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Macintosh Operating Systems

The document discusses the history of Apple's Mac operating systems. It describes the original Classic Mac OS released in 1984 and its successors until 1999. It then discusses the current macOS, originally named Mac OS X, which was released in 2001. Mac OS X was based on NeXTSTEP and brought a new Unix-based architecture. The document also briefly mentions some other Apple projects involving Unix-like systems or bringing Mac interfaces to other platforms between 1988-1998.

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Christiana Maria
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209 views5 pages

Macintosh Operating Systems

The document discusses the history of Apple's Mac operating systems. It describes the original Classic Mac OS released in 1984 and its successors until 1999. It then discusses the current macOS, originally named Mac OS X, which was released in 2001. Mac OS X was based on NeXTSTEP and brought a new Unix-based architecture. The document also briefly mentions some other Apple projects involving Unix-like systems or bringing Mac interfaces to other platforms between 1988-1998.

Uploaded by

Christiana Maria
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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"Mac OS" redirects here.

For the original Apple operating system for Macs, see Classic Mac OS. For
the current Apple operating system for Macs, see macOS.

The original Macintosh System Software and Finder, released in 1984


The family of Macintosh operating systems developed by Apple Inc. includes the graphical user
interface-based operating systems it has designed for use with its Macintosh series of personal
computers since 1984, as well as the related system software it once created for compatible third-
partysystems.
In 1984, Apple debuted the operating system that is now known as the "Classic" Mac OS with its
release of the original Macintosh System Software. The system, rebranded "Mac OS" in 1996, was
preinstalled on every Macintosh until 2002 and offered on Macintosh clones for a short time in the
1990s. Noted for its ease of use, it was also criticized for its lack of modern technologies compared
to its competitors.[1][2]
The current Mac operating system is macOS, originally named "Mac OS X" until 2012 and then "OS
X" until 2016.[3] Developed between 1997 and 2001 after Apple's purchase of NeXT, Mac OS X
brought an entirely new architecture based on NeXTSTEP, a Unix system, that eliminated many of
the technical challenges that the classic Mac OS faced. The current macOS is preinstalled with
every Mac and is updated annually.[4] It is the basis of Apple's current system software for its other
devices, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS.[5]
Prior to the introduction of Mac OS X, Apple experimented with several other concepts, releasing
different products designed to bring the Macintosh interface or applications to Unix-like systems or
vice versa, A/UX, MAE, and MkLinux. Apple's effort to expand upon and develop a replacement for
its classic Mac OS in the 1990s led to a few cancelled projects, code named Star Trek, Taligent,
and Copland.
Although they have different architectures, the Macintosh operating systems share a common set
of GUI principles, including a menu bar across the top of the screen; the Finder shell, featuring
a desktop metaphor that represents files and applications using icons and relates concepts
like directories and file deletion to real-world objects like folders and a trash can; and
overlapping windows for multitasking.

Contents
[hide]

 1Classic Mac OS
o 1.1Releases
 2Mac OS X / OS X / macOS
o 2.1Releases
 2.1.1Desktop
 2.1.2Server
 3Other projects
o 3.1Shipped
 3.1.1A/ROSE
 3.1.2A/UX
 3.1.3MAE
 3.1.4MkLinux
o 3.2Cancelled
 3.2.1Star Trek
 3.2.2Taligent
 3.2.3Copland
 4Timeline
 5Related systems
 6See also
 7References

Classic Mac OS[edit]


Main article: Classic Mac OS

Mac OS 9, released in 1999


The "classic" Mac OS is the original Macintosh operating system that was introduced in 1984
alongside the first Macintosh and remained in primary use on Macs through 2001.[6][7]
Apple released the original Macintosh on January 24, 1984; its early system software was partially
based on the Lisa OS and the Xerox PARC Alto computer, which former Apple CEO Steve
Jobspreviewed.[6] It was originally named "System Software", or simply "System"; Apple rebranded it
as "Mac OS" in 1996 due in part to its Macintosh clone program that ended a year later.[8]
Mac OS is characterized by its monolithic system. It was noted as easy to use and
featured cooperative multitasking for most of its history, but it was criticized for its limited memory
management, lack of protected memory and access controls, and susceptibility to conflicts
among extensions.[2]

