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{{Short description|FamilySeries of Macintosh operating systems for Macintosh computers}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{redirect|Mac OS|the now classic OS, formerly named that way|Classicclassic Mac OS}}
{{Mainfor|a list of all Apple operating systems|List of Apple operating systems}}▼
Two major families of '''Mac operating systems''' were developed by [[Apple Inc.]] in a succession of two major series.▼
 
In 1984, Apple debuted the operating system that is now known as the [[classic Mac OS]] with its release of the [[System 1|original Macintosh System Software]]. The system, rebranded Mac OS in 1997, was pre-installed on every Macintosh until 2002 and offered on [[Macintosh clone]]s shortly in the 1990s. It was noted for its ease of use, and also criticized for its lack of modern technologies compared to its competitors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1138335/macat25_classicmacos.html|title=Three things OS X could learn from the Classic Mac OS|last=Gruber|first=John|author-link=John Gruber|date=January 21, 2009|work=[[Macworld]]|access-date=September 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924033143/http://www.macworld.com/article/1138335/macat25_classicmacos.html|archive-date=September 24, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MeaCulpa">{{cite web |last= Hertzfeld |first= Andy |author-link= Andy Hertzfeld |title= The Original Macintosh: Mea Culpa |url= http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=Mea_Culpa.txt |website= [[folklore.org]] |access-date= May 10, 2010 |df= mdy-all |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100619193516/http://folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=Mea_Culpa.txt |archive-date= June 19, 2010 |url-status= live }}</ref>
▲Two major families of '''Mac operating systems''' were developed by [[Apple Inc.]]
 
InThe 1984,current Apple debuted theMac operating system that is now[[macOS]], knownoriginally asnamed theMac '''[[ClassicOS MacX until 2012 and then OS X until 2016.<ref>{{cite web |"Classic" url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2006/03/osx-fiveyears.ars | title=Five years of Mac OS]]''' withX its| releaseaccess-date=April of15, the2009 | publisher=[[SystemCondé 1Nast Publishing|originalCondé MacintoshNast SystemDigital]] Software| work=[[Ars Technica]]. The| systemdate=March 24, rebranded2006 | first=John | last=Siracusa | quote=Even Steve Jobs still says "Macecks" OSinstead of "ten" insometimes. 1997| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625184020/http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2006/03/osx-fiveyears.ars | archive-date=June 25, was2009 pre| url-installedstatus=live on}}</ref> everyIt Macintoshwas untildeveloped 2002between 1997 and offered2001 after Apple's purchase of [[NeXT]]. It brought an entirely new architecture based on [[MacintoshNeXTSTEP]], clonea [[Unix]]s forsystem, athat shorteliminated timemany inof the 1990s.technical Notedchallenges forthat itsthe easeclassic ofMac OS usefaced, itsuch wasas alsoproblems criticizedwith formemory itsmanagement. lackThe ofcurrent modernmacOS technologiesis comparedpre-installed towith itsevery competitors.<ref>{{citeMac web|url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1138335/macat25_classicmacos.html|title=Threeand thingsreceives OSa Xmajor couldupdate learnannually.<ref fromname="Mountain theLion ClassicGruber MacSchiller">{{cite OSweb|last=Gruber|first=John|author-link=John Gruber|datetitle=JanuaryMountain 21, 2009Lion|workurl=https://daringfireball.net/2012/02/mountain_lion|website=[[MacworldDaring Fireball]]|access-date=SeptemberAugust 1315, 20162015|df=mdy-all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/2016092403314320150811131321/http://wwwdaringfireball.macworld.comnet/article2012/113833502/macat25_classicmacos.htmlmountain_lion|archive-date=SeptemberAugust 2411, 20162015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MeaCulpa">{{citeIt webis |last=the Hertzfeldbasis |first=of AndyApple's |author-link=current Andysystem Hertzfeldsoftware |title=for Theits Originalother Macintosh:devices&nbsp;– Mea[[iOS]], Culpa[[iPadOS]], [[watchOS]], and [[tvOS]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.folkloremacworld.orgcom/StoryViewarticle/54769/2007/01/iphone.py?projecthtml |title=Macintosh&storyApple unveils iPhone |last=Mea_Culpa.txtHonan |websitefirst=Matthew |date=January 9, 2007 |work=[[folklore.orgMacworld]] |access-date=January May 1016, 2010 |df= mdy-all |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/2010061919351620080415223141/http://folklorewww.macworld.orgcom/article/54769/2007/StoryView01/iphone.py?project=Macintosh&story=Mea_Culpa.txthtml |archive-date=April June 1915, 20102008 |url-status= live }}</ref>
 
