Macintosh operating systems - wikipedia Macintosh operating systems `` 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 - party systems. 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. The current Mac operating system is macOS, originally named `` Mac OS X '' until 2012 and then `` OS X '' until 2016. 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 faced the classic Mac OS. The current macOS is preinstalled with every Mac and is updated annually. It is the basis of Apple 's current system software for its other devices, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. 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 1 Classic Mac OS 1.1 Releases 2 Mac OS X / OS X / macOS 2.1 Releases 2.1. 1 Desktop 2.1. 2 Server 3 Other projects 3.1 Shipped 3.1. 1 A / ROSE 3.1. 2 A / UX 3.1. 3 MAE 3.1. 4 MkLinux 3.2 Cancelled 3.2. 1 Star Trek 3.2. 2 Taligent 3.2. 3 Copland 4 Timeline 5 Related systems 6 See also 7 References Classic Mac OS 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. 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 Jobs previewed. 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. 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. Releases 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. 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 Main article : macOS macOS High Sierra, released in 2017 macOS ( originally named `` Mac OS X '' until 2012 and then `` OS X '' until 2016 ) 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 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. 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, and its core set of components is based upon Apple 's open source Darwin operating system. Releases Desktop 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. 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 Server 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. Mac OS X Server 1.0 -- code name `` Hera '', released in 1999 macOS Server -- several releases since 2001 Other projects Shipped A / ROSE 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. A / UX 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. MAE 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. MkLinux 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 microkernel. MkLinux is based on version 3.0 of Mach. Cancelled Star Trek Main article : Star Trek project Star Trek ( as in `` to boldly go where no Mac has gone before '' ) was a relatively unknown secret prototype beginning in 1992, whose goal was to create a version of the classic Mac OS that would run on Intel - compatible x86 personal computers. In partnership with Apple and with support from Intel, the project was instigated by Novell, which was looking to integrate its DR - DOS with the Mac OS GUI as a mutual response to the monopoly of Microsoft 's Windows 3.0 and MS - DOS. A team consisting of four from Apple and four from Novell was able to get the Macintosh Finder and some basic applications such as QuickTime, running smoothly on the x86 architecture. The project was canceled a year later in early 1993, but some of the code was reused later when porting the Mac OS to PowerPC. Taligent Main article : Taligent Taligent ( a portmanteau of `` talent '' and `` intelligent '' ) was the name of an object - oriented operating system and the company dedicated to producing it. Started as a project within Apple to provide a replacement for the classic Mac OS, it was later spun off into a joint venture with IBM as part of the AIM alliance, with the purpose of building a competing platform to Microsoft Cairo and NeXTSTEP. The development process never worked, and Taligent is often cited as an example of a project death march. Apple pulled out of the project in 1995 before the code had been delivered. Copland Main article : Copland ( operating system ) Copland was a project at Apple to create an updated version of the classic Mac OS. It was to have introduced protected memory, preemptive multitasking and a number of new underlying operating system features, yet still be compatible with existing Mac software. As originally planned, a follow - up release known as `` Gershwin '' would add multithreading and other advanced features. New features were added more rapidly than they could be completed, and the completion date slipped into the future with no sign of a release. In 1996, Apple decided to cancel the project outright and find a suitable third - party system to replace it. Copland development ended in August 