility Consultants {{!}} Water Utility Consulting by StepWise|website=Stepwise.com|date=September 12, 2012|access-date=July 17, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060407085233/http://www.stepwise.com/Articles/Business/NextOrderOfBusiness.html|archive-date=April 7, 2006}}</ref>
[[Altsys]] made the NeXTSTEP application Virtuoso. Version 2 was later ported to the [[classic Mac OS]] and Windows, becoming [[Macromedia FreeHand]] version 4. The modern "Notebook" interface for [[Mathematica]], and the advanced spreadsheet [[Lotus Improv]], were developed using NeXTSTEP. The software that controlled [[MCI Communications|MCI]]'s Friends and Family calling plan program was developed using NeXTSTEP.<ref name="rnZlL">{{cite web|url=http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/RDM.Tech.Q1.07/141B0B5A-C8DE-49D2-BFDF-DB75E44A3285.html|title=Why OS X is on the iPhone, but not the PC|date= January 24, 2007|website=Roughly Drafted|quote=MCI used NeXT software to power its revolutionary Friends and Family networking referral campaign, which other rivals couldn't match for years.}}</ref><ref name="mJqf8">{{cite web|url=http://www.stepwise.com/Articles/Business/NextOrderOfBusiness.html|title=Water Utility Consultants {{!}} Water Utility Consulting by StepWise|website=Stepwise.com|date=September 12, 2012|access-date=July 17, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060407085233/http://www.stepwise.com/Articles/Business/NextOrderOfBusiness.html|archive-date=April 7, 2006}}</ref>


About the time of the release of NeXTSTEP 3.2, NeXT partnered with [[Sun Microsystems]] to develop [[OpenStep]]. It is the product of an effort to separate the underlying operating system from the higher-level object libraries to create a cross-platform object-oriented API standard derived from NeXTSTEP. [[OpenStep]] was released for Sun's [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]], [[Windows NT]], and NeXT's [[Mach kernel]]-based operating system. NeXT's implementation is called "OPENSTEP for Mach" and its first release (4.0) superseded NeXTSTEP 3.3 on NeXT, Sun, and Intel [[IA-32]] systems.
About the time of the release of NeXTSTEP 3.2, NeXT partnered with [[Sun Microsystems]] to develop [[OpenStep]]. It is the product of an effort to separate the underlying operating system from the higher-level object libraries to create a cross-platform object-oriented API standard derived from NeXTSTEP. [[OpenStep]] was released for Sun's [[Oracle Solaris|Solaris]], [[Windows NT]], and NeXT's [[Mach kernel]]-based operating system. NeXT's implementation is called "[[OpenStep#OPENSTEP for Mach|OPENSTEP for Mach]]" and its first release (4.0) superseded NeXTSTEP 3.3 on NeXT, Sun, and Intel [[IA-32]] systems.


Following an announcement on December 20, 1996,<ref name="6Wesm">{{cite press release|title=Apple Computer, Inc. Agrees to Acquire NeXT Software Inc.|publisher=Apple Computer, Inc.|date=December 20, 1996|url=http://live.apple.com/next/961220.pr.rel.next.html | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970301172356/http://live.apple.com/next/961220.pr.rel.next.html | archive-date=March 1, 1997 | access-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref> [[Apple Computer]] acquired NeXT on February 4, 1997, for $429 million. Based upon the "[[OPENSTEP]] for Mach" operating system, and developing the OpenStep API to become [[Cocoa (API)|Cocoa]], Apple created the basis of [[Mac OS X]],<ref name="EVcL5">{{cite book| title=Apple Confidential: The Real Story of Apple Computer, Inc| url=https://archive.org/details/appleconfidentia00linz| url-access=registration|last=Linzmayer|first=Owen W.|year= 1999| publisher=No Starch Press| isbn=9781886411289}}</ref> and eventually of [[iOS]], [[iPadOS]], [[watchOS]], and [[tvOS]].
Following an announcement on December 20, 1996,<ref name="6Wesm">{{cite press release|title=Apple Computer, Inc. Agrees to Acquire NeXT Software Inc.|publisher=Apple Computer, Inc.|date=December 20, 1996|url=http://live.apple.com/next/961220.pr.rel.next.html | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970301172356/http://live.apple.com/next/961220.pr.rel.next.html | archive-date=March 1, 1997 | access-date=April 12, 2013}}</ref> [[Apple Computer]] acquired NeXT on February 4, 1997, for $429 million. Based upon the "OPENSTEP for Mach" operating system, and developing the OpenStep API to become [[Cocoa (API)|Cocoa]], Apple created the basis of [[Mac OS X]],<ref name="EVcL5">{{cite book| title=Apple Confidential: The Real Story of Apple Computer, Inc| url=https://archive.org/details/appleconfidentia00linz| url-access=registration|last=Linzmayer|first=Owen W.|year= 1999| publisher=No Starch Press| isbn=9781886411289}}</ref> and eventually of [[iOS]], [[iPadOS]], [[watchOS]], and [[tvOS]].


