Editing NeXTSTEP (section)

{{Short description|Operating system from NeXT Computer}}
{{Other uses|Next Step (disambiguation){{!}}Next Step}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = NeXTSTEP
| logo = [[File:NeXTSTEP logo.svg|frameless|upright=0.5]]
| screenshot = NeXTSTEP desktop.png
| caption = NeXTSTEP [[graphical user interface]]
| developer = [[NeXT]]
| family = [[Unix]] ([[4.3BSD-Tahoe]])
| working_state = Historic as original code base for [[Darwin (operating system)|Darwin]], which was the base for [[macOS]], which in turn was the base of [[iOS]], [[iPadOS]], [[watchOS]] and [[tvOS]]
| source_model = [[Closed source]] with some [[open-source software|open-source]] components
| released = {{start date and age|1989|09|18}}
| latest_release_version = 3.3
| latest_release_date = {{end date|1995}}
| latest_preview_version = 4.2 Pre-release 2
| latest_preview_date = September 1997
| frequently_updated = 
| marketing_target = [[Big business|Enterprise]], [[academia]]
| language = 
| prog_language = [[C (programming language)|C]], [[Objective-C]]
| updatemodel = 
| package_manager = Installer.app
| supported_platforms = [[Motorola 68000 series|Motorola 68030/68040]], [[IA-32]], [[SPARC]], [[PA-RISC]]
| kernel_type = [[Hybrid kernel|Hybrid]] ([[Mach (kernel)|Mach]], [[Berkeley Software Distribution|BSD]])
| userland = [[BSD]]
| ui = [[Graphical user interface|Graphical]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]] [[EULA]]
| preceded_by = 
| succeeded_by = [[OpenStep]], [[Darwin (operating system)|Darwin]], [[macOS]], [[iOS]], [[iPadOS]], [[watchOS]], [[tvOS]], [[GNUstep]]
| website = 
| discontinued = yes
}}
{{macOS topics}}

'''NeXTSTEP''' is a discontinued [[object-oriented]], [[computer multitasking|multitasking]] [[operating system]] based on the [[Mach kernel]] and the [[UNIX]]-derived [[BSD]]. It was developed by [[NeXT]], founded by [[Steve Jobs]], in the late 1980s and early 1990s and was initially used for its range of proprietary [[workstation]] computers such as the [[NeXT Computer]]. It was later ported to several other [[computer architecture]]s.

Although relatively unsuccessful at the time, it attracted interest from computer scientists and researchers. It hosted the original development of the Electronic AppWrapper,<ref name="CT-AW3">{{cite web|url=http://www.kevra.org/TheBestOfNext/SWCatalogs/page274/page274.html|title=Electronic AppWrapper|website=Kevra.org|access-date=November 22, 2013}}</ref> the first commercial electronic software distribution catalog to collectively manage encryption and provide digital rights for [[application software]] and [[digital media]], a forerunner of the modern "[[app store]]" concept. It is the platform on which [[Tim Berners-Lee]] created the first [[web browser]], and on which [[id Software]] developed the video games ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'' and ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]''.<ref name="kHz0g">{{Cite web|url=https://rome.ro/news/2016/2/14/apple-next-merger-birthday|title=Apple-NeXT Merger Birthday!|date=December 20, 2006|website=rome.ro|language=en|access-date=October 5, 2019}}</ref><ref name="eZXqK">{{Cite web|url=https://rome.ro/news/2015/12/13/gametales-cray-ymp|title=GameTales: Cray 6400|date=January 31, 2010|website=rome.ro|language=en|access-date=October 5, 2019}}</ref>

In 1996, [[Apple Computer]] acquired NeXT. Apple needed a successor to the [[classic Mac OS]], and merged NeXTSTEP and [[OpenStep]] with the Macintosh user environment to create Mac OS X (later renamed [[macOS]]). All of Apple's subsequent platforms since [[iPhone OS 1]] were then based on Mac OS X.