1996, and in December 1996, Apple announced that it was buying NeXT for its NeXTSTEP operating system. Timeline Timeline of Macintosh operating systems Related systems Main article : List of Apple operating systems Before the arrival of the Macintosh in 1984, Apple 's history of operating systems began with its Apple II series computers in 1977, which ran Apple DOS, ProDOS, and later GS / OS ; the Apple III in 1980, which ran Apple SOS ; and the Apple Lisa in 1983, which ran Lisa OS and later MacWorks XL, a Macintosh emulator. Apple also developed the Newton OS for its Newton personal digital assistant from 1993 to 1997. In recent years, Apple has also launched several new operating systems based on the core of macOS, including iOS in 2007 for its iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch mobile devices ; watchOS in 2015 for the Apple Watch ; and tvOS in 2015 for the Apple TV set - top box. See also Apple portal Comparison of operating systems History of the graphical user interface Macintosh List of Macintosh software References Jump up ^ Gruber, John ( January 21, 2009 ). `` Three things OS X could learn from the Classic Mac OS ''. Macworld. Retrieved September 13, 2016. ^ Jump up to : Hertzfeld, Andy, folklore.org : The Original Macintosh : Mea Culpa, retrieved 2010 - 05 - 10 Jump up ^ Siracusa, John ( March 24, 2006 ). `` Five years of Mac OS X ''. Ars Technica. Condé Nast Digital. Retrieved April 15, 2009. Even Steve Jobs still says `` ecks '' instead of `` ten '' sometimes. ^ Jump up to : Gruber, John. `` Mountain Lion ''. Daring Fireball. Retrieved 15 August 2015. Jump up ^ Honan, Matthew ( January 9, 2007 ). `` Apple unveils iPhone ''. Macworld. Retrieved January 16, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Linzmayer, Owen W. ( 2004 ). Apple Confidential 2.0. No Starch Press. Jump up ^ `` The Macintosh Product Introduction Plan ''. Stanford University Libraries & Academic Information Resources. Archived from the original on July 21, 2010. Jump up ^ Gruman, Galen ( November 1997 ). `` Why Apple Pulled the Plug ''. Macworld. 14 ( 11 ). pp. 31 -- 36. Jump up ^ `` A Brief History of the Classic Mac OS -- Low End Mac ''. Jump up ^ `` What is an operating system ( OS ) ? ''. Apple, Inc. 2004 - 07 - 15. Archived from the original on July 22, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Mac OS X and Unix -- Apple '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on May 30, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2016. Jump up ^ `` macOS version 10.12 Sierra on Intel - based Mac computers ''. The Open Group. Retrieved September 29, 2016. Jump up ^ Apple Computer ( December 20, 1996 ). `` Apple Computer, Inc. Agrees to Acquire NeXT Software Inc ''. Archived from the original on January 16, 1999. Jump up ^ `` Mac OS X : What is BSD ? ''. Jump up ^ `` Apple Releases Developer Preview of Mac OS X Lion ''. Apple. Retrieved February 24, 2011. Jump up ^ Inside the Macintosh Coprocessor Platform and A / ROSE Jump up ^ Crabb, Don ( 10 August 1992 ). `` Apple finally gets Unix right with A / UX 3.0 ''. InfoWorld. pp. 68 -- 69. Jump up ^ `` MAE screenshots ''. Archived from the original on January 24, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2015. Jump up ^ Barbou des Places, François ; Stephen, Nick ; Reynolds, Franklin D. ( January 12, 1996 ). `` Linux on the OSF Mach3 microkernel ''. Grenoble and Cambridge : OSF Research Institute. Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2013. Jump up ^ Hormby, Tom ( 2005 ). `` Star Trek : Apple 's First Mac OS on Intel Project ''. Retrieved November 10, 2015. Jump up ^ Linzmayer, Owen W. ( 1999 ). Apple Confidential. San Francisco, CA : No Starch Press. ISBN 9781886411289. OCLC 245921029. Retrieved May 29, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Apple surrenders the Pink ( to Microsoft ) '', The Register, 3 October 2008 Jump up ^ Widman, Jake ( October 9, 2008 ). `` Lessons Learned : IT 's Biggest Project Failures ''. PCWorld. Retrieved October 23, 2012. Macintosh operating systems Classic Mac OS System 1 System 2, 3, and 4 System 5 System 6 System 7 Mac OS 8 Mac OS 9 Mac OS X / OS X / macOS History NeXTSTEP OpenStep Rhapsody Public Beta Core Darwin Desktop 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 Server 1.0 macOS Server Other projects Shipped A / ROSE A / UX MAE MkLinux Cancelled Star Trek Taligent Copland Overview Category Classic Mac OS Versions System 1 System 2, 3, and 4 System 5 System 6 System 7 Mac OS 8 Mac OS 9 