The current Mac operating system is '''[[macOS]]''', originally named "Mac OS X" until 2012 and then "OS X" until 2016.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2006/03/osx-fiveyears.ars | title=Five years of Mac OS X | access-date=April 15, 2009 | publisher=[[Condé Nast Publishing|Condé Nast Digital]] | work=[[Ars Technica]] | date=March 24, 2006 | first=John | last=Siracusa | quote=Even Steve Jobs still says "ecks" instead of "ten" sometimes. | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625184020/http://arstechnica.com/apple/reviews/2006/03/osx-fiveyears.ars | archive-date=June 25, 2009 | url-status=live }}</ref> 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 the classic Mac OS faced. The current macOS is pre-installed with every Mac and receives a major update annually.<ref name="Mountain Lion Gruber Schiller">{{cite web|last=Gruber|first=John|author-link=John Gruber|title=Mountain Lion|url=https://daringfireball.net/2012/02/mountain_lion|website=[[Daring Fireball]]|access-date=August 15, 2015|df=mdy-all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811131321/http://daringfireball.net/2012/02/mountain_lion|archive-date=August 11, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> It is the basis of Apple's current system software for its other devices&nbsp;– [[iOS]], [[iPadOS]], [[watchOS]], and [[tvOS]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.macworld.com/article/54769/2007/01/iphone.html |title=Apple unveils iPhone |last=Honan |first=Matthew |date=January 9, 2007 |work=[[Macworld]] |access-date=January 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415223141/http://www.macworld.com/article/54769/2007/01/iphone.html |archive-date=April 15, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
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]], [[Macintosh Application Environment|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 name]]d [[Star Trek project|Star Trek]], [[Taligent]], and [[Copland (operating system)|Copland]].
 
Although theythe classic Mac OS and macOS (Mac OS X) have different architectures, Mac operating systemsthey share a common set of [[graphical user interface|GUI]] principles, including a [[menu bar]] across the top of the screen; the [[Finder (software)|Finder]] [[shell (computing)|shell]], featuring a [[desktop metaphor]] that represents [[computer file|files]] and [[application software|applications]] using [[icon (computing)|icons]] and relates concepts like [[directory (computing)|directories]] and [[file deletion]] to real-world objects like [[file folder|folders]] and a [[trash (computing)|trash can]]; and overlapping [[window (computing)|windows]] for [[computer multitasking|multitasking]].
 
Before the arrival of the Macintosh in 1984, Apple's history of operating systems began with its [[Apple II series]] computers in 1977, which ranrun [[Apple DOS]], [[ProDOS]], and later [[GS/OS]]; the [[Apple III]] in 1980, which ranruns [[Apple SOS]]; and the [[Apple Lisa|Lisa]] in 1983, which ranruns [[Lisa OS]] and later [[MacWorks XL]], a Macintosh [[emulator]]. Apple also developed the [[Newton OS]] for its [[Apple Newton|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]] and in 2017 for its [[HomePod]] [[smart speakers]]; [[watchOS]] in 2015 for the [[Apple Watch]]; and [[tvOS]] in 2015 for the [[Apple TV]] [[set-top box]].<!-- Please note, this article is about Macintosh operating systems released by Apple, not unofficial projects by other developers. That information is in the OSx86 article. -->▼
 
