OpenStep

OpenStep [ oʊpn̩stɛp ] (English " open step " ) is a specification for an object-oriented application program interface ( API) for computers that was brokered between the kernel and the applications and developed by NeXT and Sun Microsystems.

OpenStep is not identical with OPENSTEP, which is merely an implementation of the former.

History

The OpenStep API was the result of collaboration between NeXT and Sun Microsystems.

Implementations

OPENSTEP

OPENSTEP was the further development of the operating system NeXTSTEP the company NeXT, the implemented first OpenStep. OPENSTEP running on the hardware architectures x86, SPARC and 68k workstations from NeXT, a version for HP's PA - RISC processor was developed that was included in the first OPENSTEP beta versions, but removed again and was never released.

Rhapsody

→ Main article: Rhapsody

Rhapsody was the code name of the new Apple operating system that should arise on the basis of nexts OPENSTEP. It had largely the look and feel of the current Macintosh operating system, Mac OS, technically it was but to OPENSTEP. Rhapsody itself was never released. However, this came out Mac OS X Server.

Mac OS X

→ Main article: Mac OS X

After the company NeXT was bought by Apple, was based on nexts implementation OPENSTEP first Rhapsody, the look and feel of Mac OS combined with the functionality of OPENSTEP. After that was assumed to be a new graphical user interface called Aqua develops and integrates the Classic environment to run also developed for the Mac OS Classic applications. All together formed Apple's new operating system called Mac OS X. Open Steps ability to run on different kernels, Apple gave the flexibility to modernize the Mac operating system while maintaining compatibility with existing Mac hardware and software.