Applications Calculator Chooser Drive Setup DVD Player Finder Graphing Calculator Keychain Access PictureViewer PowerTalk QuickTime Player Network Browser Scrapbook Sherlock Software Update Stickies System Information SimpleText Developer HyperCard MacsBug Macintosh Programmer 's Workshop ResEdit Technology Alias Appearance Manager Apple menu At Ease Balloon help Bomb Error Command key ( ⌘ ) Control Panel Control Strip Creator code Extensions Hierarchical File System HFS Plus Keychain Labels Macintosh File System Menu blinking MultiFinder Option key ( ⌥ ) OSType PICT QuickDraw QuickTime Resource fork Sosumi sound Startup Screen System folder System suitcase Type code WorldScript Related articles Manager Toolbox Memory management Old World ROM New World ROM EFI Software macOS History Architecture Components Technologies Server Software Versions Server 1.0 Hera Public Beta Kodiak 10.0 Cheetah 10.1 Puma 10.2 Jaguar 10.3 Panther 10.4 Tiger 10.5 Leopard 10.6 Snow Leopard 10.7 Lion 10.8 Mountain Lion 10.9 Mavericks 10.10 Yosemite 10.11 El Capitan 10.12 Sierra 10.13 High Sierra Applications Automator Calculator Calendar Chess Contacts Dashboard Dictionary DVD Player FaceTime Finder Game Center Grapher iTunes ( version history ) Launchpad Mac App Store Mail Messages Notes Notification Center Photo Booth Photos Preview QuickTime Reminders Safari ( version history ) Stickies TextEdit Time Machine Discontinued Front Row iChat iPhoto iSync Sherlock Utilities Activity Monitor AirPort Utility AppleScript Editor Archive Utility Audio MIDI Setup Bluetooth File Exchange Boot Camp ColorSync Configurator Console Crash Reporter DigitalColor Meter Directory Utility DiskImageMounter Disk Utility Font Book Grab Help Viewer Image Capture Installer Keychain Access Migration Assistant Network Utility ODBC Administrator Screen Sharing System Preferences System Information Terminal Universal Access VoiceOver Discontinued Software Update Remote Install Mac OS X Technology and user interface AirDrop Apple File System Apple menu Apple Push Notification Service AppleScript Aqua Audio Units Bonjour CloudKit Cocoa ColorSync Command key Core Animation Core Audio Core Data Core Foundation Core Image Core OpenGL Core Text Core Video CUPS Cover Flow Darwin Dock FileVault Fonts Gatekeeper Grand Central Dispatch icns iCloud Inkwell I / O Kit Kernel panic Keychain launchd Mach - O MacRuby Menu extra Metal Mission Control OpenCL Option key Preference Pane Property list Quartz QuickTime Quick Look Smart Folders Speakable items Spotlight Stacks System Integrity Protection Uniform Type Identifier Universal binary WebKit XNU XQuartz Deprecated Carbon HFS+ Discontinued BootX Brushed metal Classic Environment Rosetta Spaces Xgrid Operating systems by Apple Inc. Apple II / III / Lisa Apple II series Apple DOS ProDOS GS / OS Apple III SOS Lisa Lisa OS MacWorks Macintosh ( overview ) Classic Mac OS System 1 System 2, 3, and 4 System 5 System 6 System 7 Mac OS 8 Mac OS 9 Mac OS X / OS X / macOS History NeXTSTEP OpenStep Rhapsody Public Beta Core Darwin Desktop 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 10.10 10.11 10.12 10.13 Server 1.0 macOS Server Other projects Shipped A / ROSE A / UX MAE MkLinux Cancelled Star Trek Taligent Copland iPod / iPhone / iPad iPod Software iOS 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Other devices Newton Newton OS Apple Watch watchOS Apple TV Apple TV Software tvOS Italics indicate discontinued products List Category Software by Apple Inc. OS Darwin iOS version history 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 macOS Public Beta `` Cheetah '' `` Puma '' `` Jaguar '' `` Panther '' `` Tiger '' `` Leopard '' `` Snow Leopard '' `` Lion '' `` Mountain Lion '' `` Mavericks '' `` Yosemite '' `` El Capitan '' `` Sierra '' `` High Sierra '' tvOS watchOS Consumer iBooks Author iCloud iLife iMovie GarageBand iWork Keynote Pages Numbers Professional FileMaker Final Cut Studio Final Cut Pro X Motion Compressor Logic Studio Logic Pro Mainstage Bundled Calendar iTunes history Mail Messages Photo Booth Photos QuickTime Safari version history TextEdit Server Apple Remote Desktop macOS Server WebObjects Xsan Developer Dashcode Instruments Interface Builder Quartz Composer Xcode iAd Producer Discontinued. Mac Aperture AppleWorks Bento Classic Mac OS System 1 6 7 8 9 Color DVD Studio Pro Final Cut Express Front Row HyperCard iChat iDVD iPhoto iWeb Logic Express MacDraw MacPaint MacProject MacTerminal MacWrite MobileMe ResEdit Shake Soundtrack Pro Apple