== Classic Mac OS ==
<!-- Keep it brief: This article is intended as a pointer to the main articles that contain most of the information on these systems. -->
{{Main|Classic Mac OS}}
[[File:Mac OS 9.0.4 emulated inside of the SheepShaver emulator.png|thumb|[[Mac OS 9]], was released in 1999.]]▼
The [[Classic Mac OS|"classic" Mac OS]] is the original Macintosh operating system that was introduced in 1984 alongside the [[Macintosh 128K|first Macintosh]] and remained in primary use on Macs until the introduction of [[Mac OS X]] in 2001.<ref name="appleconfidential2">{{cite book |last= Linzmayer |first= Owen W. |title= Apple Confidential 2.0 |publisher= [[No Starch Press]] |year= 2004 |url= https://www.nostarch.com/apple2.htm |access-date= October 1, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161113144250/https://www.nostarch.com/apple2.htm |archive-date= November 13, 2016 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name=strategy_83>{{cite web |url= http://library.stanford.edu/mac/primary/docs/pip83.html |title= The Macintosh Product Introduction Plan |website= Stanford University Libraries & Academic Information Resources |publisher=[[Stanford University]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100721013724/http://library.stanford.edu/mac/primary/docs/pip83.html |archive-date= July 21, 2010 }}</ref>▼
 
Apple released the [[Macintosh 128K|original Macintosh]] on January 24, 1984; its [[System 1|early system software]] wasis partially based on the [[Lisa OS]], and theinspired [[PARCby (company)|Xerox PARC]]the [[Xerox Alto|Alto]] computer, which former Apple CEO [[Steve Jobs]] previewed at [[PARC (company)|Xerox PARC]].<ref name="appleconfidential2" /> 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 aone year later.<ref name="endofclones">{{Cite news|first=Galen|last=Gruman|title=Why Apple Pulled the Plug|magazine=[[Macworld]] |volume=14 |pages=31–36|date=November 1997|issue=11}}</ref>▼
▲[[File:Mac OS 9.0.4 emulated inside of the SheepShaver emulator.png|thumb|[[Mac OS 9]], released in 1999]]
 
Classic Mac OS is characterized by its [[monolithic system|monolithic]] design. Initial versions of the System Software run one application at a time. System 5 introduced [[cooperative multitasking]]. System 7 supports [[32-bit]] [[memory addressingaddress]]ing and [[virtual memory]], allowing larger programs. Later updates to the System 7 enable the transition to the [[PowerPC]] architecture. The system was considered [[Usability|user-friendly]], but its architectural limitations were critiqued, such as limited [[Classic Mac OS memory management|memory management]], lack of [[protected memory]] and [[Computer access control|access controls]], and susceptibility to conflicts among [[extension (Mac OS)|extensions]].<ref name="MeaCulpa" />▼
▲The [[Classic Mac OS|"classic" Mac OS]] is the original Macintosh operating system that was introduced in 1984 alongside the [[Macintosh 128K|first Macintosh]] and remained in primary use on Macs until the introduction of [[Mac OS X]] in 2001.<ref name="appleconfidential2">{{cite book |last= Linzmayer |first= Owen W. |title= Apple Confidential 2.0 |publisher= [[No Starch Press]] |year= 2004 |url= https://www.nostarch.com/apple2.htm |access-date= October 1, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161113144250/https://www.nostarch.com/apple2.htm |archive-date= November 13, 2016 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name=strategy_83>{{cite web |url= http://library.stanford.edu/mac/primary/docs/pip83.html |title= The Macintosh Product Introduction Plan |website= Stanford University Libraries & Academic Information Resources |publisher=[[Stanford University]] |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100721013724/http://library.stanford.edu/mac/primary/docs/pip83.html |archive-date= July 21, 2010 }}</ref>
 
▲Apple released the [[Macintosh 128K|original Macintosh]] on January 24, 1984; its [[System 1|early system software]] was partially based on the [[Lisa OS]] and the [[PARC (company)|Xerox PARC]] [[Xerox Alto|Alto]] computer, which former Apple CEO [[Steve Jobs]] previewed.<ref name="appleconfidential2" /> 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.<ref name="endofclones">{{Cite news|first=Galen|last=Gruman|title=Why Apple Pulled the Plug|magazine=[[Macworld]] |volume=14 |pages=31–36|date=November 1997|issue=11}}</ref>
 
▲Classic Mac OS is characterized by its [[monolithic system|monolithic]] design. Initial versions of the System Software run one application at a time. System 5 introduced [[cooperative multitasking]]. System 7 supports [[32-bit]] [[memory addressing]] and [[virtual memory]], allowing larger programs. Later updates to the System 7 enable the transition to the [[PowerPC]] architecture. The system was considered [[Usability|user-friendly]], but its architectural limitations were critiqued, such as limited [[Mac OS memory management|memory management]], lack of [[protected memory]] and [[access controls]], and susceptibility to conflicts among [[extension (Mac OS)|extensions]].<ref name="MeaCulpa" />
 
