# NeXTSTEP

> operating system from NeXT Computer

**Wikidata**: [Q831367](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q831367)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NeXTSTEP)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nextstep

## Summary
NeXTSTEP is an object-oriented, Unix-like operating system developed by NeXT Computer, founded by Steve Jobs after his departure from Apple. It was first released in 1989 and combined the Mach kernel with BSD-derived components, featuring a graphical user interface built on Objective-C.

## Key Facts
- Inception: September 18, 1989
- Developer: NeXT Computer
- Based on: BSD and Mach kernel
- Programming language: Objective-C
- Platform support: Motorola 68000, x86, SPARC, PA-RISC
- License: Proprietary
- Latest version: 3.3 (released in 1995)
- Replaced by: macOS, Darwin, and Mac OS X 10.0
- Notable user: Tim Berners-Lee used NeXTSTEP to create the first web browser
- Dissolved: 1997

## FAQs
### Q: What is NeXTSTEP?
A: NeXTSTEP is an object-oriented, Unix-like operating system developed by NeXT Computer, featuring a graphical user interface built on Objective-C and combining the Mach kernel with BSD components.

### Q: Who created NeXTSTEP?
A: NeXTSTEP was developed by NeXT Computer, a company founded by Steve Jobs after he left Apple in 1985.

### Q: What happened to NeXTSTEP?
A: NeXTSTEP was discontinued in 1997 when Apple acquired NeXT Computer, and its technologies were incorporated into Mac OS X and later macOS.

## Why It Matters
NeXTSTEP represents a pivotal moment in computing history, bridging the gap between academic research and commercial software development. Its innovative object-oriented architecture and development environment influenced modern operating systems, particularly macOS and iOS. The system's advanced features, including its integrated development environment and graphical user interface, set new standards for software development. Most significantly, NeXTSTEP was the platform on which Tim Berners-Lee created the first web browser, making it instrumental in the birth of the World Wide Web. Its acquisition by Apple in 1997 brought these technologies back to the company where Steve Jobs had previously worked, ultimately shaping the future of Apple's operating systems.

## Notable For
- First operating system to use Objective-C as a primary development language
- Platform where Tim Berners-Lee created the first web browser
- Introduced advanced object-oriented programming concepts to mainstream computing
- Combined Unix stability with a sophisticated graphical user interface
- Technologies later formed the foundation of modern macOS and iOS

## Body
### Technical Architecture
NeXTSTEP was built on a hybrid kernel architecture combining the Mach microkernel with BSD-derived components. This design provided both the stability and security of Unix-like systems with the performance benefits of a microkernel approach.

### Development Environment
The operating system featured an integrated development environment (IDE) that was revolutionary for its time. It included Interface Builder, a graphical tool for designing user interfaces, and Project Builder for managing software projects. These tools were tightly integrated with the Objective-C programming language.

### Hardware Support
Initially designed for NeXT's proprietary hardware using the Motorola 68000 processor, NeXTSTEP was later ported to other architectures including x86, SPARC, and PA-RISC. This cross-platform capability demonstrated the system's robust design.

### User Interface
NeXTSTEP introduced several innovative user interface concepts, including Display PostScript for rendering graphics, which allowed for high-quality WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) display. The system also featured a dock-like shelf for managing applications and documents.

### Legacy
The technologies and concepts developed for NeXTSTEP continue to influence modern computing. Its object-oriented design principles, development tools, and user interface concepts were incorporated into Apple's operating systems after the acquisition of NeXT in 1997.

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## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File