[[GNUstep]] is a [[free software]] implementation of the OpenStep standard.<ref name="GNUStep: Introduction">{{cite web | title=GNUStep: Introduction | publisher=GNUStep.org | url=http://gnustep.org/information/aboutGNUstep.html | access-date=May 2, 2013}}</ref>
[[GNUstep]] is a [[free software]] implementation of the OpenStep standard.<ref name="GNUStep: Introduction">{{cite web | title=GNUStep: Introduction | publisher=GNUStep.org | url=http://gnustep.org/information/aboutGNUstep.html | access-date=May 2, 2013}}</ref>
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||CD-ROM
||CD-ROM
|m68k, i386
|m68k, i386
||
||Support for Insignia Solutions [[SoftPC]] emulation software, allowing users to run - and use data with - legacy [[MS-DOS]] and Windows applications<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1993-10-28 |title=SOFTPC INCLUDED IN NEXTSTEP 3.2 |url=https://www.techmonitor.ai/hardware/softpc_included_in_nextstep_32_portable_objects_out_first_in_hewlett_packard_version |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=Tech Monitor |language=en-US |quote=new version of its NeXTstep object-oriented operating system for Intel Corp hardware will support Insignia Solutions Ltd’s SoftPC with Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS 5.0 pre-installed.… users will be able to use legacy Microsoft Corp MS-DOS and Windows applications these will run as separate tasks in their own right and sit in a separate window. Customers will be able to cut and paste between the two environments.}}</ref>
|-
|-
||3.3
||3.3
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|| CD-ROM
|| CD-ROM
|m68k, i386, SPARC, PA-RISC
|m68k, i386, SPARC, PA-RISC
||Very different user interface.<ref name="jjuNf">{{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyxByfhT1F0| title = NextStep 4 Beta demo video, part 1| website = [[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref name="bbXWx">{{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrC1rPY1PkI| title = NextStep 4 Beta demo video, part 2| website = [[YouTube]]}}</ref> Notable as being a precursor of many ideas later introduced in the [[Dock (macOS)|macOS Dock]].
||Very different user interface.<ref name="jjuNf">{{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyxByfhT1F0| title = NextStep 4 Beta demo video, part 1| website = [[YouTube]]| date = February 25, 2010}}</ref><ref name="bbXWx">{{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrC1rPY1PkI| title = NextStep 4 Beta demo video, part 2| website = [[YouTube]]| date = February 26, 2010}}</ref> Notable as being a precursor of many ideas later introduced in the [[Dock (macOS)|macOS Dock]].


Allegedly dropped due to complaints of having to re-teach users but not for technical reasons (the new UI worked well in the beta).
Allegedly dropped due to complaints of having to re-teach users but not for technical reasons (the new UI worked well in the beta).
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==See also==
==See also==
* [[Bundle (macOS)]], from NeXTSTEP to macOS
* [[Bundle (macOS)]], from NeXTSTEP to macOS
* [[Miller Columns]], the method of directory browsing that NeXTSTEP's File Viewer uses
* [[Miller columns]], the method of directory browsing that NeXTSTEP's File Viewer uses
* [[NeXT character set]]
* [[NeXT character set]]


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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://openstep.bfx.re/ NeXTSTEP Installation Guide]
* [http://www.nextcomputers.org NeXTComputers.org]
* [http://www.nextcomputers.org NeXTComputers.org]
* {{YouTube|j02b8Fuz73A|Video of Steve Jobs Demoing NeXTSTEP Release 3}}
* {{YouTube|j02b8Fuz73A|Video of Steve Jobs Demoing NeXTSTEP Release 3}}

Latest revision as of 18:02, 15 November 2025

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "other uses". Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:MacOS topics

NeXTSTEP is a discontinued object-oriented, multitasking operating system based on the Mach kernel and the UNIX-derived BSD. It was developed by NeXT, founded by Steve Jobs, in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was initially used for its range of proprietary workstation computers such as the NeXT Computer. It was later ported to several other computer architectures.