=== Releases ===
[[File:Mac OS wordmark logo.svg|thumb|TheThis text-only logo for [[Classicclassic Mac OS]] startingstarted with [[Mac OS 7.6]], released in 1997.]]
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 [[List of macOS components#Classic|a compatibility layer]] that helped ease the transition to [[macOS|Mac OS X]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lowendmac.com/2012/a-brief-history-of-the-classic-mac-os/|title=A Brief History of the Classic Mac OS|website=[[Low End Mac]]|access-date=October 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005230817/http://lowendmac.com/2012/a-brief-history-of-the-classic-mac-os/|archive-date=October 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[System 1|Macintosh System Software]] – "System 1", released in 1984
Line 36 ⟶ 38:
* [[Mac OS 9]] – final major version, released in 1999
 
== Mac OS X /, OS X, /and macOS ==
<!-- Keep it brief: This article is intended as a pointer to the main articles that contain most of the information on these systems. -->
{{Main|macOS}}
[[File:MacOS Big Sur Desktop.png|thumb|[[macOS Big Sur]], was released in 2020, introducedto introduce the current design iteration of macOS.]]
[[macOS]]The (originallysystem namedwas launched as "Mac OS X", until 2012 and thenrenamed "OS X" untilfrom 2012{{mdash}}2016),<ref name=ten_not_x>{{cite web|date= July 15, 2004|title=What is an operating system (OS)?| url=http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22541?viewlocale=en_US | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722104618/http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22541?viewlocale=en_US | archive-date=July 22, 2010 | publisher=[[Apple Inc.]] | access-date=September 6, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> isand then renamed [[macOS]] as the current Mac operating system that officially succeeded the classic Mac OS in 2001.▼
 
Although theThe system was originally marketed as simply "version 10" of Mac OS, but it has [[History of macOS|a history that is largely independent]] of the classic Mac OS. It is a [[Unix]]-based operating system<ref>{{cite web|url=https://images.apple.com/macosx/pdf/MacOSX_UNIX_TB_v2.pdf | title=Mac OS X and Unix |publisher=[[Apple Inc.]] |access-date=February 5, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090530001035/http://images.apple.com/macosx/pdf/MacOSX_UNIX_TB_v2.pdf |archive-date=May 30, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=sierra_unix_cert>{{cite web |url= http://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3627.htm |title= macOS version 10.12 Sierra on Intel-based Mac computers |publisher= [[The Open Group]] |access-date= September 29, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161002105135/http://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3627.htm |archive-date= October 2, 2016 |url-status= live }}</ref> built on [[NeXTSTEP]] and other technology developed at [[NeXT]] technology from the late 1980s until early 1997, when Apple purchased the company and its CEO [[Steve Jobs]] returned to Apple.<ref name="apple-acquisition">{{cite web |title= Apple Computer, Inc. Agrees to Acquire NeXT Software Inc. |url= http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q1/961220.pr.rel.next.html |publisher=[[Apple Computer]] |date= December 20, 1996 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/19990116225648/http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q1/961220.pr.rel.next.html |archive-date= January 16, 1999 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}</ref> Precursors to the original release of Mac OS X include [[OPENSTEP]], Apple's [[Rhapsody (operating system)|Rhapsody]] project, and the [[Mac OS X Public Beta]].▼
▲[[macOS]] (originally named "Mac OS X" until 2012 and then "OS X" until 2016)<ref name=ten_not_x>{{cite web|date= July 15, 2004|title=What is an operating system (OS)?| url=http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22541?viewlocale=en_US | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100722104618/http://support.apple.com/kb/TA22541?viewlocale=en_US | archive-date=July 22, 2010 | publisher=[[Apple Inc.]] | access-date=September 6, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> is the current Mac operating system that officially succeeded the classic Mac OS in 2001.
 
