Mac OS: Difference between revisions
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[[Category:Operating Systems]] |
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'''macOS''' is the [[:Category:Operating Systems|operating system]] used in [[wp:Macintosh|Macintosh]] computers since their introduction in 1984. Some appliances (notably the [[wp:iPhone|iPhone]] and [[wp:iPad|iPad]]) also run derivative versions of Mac OS, named iOS. The current version is '''[[wp:macOS Monterey|macOS Monterey]]''' (version 12). Modern macOS is derived from [[wp:NeXTSTEP|NeXTSTEP]], and has a [[wp:Mach (kernel)|Mach]]-based microkernel running a [[BSD]] compatibility layer. Most applications are written in [[:Category:Objective-C|Objective-C]] and [[:Category:Swift|Swift]] using the [[Cocoa]] framework. |
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Versions of macOS from 10.0 to 10.7 were branded as '''Mac OS X''', and versions 10.8 to 10.11 were simply called '''OS X''', with more recent releases still occasionally unofficially referred to as such. Previous versions were simply called '''Mac OS''', while the oldest versions were referred to as '''System''' followed by the version number, e.g. "[[wp:System 7|System 7]]". |
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| ⚫ | Pre-X versions of Mac OS were written in-house at Apple and were based in part on the slightly earlier [[wp:Apple Lisa|Lisa Office System]]. "Classic" Mac OS is still in use on many older Macs, especially 68k Macs (Macs with a [[wp:Motorola 68000 family|Motorola 680x0]] processor), which are unable to run versions newer than 8.1. (In fact, many older Macs can't |
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| ⚫ | Pre-X versions of Mac OS ([[wp:Mac OS 9|Mac OS 9]] and lower) were written in-house at Apple and were based in part on the slightly earlier [[wp:Apple Lisa|Lisa Office System]]. "Classic" Mac OS is still in use on many older Macs, especially 68k Macs (Macs with a [[wp:Motorola 68000 family|Motorola 680x0]] processor), which are unable to run versions newer than 8.1. (In fact, many older Macs can't run [[wp:Mac OS 8|OS 8]] at all.) Depending on the specific model, [[wp:PowerPC|PowerPC]] Macs support anywhere from [[wp:System 7|System 7.1.2]] up to OS X 10.5. (OS X 10.6 dropped support for PowerPC Macs, although an emulation layer called <!--amusingly--> [[wp:Rosetta (software)|Rosetta]] was included through 10.6.8 to run PowerPC apps on Intel Macs.) |
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For more information, see [[wp:Mac OS|Wikipedia's Mac OS page]]. |
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=See also= |
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* [[wp:Macintosh operating systems|Wikipedia's Mac OS page]] |
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Latest revision as of 00:57, 20 April 2022
macOS is the operating system used in Macintosh computers since their introduction in 1984. Some appliances (notably the iPhone and iPad) also run derivative versions of Mac OS, named iOS. The current version is macOS Monterey (version 12). Modern macOS is derived from NeXTSTEP, and has a Mach-based microkernel running a BSD compatibility layer. Most applications are written in Objective-C and Swift using the Cocoa framework.
Versions of macOS from 10.0 to 10.7 were branded as Mac OS X, and versions 10.8 to 10.11 were simply called OS X, with more recent releases still occasionally unofficially referred to as such. Previous versions were simply called Mac OS, while the oldest versions were referred to as System followed by the version number, e.g. "System 7".
"Mac" is a term which describes the broader class of Apple Macintosh computer hardware and their operating systems.
Older versions
Pre-X versions of Mac OS (Mac OS 9 and lower) were written in-house at Apple and were based in part on the slightly earlier Lisa Office System. "Classic" Mac OS is still in use on many older Macs, especially 68k Macs (Macs with a Motorola 680x0 processor), which are unable to run versions newer than 8.1. (In fact, many older Macs can't run OS 8 at all.) Depending on the specific model, PowerPC Macs support anywhere from System 7.1.2 up to OS X 10.5. (OS X 10.6 dropped support for PowerPC Macs, although an emulation layer called Rosetta was included through 10.6.8 to run PowerPC apps on Intel Macs.)