Although relatively unsuccessful at the time, it attracted interest from computer scientists and researchers. It hosted the original development of the Electronic AppWrapper,[1] the first commercial electronic software distribution catalog to collectively manage encryption and provide digital rights for application software and digital media, a forerunner of the modern "app store" concept. It is the platform on which Tim Berners-Lee created the first web browser, and on which id Software developed the video games Doom and Quake.[2][3]

In 1996, Apple Computer acquired NeXT. Apple needed a successor to the classic Mac OS, and merged NeXTSTEP and OpenStep with the Macintosh user environment to create Mac OS X (later renamed macOS). All of Apple's subsequent platforms since iPhone OS 1 were then based on Mac OS X.

Overview

NeXTSTEP (also stylized as NeXTstep, NeXTStep, and NEXTSTEP[4][5]) is a combination of several parts:

NeXTSTEP is a preeminent implementation of the last three items. The toolkits are the canonical development system for all of the software on the system.

It introduced the idea of the Dock (carried through OpenStep and into macOS) and the Shelf. NeXTSTEP originated or innovated a large number of other GUI concepts which became common in other operating systems: 3D chiseled widgets, large full-color icons, system-wide drag and drop of a wide range of objects beyond file icons, system-wide piped services, real-time scrolling and window dragging, properties dialog boxes called "inspectors", and window modification notices (such as the saved status of a file). The system is among the first general-purpose user interfaces to handle publishing color standards, transparency, sophisticated sound and music processing (through a Motorola 56000 DSP), advanced graphics primitives, internationalization, and modern typography, in a consistent manner across all applications.

Additional kits were added to the product line. These include Portable Distributed Objects (PDO), which allow easy remote invocation, and Enterprise Objects Framework, an object-relational database system. The kits made the system particularly interesting to custom application programmers, and NeXTSTEP had a long history in the financial programming domain.[4]

History

NeXTSTEP was built upon Mach and BSD, initially 4.3BSD-Tahoe. A preview release of NeXTSTEP (version 0.8) was shown with the launch of the NeXT Computer on October 12, 1988. The first full release, NeXTSTEP 1.0, shipped on September 18, 1989.[6] It was updated to 4.3BSD-Reno in NeXTSTEP 3.0. The last version, 3.3, was released in early 1995, for the Motorola 68000 family based NeXT computers, Intel x86, Sun SPARC, and HP PA-RISC-based systems.

NeXT separated the underlying operating system from the application frameworks, producing OpenStep. OpenStep and its applications can run on multiple underlying operating systems, including OPENSTEP, Windows NT, and Solaris. In 1997, it was updated to 4.4BSD while assimilated into Apple's development of Rhapsody for x86 and PowerPC. NeXTSTEP's direct descendant is Apple's macOS, which then yielded iPhone OS 1, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS.

Legacy

The first web browser, WorldWideWeb, and the first app store[7] were all invented on the NeXTSTEP platform.

<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

1990 CERN: A Joint proposal for a hypertext system is presented to the management. Mike Sendall buys a NeXT cube for evaluation, and gives it to Tim Berners-Lee. Tim's prototype implementation on NeXTSTEP is made in the space of a few months, thanks to the qualities of the NeXTSTEP software development system. This prototype offers WYSIWYG browsing/authoring! Current Web browsers used in "surfing the Internet" are mere passive windows, depriving the user of the possibility to contribute. During some sessions in the CERN cafeteria, Tim and I try to find a catching name for the system. I was determined that the name should not yet again be taken from Greek mythology. Tim proposes "World-Wide Web". I like this very much, except that it is difficult to pronounce in French...

— Template:Comma separated entries

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Some features and keyboard shortcuts now common to web browsers originated in NeXTSTEP conventions. The basic layout options of HTML 1.0 and 2.0 are attributable to those features of NeXT's Text class.[9]

Lighthouse Design Ltd. developed Diagram!, a drawing tool, originally called BLT (for Box-and-Line Tool) in which objects (boxes) are connected together using "smart links" (lines) to construct diagrams such a flow charts. This basic design can be enhanced by the simple addition of new links and new documents, located anywhere in the local area network, that foreshadowed Tim Berners-Lee's initial prototype that was written on NeXTSTEP in October–December 1990.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In the 1990s, the pioneering PC games Doom, Doom II, Quake, and their respective level editors were developed by id Software on NeXT machines. Other games based on the Doom engine such as Heretic and its sequel Hexen by Raven Software, and Strife by Rogue Entertainment were developed on NeXT hardware using id's tools.[10]

Altsys made the NeXTSTEP application Virtuoso. Version 2 was later ported to the classic Mac OS and Windows, becoming Macromedia FreeHand version 4. The modern "Notebook" interface for Mathematica, and the advanced spreadsheet Lotus Improv, were developed using NeXTSTEP. The software that controlled MCI's Friends and Family calling plan program was developed using NeXTSTEP.[11][12]

About the time of the release of NeXTSTEP 3.2, NeXT partnered with Sun Microsystems to develop OpenStep. It is the product of an effort to separate the underlying operating system from the higher-level object libraries to create a cross-platform object-oriented API standard derived from NeXTSTEP. OpenStep was released for Sun's Solaris, Windows NT, and NeXT's Mach kernel-based operating system. NeXT's implementation is called "OPENSTEP for Mach" and its first release (4.0) superseded NeXTSTEP 3.3 on NeXT, Sun, and Intel IA-32 systems.