macOS makesis usebased ofon theApple's [[BSDOpen-source software|open source]] codebase[[Darwin and(operating system)|Darwin operating system]], which is based on the [[XNU]] kernel, and [[BSD]].<ref name="OS X also makes use of the BSD code">{{cite web|title=Mac OS X: What is BSD?|url=http://support.apple.com/kb/TA25633|publisher=[[Apple Inc.]]|access-date=October 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219084258/http://support.apple.com/kb/TA25633|archive-date=February 19, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and its core set of components is based upon Apple's [[Open-source software|open source]] [[Darwin (operating system)|Darwin operating system]].▼
▲Although the system was originally marketed as simply "version 10" of Mac OS, it has [[History of macOS|a history that is largely independent]] of the classic Mac OS. It is a [[Unix]]-based operating system<ref>{{cite web|url=https://images.apple.com/macosx/pdf/MacOSX_UNIX_TB_v2.pdf | title=Mac OS X and Unix |publisher=[[Apple Inc.]] |access-date=February 5, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090530001035/http://images.apple.com/macosx/pdf/MacOSX_UNIX_TB_v2.pdf |archive-date=May 30, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=sierra_unix_cert>{{cite web |url= http://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3627.htm |title= macOS version 10.12 Sierra on Intel-based Mac computers |publisher= [[The Open Group]] |access-date= September 29, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161002105135/http://www.opengroup.org/openbrand/register/brand3627.htm |archive-date= October 2, 2016 |url-status= live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="apple-acquisition">{{cite web |title= Apple Computer, Inc. Agrees to Acquire NeXT Software Inc. |url= http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q1/961220.pr.rel.next.html |publisher=[[Apple Computer]] |date= December 20, 1996 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/19990116225648/http://product.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1997/q1/961220.pr.rel.next.html |archive-date= January 16, 1999 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}</ref> Precursors to the original release of Mac OS X include [[OPENSTEP]], Apple's [[Rhapsody (operating system)|Rhapsody]] project, and the [[Mac OS X Public Beta]].
 
macOS is the basis for some of Apple's other operating systems, including [[iPhone OS]]/[[iOS]], [[iPadOS]], [[watchOS]], [[tvOS]], and [[Apple Vision Pro|visionOS]].▼
▲macOS makes use of the [[BSD]] codebase and the [[XNU]] kernel,<ref name="OS X also makes use of the BSD code">{{cite web|title=Mac OS X: What is BSD?|url=http://support.apple.com/kb/TA25633|publisher=[[Apple Inc.]]|access-date=October 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130219084258/http://support.apple.com/kb/TA25633|archive-date=February 19, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and its core set of components is based upon Apple's [[Open-source software|open source]] [[Darwin (operating system)|Darwin operating system]].
 
=== Releases ===▼
▲macOS is the basis for some of Apple's other operating systems, including [[iPhone OS]]/[[iOS]], [[iPadOS]], [[watchOS]], [[tvOS]] and [[Apple Vision Pro|visionOS]].
 
▲=== Releases ===
[[File:MacosxlogoX1.png|thumb|The "X" logo for [[Mac OS X]] versions [[Mac OS X 10.0|10.0 "Cheetah"]] and [[Mac OS X 10.1|10.1 "Puma"]], released in 2001]]
 