Releases[edit]
Nine major versions of the classic Mac OS were released. The name "Classic" that now signifies the
system as a whole is a reference to a compatibility layer that helped ease the transition to Mac OS
X.[9]
 Macintosh System Software – "System 1", released in 1984
 System Software 2, 3, and 4 – released between 1985 and 1987
 System Software 5 – released in 1987
 System Software 6 – released in 1988
 System 7 / Mac OS 7.6 – released in 1991
 Mac OS 8 – released in 1997
 Mac OS 9 – final major version, released in 1999

Mac OS X / OS X / macOS[edit]
Main article: macOS

macOS High Sierra, released in 2017


macOS (originally named "Mac OS X" until 2012 and then "OS X" until 2016)[10] is the current Mac
operating system that officially succeeded the classic Mac OS in 2001.
Although the system was originally marketed as simply "version 10" of Mac OS, it has a history that's
largely independent of the classic Mac OS. It is a Unix-based operating system[11][12] built
on NeXTSTEP and other technology developed at NeXT from the late 1980s until early 1997, when
Apple purchased the company and its CEO Steve Jobs returned to Apple.[13] Precursors to the
original release of Mac OS X include OpenStep, Apple's Rhapsody project, and the Mac OS X Public
Beta.
macOS makes use of the BSD codebase and the XNU kernel,[14] and its core set of components is
based upon Apple's open source Darwin operating system.

Releases[edit]
Desktop[edit]
The first desktop version of the system was released on March 24, 2001, supporting the Aqua user
interface. Since then, several more versions adding newer features and technologies have been
released. Since 2011, new releases have been offered on an annual basis.[4]

 Mac OS X 10.0 – code name "Cheetah", released in 2001


 Mac OS X 10.1 – code name "Puma", released in 2001
 Mac OS X 10.2 – also marketed as "Jaguar", released in 2002
 Mac OS X Panther – version 10.3, released in 2003
 Mac OS X Tiger – version 10.4, released in 2005
 Mac OS X Leopard – version 10.5, released in 2007
 Mac OS X Snow Leopard – version 10.6, released in 2009
 Mac OS X Lion – version 10.7, released in 2011
 OS X Mountain Lion – version 10.8, released in 2012
 OS X Mavericks – version 10.9, released in 2013
 OS X Yosemite – version 10.10, released in 2014
 OS X El Capitan – version 10.11, released in 2015
 macOS Sierra – version 10.12, released in 2016
 macOS High Sierra – version 10.13, released in 2017
 macOS Mojave – version 10.14, to be released in 2018
Server[edit]
An early server computing version of the system was released in 1999 as a technology preview. It
was followed by several more official server-based releases. Server functionality has instead been
offered as an add-on for the desktop system since 2011.[15]

 Mac OS X Server 1.0 – code name "Hera", released in 1999


 macOS Server – several releases since 2001

Other projects[edit]
Shipped[edit]
A/ROSE[edit]
Main article: A/ROSE
The Apple Real-time Operating System Environment (A/ROSE) was a small embedded operating
system which ran on the Macintosh Coprocessor Platform, an expansion card for the Macintosh. The
idea was to offer a single "overdesigned" hardware platform on which third-party vendors could build
practically any product, reducing the otherwise heavy workload of developing a NuBus-
based expansion card. The first version of the system was ready for use in February 1988.[16]
A/UX[edit]
Main article: A/UX
In 1988, Apple released its first Unix-based OS, A/UX, which was a Unix operating system with the
Mac OS look and feel. It was not very competitive for its time, due in part to the crowded Unix market
and Macintosh hardware lacking high-end design features present on workstation-class computers.
A/UX had most of its success in sales to the U.S. government, where POSIX compliance was a
requirement that Mac OS could not meet.[17]
MAE[edit]
Main article: Macintosh Application Environment
The Macintosh Application Environment (MAE) was a software package introduced by Apple in 1994
that allowed users of certain Unix-based computer workstations to run Apple Macintosh application
software. MAE used the X Window System to emulate a Macintosh Finder-style graphical user
interface. The last version, MAE 3.0, was compatible with System 7.5.3. MAE was available for Sun
Microsystems SPARCstation and Hewlett-Packard systems. It was discontinued on May 14, 1998.[18]
MkLinux[edit]
Main article: MkLinux
Announced at the 1996 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), MkLinux is an open
source operating system that was started by the OSF Research Institute and Apple in February 1996
to port Linux to the PowerPC platform, and thus Macintosh computers. In the summer of 1998, the
community-led MkLinux Developers Association took over development of the operating system.
MkLinux is short for "Microkernel Linux," which refers to the project's adaptation of the Linux
kernel to run as a server hosted atop the Mach microke

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