Inc. History Outline Founders Steve Jobs Steve Wozniak Ronald Wayne Board of directors Current James A. Bell Tim Cook ( CEO ) Albert Gore Jr. Robert A. Iger Andrea Jung Arthur D. Levinson ( Chairman ) Ronald D. Sugar Susan L. Wagner Former Fred D. Anderson Gil Amelio Bill Campbell Mickey Drexler Larry Ellison Steve Jobs Delano Lewis Mike Markkula Arthur Rock Eric Schmidt John Sculley Edgar S. Woolard Jr. Jerry York Executives Current Tim Cook ( CEO ) Jonathan Ive ( CDO ) Jeff Williams ( COO ) Luca Maestri ( CFO ) Katherine Adams ( General Counsel ) Angela Ahrendts Phil Schiller Eddy Cue Craig Federighi Dan Riccio Johny Srouji Lisa Jackson Former Steve Jobs Fred D. Anderson John Browett Tony Fadell Scott Forstall Nancy R. Heinen Ron Johnson Peter Oppenheimer Mark Papermaster Jon Rubinstein Bertrand Serlet Sina Tamaddon Avie Tevanian Gil Amelio Ellen Hancock David Nagel Guerrino De Luca Bruce Sewell Steve Wozniak Services Apple ID Apple Maps Apple Music Apple Pay Developer iAd TestFlight Game Center iCloud MobileMe iWork News Newsstand Stores Apple Store App Store iBookstore iTunes Store Mac App Store Support AppleCare Apple Specialist Certifications Genius Bar ProCare One to One Products Hardware Macintosh Intel transition iPod Nano Shuffle Touch iPhone iPad Mini Air Pro Apple TV Apple Watch Apple SIM Apple Mobile Processors Software Classic Mac OS macOS History Server Software iOS Version history tvOS watchOS Core Foundation Developer Tools Final Cut Pro Logic Pro QuickTime CarPlay Companies Subsidiaries Beats Electronics Beats Music Braeburn Capital FileMaker Inc. Acquisitions Anobit AuthenTec Inc. Beats Electronics Beats Music Cue Emagic FingerWorks Intrinsity Lala NeXT Nothing Real Metaio P.A. Semi PrimeSense Siri Spotsetter Topsy Related Advertising 1984 Think different Get a Mac iPods Product Red Campus Park Design IDg Typography Book Didi Chuxing History Codenames Community Criticism Litigation FBI -- Apple encryption dispute iOS app approvals Apple Music Festival Welcome to Macintosh ( 2008 documentary ) Artistic depictions of Steve Jobs Book Category Portal Operating systems General Advocacy Comparison Forensic engineering History Hobbyist development List Timeline Usage share Kernel Architectures Exokernel Hybrid Microkernel Monolithic Rump kernel Unikernel Components Device driver Loadable kernel module Microkernel User space Process management Concepts Context switch Interrupt IPC Process Process control block Real - time Thread Time - sharing Scheduling algorithms Computer multitasking Fixed - priority preemptive Multilevel feedback queue Preemptive Round - robin Shortest job next Memory management and resource protection Bus error General protection fault Memory protection Paging Protection ring Segmentation fault Virtual memory Storage access and file systems Boot loader Defragmentation Device file File attribute Inode Journal Partition Virtual file system Virtual tape library List AmigaOS Android BeOS BSD Chrome OS CP / M DOS GNU Haiku illumos iOS Linux Macintosh Classic Mac OS macOS MINIX MorphOS MUSIC / SP Nemesis NOS OpenVMS ORVYL OS / 2 OSv Pick QNX ReactOS RISC OS RSTS / E RSX - 11 RT - 11 Solaris TOPS - 10 / TOPS - 20 TPF Unix Visi On VM / CMS VS / 9 Windows Xinu z / OS Miscellaneous concepts API Computer network HAL Live CD Live USB OS shell CLI GUI TUI VUI PXE Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Macintosh_operating_systems&oldid=802819164 '' Categories : Classic Mac OS Apple Inc. software Mac OS Operating system families History of software Software version histories Mac OS development Talk Contents About Wikipedia Ænglisc Aragonés Asturianu Azərbaycanca বাংলা Bân - lâm - gú Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Български Boarisch Bosanski Brezhoneg Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Gaeilge Galego 한국어 हिन्दी Ilokano Bahasa Indonesia Íslenska Italiano עברית Basa Jawa Қазақша Kurdî Latviešu Lëtzebuergesch Lietuvių Magyar Македонски मराठी Bahasa Melayu Nederlands नेपाल भाषा Norsk Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча Polski Português Qaraqalpaqsha Română Русский Sardu Scots Simple English Slovenčina کوردی Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Tagalog தமிழ் ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt Võro ייִדיש 粵語 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 28 September 2017, at 17 : 42. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: when did apple introduce the mac os system that prevailed until mac os x
Answer: 1984