==== Desktop ====
The first [[Desktop computer|desktop]] version of the system was released on March 24, 2001, supporting the [[Aqua user interface]]. Since then, [[History of macOS|several more versions]] adding newer features and technologies have been released. Since 2011, new releases have been offered on an yearly basisannually.<ref name="Mountain Lion Gruber Schiller" />
* [[Mac OS X 10.0]] – code namedcodenamed "Cheetah", released to end users on Saturday, March 24, 2001
* [[Mac OS X 10.1]] – code namedcodenamed "Puma", released to end users on Tuesday, September 25, 2001
* [[Mac OS X Jaguar]] – version 10.2, released to end users on Friday, August 23, 2002
* [[Mac OS X Panther]] – version 10.3, released to end users on Friday, October 24, 2003
* [[Mac OS X Tiger]] – version 10.4, released to end users on Friday, April 29, 2005
* [[Mac OS X Leopard]] – version 10.5, released to end users on Friday, October 26, 2007
* [[Mac OS X Snow Leopard]] – version 10.6, publicly unveiled on Monday, June 8, 2009
* [[Mac OS X Lion]] – version 10.7, released to end users on Wednesday, July 20, 2011
* [[OS X Mountain Lion]] – version 10.8, released to end users on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
* [[OS X Mavericks]] – version 10.9, released to end users on Tuesday, October 22, 2013
* [[OS X Yosemite]] – version 10.10, released to end users on Thursday, October 16, 2014
* [[OS X El Capitan]] – version 10.11, released to end users on Wednesday, September 30, 2015
* [[macOS Sierra]] – version 10.12, released to end users on Tuesday, September 20, 2016
* [[macOS High Sierra]] – version 10.13, released to end users on Monday, September 25, 2017
* [[macOS Mojave]] – version 10.14, released to end users on Monday, September 24, 2018
* [[macOS Catalina]] – version 10.15, released to end users on Monday, October 7, 2019
* [[macOS Big Sur]] – version 11, released to end users on Thursday, November 12, 2020
* [[macOS Monterey]] – version 12, released to end users on Monday, October 25, 2021
* [[macOS Ventura]] – version 13, released to end users on Monday, October 24, 2022
* [[macOS Sonoma]] - version 14, released to end users on Tuesday, September 26, 2023
 
As of 2020, only one version of macOS was never publicly released, with its10.16's version number updated during development. 10.16 was updated to 11.0 in the third beta;. theThe third beta version of macOS Big Sur wasis 11.0 Beta 3 instead of 10.16 Beta 3.
 
==== 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.<ref>{{cite press release |url= https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2011/02/24Apple-Releases-Developer-Preview-of-Mac-OS-X-Lion/ |title= Apple Releases Developer Preview of Mac OS X Lion |publisher= [[Apple Inc.]] |date= February 24, 2011 |access-date= October 13, 2019 |archive-date= October 13, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191013185856/https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2011/02/24Apple-Releases-Developer-Preview-of-Mac-OS-X-Lion/ |url-status= live }}</ref>
* [[Mac OS X Server 1.0]] – code named "Hera", released in 1999
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====A/ROSE====
{{Main|A/ROSE}}
The [[A/ROSE|Apple Real-time Operating System Environment]] (A/ROSE) wasis a small [[embedded operating system]] which ranruns on the Macintosh Coprocessor Platform, an [[expansion card]] for the Macintosh. TheIt idea was to offeris 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mactech.com/articles/develop/issue_04/coprocessor.html |title=Inside the Macintosh Coprocessor Platform and A/ROSE |access-date=October 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015082158/http://www.mactech.com/articles/develop/issue_04/coprocessor.html |archive-date=October 15, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
====A/UX====
{{Main|A/UX}}
In 1988, Apple released its first [[UNIX]]-based OS, [[A/UX]], which wasis 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 mostMost of its successsales in saleswas to the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. government]], where MacOS lacks [[POSIX]] compliance was a requirement that Mac OS could not meet.<ref name="InfoWorld August 1992">{{cite news |title=Apple finally gets Unix right with A/UX 3.0 |newspaper=[[InfoWorld]] |date=August 10, 1992 |first=Don |last=Crabb |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ElEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA68 |pages=68–69 |df=mdy-all |access-date=October 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801194024/https://books.google.com/books?id=ElEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA68 |archive-date=August 1, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
====MAE====
{{Main|Macintosh Application Environment}}
The [[Macintosh Application Environment]] (MAE) wasis a software package introduced by Apple in 1994 that allowed users ofallows certain [[Unix]]-based computer workstations to run Apple Macintosh application softwareapplications. MAE useduses the [[X Window System]] to emulate a [[Macintosh Finder]]-style graphical user interface. The last version, MAE 3.0, wasis compatible with [[System 7.5.3]]. MAE was availablepublished for [[Sun Microsystems]] [[SPARCstation]] and [[Hewlett-Packard]] systems. It was discontinued on May 14, 1998.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aux-penelope.com/mae/index.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20140124200012/http://www.aux-penelope.com/mae/index.htm | archive-date=January 24, 2014 | url-status=dead | title=MAE screenshots | access-date=March 4, 2015}}</ref>
 
