NeXTStep

Next Step [ nɛkststɛp ] was an operating system of the company NeXT. It is based on the Unix -like operating system in BSD version 4.3 and a Mach 2.5 kernel. Dissemination had it, especially in the scientific, but also in the banking sector, where, thanks to the then unusual, object-oriented development environment to quickly build complex applications could be built.

NeXT was bought in 1996 by Apple. On the basis of NeXTStep operating system Mac OS X was developed.

Concepts

At Next Step is a microkernel operating system, which uses the Mach microkernel. Based on this kernel an ordinary BSD Unix is built. This NextStep offers features such as preemptive multitasking, multithreading and memory protection, but lacks multi-processor support; this was provided in the Mach kernel, but its has not been activated. For display, Display PostScript, Adobe is used, this is the PostScript version for monitors ( instead of the printer) and enables true WYSIWYG. Together with Display PostScript is an object-oriented application framework used, which greatly simplifies the programming of graphical user interfaces. Objective C is used as a standard programming language under NeXTStep and was one reason for the OO developer tools that came with the operating system. The file system UFS also used in the various BSD Unix variants will be used.

The user environment is enabled by default lavishly equipped. There is an installer / uninstaller, the Webster dictionary, a powerful text editor software interfaces for a fax integration, etc.

The operation of the GUI has several features which are intended to facilitate the work:

• Vertical menu (top left ) to minimize the mouse movements
• Context menu
• Scroll buttons are arranged directly with each other and placed on the left side where you are staying in any case in European writings more
• Uniform format for all applications by restricting an API, thus short training periods for new programs
• "Services" can manipulation of screen elements highlighted by lead ( included in Mac OS X).

NeXTStep and OpenStep

The Next Step specification was expanded in conjunction with Sun to the OpenStep specification, but then dropped in favor of Sun Java.

In 1993, NeXT adopted by hardware business and sold NeXTStep or OpenStep the platform-independent. Next Step designates the operating system from NeXT while the specifications on which also GNUstep based, called OpenStep. OpenStep was for NeXT computer with a Motorola 68030 and 68040 processors, Intel hardware, some PA -RISC workstations from HP ( specifically the workstation HP 9000 712 "Gecko" ), Sun SPARC (Report on Installation on Sun SPARC) and, at least in laboratory available for the IBM PPC.

NeXTSTEP and Mac OS X

Finally, the company NeXT was acquired by Apple to develop the new generation of Mac OS based on OpenStep (see Cocoa ), but also the various technologies of Mac OS (up to 9 ) assumed (see, for example, carboxylic or QuickTime ). This new Mac OS was the code name Rhapsody and had the look and feel of the classic Mac OS. Rhapsody was never published but was given a whole new look ( Aqua ) and was released in March 2001 under the name Mac OS X. It can be programmed as Next Step in Objective C and used to represent display PDF. The derived therefrom iOS runs on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.

Versions

Miscellaneous

• Both the first web browser ( under the name World Wide Web ) and the first web server, which laid the foundation for the Internet revolution of the following years were developed by Tim Berners -Lee at CERN under NeXTStep in a few weeks.
• The popular computer games Wolfenstein 3D and Doom by id Software was developed under NeXTStep and compiled there for DOS. The level editors of Doom and Quake were real NeXTSTEP applications written in the programming language Objective- C.
• The computer animation for the internationally successful anime Ghost in the Shell came under NeXTStep.
• The anime Serial Experiments Lain contains many homages to Next Step.
• IBM acquired in 1989 for U.S. $ 60 million a license from NeXTSTEP 1.0 for distribution on IBM PCs. The collaboration was set but before even one such device was delivered. Also, Compaq and Dell wanted to buy such a license.
• Next Step R3 containing the 3D programming RenderMan from Pixar under the name 3DKit.
• Next step, especially since the development to OpenStep and Mac OS X are highly portable and has been ported to many platforms, so: Motorola 68000 (source platform) Motorola 88100 (planned follow- CPU of been 68000, not marketed in the Next Station ); IBM RT ( not marketed, possibly only one port of the development environment ), Intel - PC ( only as Next Step, now available as Mac OS X), PowerPC (again, first as NeXTSTEP as a planned successor to the Motorola 68000, then as Mac OS X for Apple Macintosh), Sun SPARC, HP PA -RISC, and last ARM ( the iPhone ), so a total of 10 platforms.