# OS X Mountain Lion

> ninth major release of OS X

**Wikidata**: [Q63734](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q63734)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS_X_Mountain_Lion)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/os-x-mountain-lion

## Summary
OS X Mountain Lion is the ninth major release of OS X, the operating system developed by Apple Inc. for its line of computers. Released on June 25, 2012, it is a certified UNIX 03 system built on the Darwin foundation and serves as the successor to Mac OS X Lion.

## Key Facts
- **Developer:** Apple Inc.
- **Release Date:** June 25, 2012
- **Final Version:** 10.8.5 (released August 13, 2015)
- **Preceded By:** Mac OS X Lion (version 10.7)
- **Succeeded By:** OS X Mavericks (version 10.9)
- **Base Architecture:** Darwin
- **Certification:** Single UNIX Specification (UNIX 03)
- **Update Method:** Mac App Store
- **License:** Apple Public Source License
- **GUI Toolkit:** Aqua

## FAQs
### Q: What version number is OS X Mountain Lion?
A: OS X Mountain Lion is version 10.8 of the Apple operating system. Its final stable release was version 10.8.5, which was issued on August 13, 2015.

### Q: Who developed OS X Mountain Lion?
A: It was developed by Apple Inc., an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California.

### Q: How was the software updated?
A: Users updated the operating system through the Mac App Store, which served as the primary distribution and update method for the software.

## Why It Matters
OS X Mountain Lion represents a significant milestone in the evolution of Apple's desktop computing environment as the ninth major release of OS X. Developed by Apple Inc., it continued the transition of the operating system toward a more unified experience within the Apple ecosystem. As a certified UNIX 03 system, it maintained high standards for professional and technical computing while utilizing the Darwin foundation. 

Its release on June 25, 2012, followed Mac OS X Lion and preceded OS X Mavericks, marking a period of annual release cycles for the platform. By utilizing the Mac App Store as its primary update method, it reinforced Apple's shift toward digital distribution for system software. The OS utilized the Aqua GUI toolkit and was named after the cougar, following Apple's tradition of naming releases after big cats. It provided a bridge between the earlier "Mac OS X" branding and the later "OS X" and "macOS" naming conventions, eventually reaching its final iteration with version 10.8.5 in 2015.

## Notable For
- **Ninth Major Release:** It is the ninth iteration of the OS X operating system series.
- **UNIX Certification:** It is officially certified as a UNIX 03 operating system under the Single UNIX Specification.
- **Big Cat Naming:** It is named after the cougar, serving as the final release before Apple transitioned to California-themed names with OS X Mavericks.
- **Digital Distribution:** It utilized the Mac App Store as its primary method for updates and distribution.

## Body

### Development and Release
OS X Mountain Lion was developed by Apple Inc. and officially published on June 25, 2012. It is categorized as the ninth major release of the OS X series. The operating system reached its final version, 10.8.5, on August 13, 2015.

### Technical Architecture
The system is built upon the Darwin operating system foundation. It is officially certified as a UNIX 03 system, meeting the Version 3 Single UNIX Specification. The user interface is powered by the Aqua GUI toolkit.

### Distribution and Licensing
Apple distributed OS X Mountain Lion through the Mac App Store, which served as the official update method for the software. The operating system is licensed under the Apple Public Source License.

### Chronology and Naming
OS X Mountain Lion followed Mac OS X Lion (version 10.7) and was succeeded by OS X Mavericks (version 10.9). It is named after the cougar. Common aliases for the software include OS X 10.8, Mac OS X Mountain Lion, and macOS 10.8.

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## References

1. lobid
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013