====MkLinux====
{{Main| MkLinux}}
Announced at the 1996 [[Worldwide Developers Conference]] (WWDC), [[MkLinux]] is an [[open-source software|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 mid 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'sits adaptation of the monolithic [[Linux kernel]] to run as a server hosted atop the [[Mach (kernel)|Mach microkernel]]. MkLinux is based on version 3.0 of Mach.<ref name="LinuxonOSFMach3">{{cite web | title=Linux on the OSF Mach3 microkernel | url= http://bat8.inria.fr/~lang/hotlist/free/licence/fsf96/mklinux.html | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120211081545/http://bat8.inria.fr/~lang/hotlist/free/licence/fsf96/mklinux.html | url-status=live | archive-date=February 11, 2012 | access-date=April 4, 2013 | first1=François | last1=Barbou des Places | first2=Nick | last2=Stephen | first3=Franklin D. | last3=Reynolds | publisher=[[OSF Research Institute]] | location=Grenoble and Cambridge | date=January 12, 1996 }}</ref>
 
=== Cancelled projects ===
====Star Trek====
{{Main|Star Trek project}}
The [[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 ofport the classic Mac OS that would run onto [[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 getgot the [[Macintosh Finder]] and some basic applications such as [[QuickTime]], running smoothly on the x86 architecture. The project was canceled aone year later in early 1993, but some of the code was laterpartially reused when porting the Mac OS to [[PowerPC]].<ref name="Star Trek LEM">{{cite web | website=[[Low End Mac]] | url=http://lowendmac.com/2014/star-trek-apples-first-mac-os-on-intel-project/ | last=Hormby | first=Tom | date=2005 | title=Star Trek: Apple's First Mac OS on Intel Project | access-date=November 10, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102004608/http://lowendmac.com/2014/star-trek-apples-first-mac-os-on-intel-project/ | archive-date=November 2, 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="AppleConfidential">{{cite book
|title=Apple Confidential
|url=https://archive.org/details/appleconfidentia00linz
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====Taligent====
{{Main| Taligent}}
[[Taligent]] (a [[portmanteau]] of "talent" and "intelligent") was the name ofis an [[object-oriented operating system]] and the company dedicated to producing it. Started as athe Pink 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 ishas oftenbeen cited as an example of a [[death march (project management)|project death march]]. Apple pulled out of the project in 1995 before the code had been delivered.<ref name="surrender">"[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/03/microsoft_pink/ Apple surrenders the Pink (to Microsoft)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810135433/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/03/microsoft_pink/ |date=August 10, 2017 }}", ''[[The Register]]'', October 3, 2008.</ref>
 
====Copland====
{{Main|Copland (operating system)}}
[[Copland (operating system)|Copland]] was a project at Apple to create an updated version of the [[classic Mac OS]]. It was to have introduced [[memory protection|protected memory]], [[preemptive multitasking]], and a number of new underlying operating system features, yet still be compatible with existing Mac software. AsThey originally planned, athe follow-up release known as "Gershwin" wouldto add [[multithreading (computer architecture)|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 cancelcanceled the project outright and findsought a suitable third-party system to replace itreplacement. Copland development ended in August 1996, and in December 1996, Apple announced that it was buying [[NeXT]] for its [[NeXTSTEP]] operating system.<ref name="PCWorld Project Failures">{{cite web |url= http://www.pcworld.com/article/152103/it_project_failures.html |title= Lessons Learned: IT's Biggest Project Failures |work= [[PCWorld]] |last= Widman |first= Jake |date= October 9, 2008 |access-date= October 23, 2012 |df= mdy-all |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121105191809/http://www.pcworld.com/article/152103/it_project_failures.html |archive-date= November 5, 2012 |url-status= live }}</ref>
 
==Timeline==
{{Timeline of Macintosh operating systems|headerextension==1}}
 
== Related systems ==
▲{{Main|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 [[Apple Newton|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]] and in 2017 for its [[HomePod]] [[smart speakers]]; [[watchOS]] in 2015 for the [[Apple Watch]]; [[tvOS]] in 2015 for the [[Apple TV]] [[set-top box]].<!-- Please note, this article is about Macintosh operating systems released by Apple, not unofficial projects by other developers. That information is in the OSx86 article. -->
 
==See also==
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==References==
{{Reflist|20em}}
 
==External links==
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_operating_systems"