Following an announcement on December 20, 1996,[13] Apple Computer acquired NeXT on February 4, 1997, for $429 million. Based upon the "OPENSTEP for Mach" operating system, and developing the OpenStep API to become Cocoa, Apple created the basis of Mac OS X,[14] and eventually of iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS.

GNUstep is a free software implementation of the OpenStep standard.[15]

Release history

Version Date Distribution medium Architecture Basis Notes
0.8 October 12, 1988 MO disc m68k 4.3BSD-Tahoe NeXTStep Digital Webster, Complete Works of William Shakespeare, netboot, NFS
0.8a 1988 MO disc m68k
0.9 1988 MO disc m68k NeXT 0.9/1.0 Release Description
1.0 1989 MO disc m68k
1.0a 1989 MO disc m68k Photo of NeXTSTEP 1.0a MO disc
2.0 September 18, 1990 MO disc, CD-ROM m68k Support for the NeXTstation, NeXTcube (68040). Support for floppy disk, CD-ROM, Fax modems, and color graphics. Workspace Manager now has the Shelf, copies performed in background, black hole is replaced by recycler icon. Terminal.app. Dynamic loading of drivers.[16][17]
2.1 March 25, 1991 MO disc, CD-ROM m68k Support for the NeXTdimension board. TeX, internationalization improvements. New machines with 2.1 include Lotus Improv.[16]
2.1a MO disc, CD-ROM m68k
2.2 CD-ROM m68k Support for the NeXTstation Turbo
3.0 September 8, 1992[18] CD-ROM m68k 4.3BSD-Reno Project Builder, 3D support with Interactive RenderMan, Pantone colors, PostScript Level 2, Object Linking and Embedding, Distributed Objects, Database Kit, Phone Kit, Indexing Kit, precompiled headers, HFS, AppleTalk, and Novell NetWare.
3.1 May 25, 1993 CD-ROM m68k, i386 First release for the i386 architecture, introducing fat binaries.
3.2 October 1993 CD-ROM m68k, i386 Support for Insignia Solutions SoftPC emulation software, allowing users to run - and use data with - legacy MS-DOS and Windows applications[19]
3.3 February 1995 CD-ROM m68k, i386, SPARC, PA-RISC Support for the PA-RISC and SPARC architectures added, introducing Quad-fat Binaries. Last and most popular version released under the name NEXTSTEP. Referred to as NEXTSTEP/m68k, NEXTSTEP/Intel, NEXTSTEP/SPARC. NEXTSTEP/PA-RISC

Delivered on 2 CDs: NeXTSTEP CISC and NeXTSTEP RISC. The Developer CD includes libraries for all architectures, so that programs can be cross-compiled on any architecture for all architectures.

4.0 beta 1996 CD-ROM m68k, i386, SPARC, PA-RISC Very different user interface.[20][21] Notable as being a precursor of many ideas later introduced in the macOS Dock.

Allegedly dropped due to complaints of having to re-teach users but not for technical reasons (the new UI worked well in the beta).

4.0 July 1996 CD-ROM m68k, i386, SPARC Support for the PA-RISC architecture dropped. Support for m68k, i486, and SPARC architectures. Initial Release of OpenStep for Windows.
4.1 January 1997 CD-ROM m68k, i386, SPARC Support for m68k, i486, and SPARC architectures, and OpenStep for Windows, under OPENSTEP Enterprise (NT only).
4.2 Pre-release 2 September 1997 CD-ROM m68k, i386, SPARC Pre-release 2 circulated to limited number of developers before OpenStep and Apple acquisition.
Rhapsody August 31, 1997Template:DashOctober 27, 2000 CD-ROM i386, PowerPC 4.4BSD Released after the Apple acquisition, these are arguably closer to NeXTSTEP and OPENSTEP than to Mac OS X. For example, they can still be used as remote display via NXHost.[22]

Versions up to 4.1 are general releases. OPENSTEP 4.2 pre-release 2 is a bug-fix release published by Apple and supported for five years after its September 1997 release.

See also

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Unix-like Template:Apple Inc. operating systems Template:Darwin derivations Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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