View source for Software:Mac operating systems

{{Short description|Family of operating systems for Macintosh computers}}

Two major families of '''Mac operating systems''' were developed by [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple Inc.]]

In 1984, Apple debuted the operating system that is now known as the '''[[Software:Classic Mac OS|"Classic" Mac OS]]''' with its release of the [[Software: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 clones for a short time 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|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>

The current Mac operating system is '''[[Software:MacOS|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 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> It was developed between 1997 and 2001 after Apple's purchase of [[Company:NeXT|NeXT]]. It brought an entirely new architecture based on [[Software:NeXTSTEP|NeXTSTEP]], a [[Software:Unix|Unix]] system, that eliminated many of the technical challenges that the classic Mac OS faced, such as problems with memory management. 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|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;– [[Software:IOS|iOS]], [[Software:IPadOS|iPadOS]], [[Software:WatchOS|watchOS]], and [[Software:TvOS|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, [[Software:Macintosh Application Environment|MAE]], and [[Software:MkLinux|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, [[Social:Code name|code name]]d Star Trek, [[Software:Taligent|Taligent]], and [[Software:Copland (operating system)|Copland]].

Although the classic Mac OS and macOS (Mac OS X) have different architectures, they share a common set of [[Graphical user interface|GUI]] principles, including a [[Menu bar|menu bar]] across the top of the screen; the [[Software:Finder|Finder]] [[Software:Shell (computing)|shell]], featuring a [[Desktop metaphor|desktop metaphor]] that represents [[Computer file|files]] and applications using [[Icon (computing)|icons]] and relates concepts like [[Directory (computing)|directories]] and file deletion to real-world objects like [[Engineering: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 ran [[Software:Apple DOS|Apple DOS]], ProDOS, and later GS/OS; the Apple III in 1980, which ran [[Software:Apple SOS|Apple SOS]]; and the [[Engineering:Apple Lisa|Apple Lisa]] in 1983, which ran Lisa OS and later MacWorks XL, a Macintosh [[Emulator|emulator]]. Apple also developed the [[Software:Newton OS|Newton OS]] for its [[Software:Apple Newton|Newton]] [[Social:Personal digital assistant|personal digital assistant]] from 1993 to 1997.

In recent years, Apple has also launched several new operating systems based on the core of [[Software:MacOS|macOS]], including [[Software:IOS|iOS]] in 2007 for its [[Engineering:IPhone|iPhone]], [[Engineering:IPad|iPad]], and [[Engineering:IPod Touch|iPod Touch]] mobile devices and in 2017 for its [[Engineering:HomePod|HomePod]] smart speakers; [[Software:WatchOS|watchOS]] in 2015 for the [[Engineering:Apple Watch|Apple Watch]]; [[Software:TvOS|tvOS]] in 2015 for the [[Engineering:Apple TV|Apple TV]] [[Engineering:Set-top box|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|Software:Classic Mac OS}}

[[File:Mac OS 9.0.4 emulated inside of the SheepShaver emulator.png|thumb|Mac OS 9, released in 1999]]

The [[Software:Classic Mac OS|"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 until the introduction of [[Software:Mac OS X|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=[[Organization:Stanford University|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 original Macintosh on January 24, 1984; its [[Software:System 1|early system software]] was partially based on the Lisa OS, and inspired by the [[Engineering:Xerox Alto|Alto]] computer, which former Apple CEO [[Biography:Steve Jobs|Steve Jobs]] previewed at [[Company:PARC|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 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|cooperative multitasking]]. System 7 supports [[32-bit|32-bit]] memory addressing and [[Virtual memory|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 [[Software:Extension (Mac OS)|extensions]].<ref name="MeaCulpa" />

=== Releases ===
[[File:Mac OS wordmark logo.svg|thumb|The text-only logo for [[Software:Classic Mac OS|Classic Mac OS]] starting 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 [[Engineering:List of macOS components#Classic|a compatibility layer]] that helped ease the transition to [[Software: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>
* [[Software:System 1|Macintosh System Software]] – "System 1", released in 1984
* [[Software:Classic Mac OS#System 1, 2, 3 and 4|System Software 2, 3, and 4]] – released between 1985 and 1987
* [[Software:Classic Mac OS#System Software 5|System Software 5]] – released in 1987
* [[Software:System 6|System Software 6]] – released in 1988
* [[Software:System 7|System 7 / Mac OS 7.6]] – released in 1991
* [[Software:Mac OS 8|Mac OS 8]] – released in 1997
* [[Software:Mac OS 9|Mac OS 9]] – final major version, released in 1999

== Mac OS X / OS X / 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|Software:MacOS}}
[[File:MacOS Big Sur Desktop.png|thumb|macOS Big Sur, released in 2020, introduced the current design iteration of macOS.]]

[[Software:MacOS|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=[[Company:Apple Inc.|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.

The system was originally marketed as simply "version 10" of Mac OS, but it has a history that is largely independent of the classic Mac OS. It is a [[Software:Unix|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=[[Company:Apple Inc.|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= [[Company:The Open Group|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 [[Software:NeXTSTEP|NeXTSTEP]] and other technology developed at [[Company:NeXT|NeXT]] from the late 1980s until early 1997, when Apple purchased the company and its CEO [[Biography:Steve Jobs|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 [[Software:Rhapsody (operating system)|Rhapsody]] project, and the [[Software:Mac OS X Public Beta|Mac OS X Public Beta]].

macOS makes use of the BSD codebase and the [[Software:XNU|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=[[Company:Apple Inc.|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]] [[Software:Darwin (operating system)|Darwin operating system]].

macOS is the basis for some of Apple's other operating systems, including iPhone OS/[[Software:IOS|iOS]], [[Software:IPadOS|iPadOS]], [[Software:WatchOS|watchOS]], [[Software:TvOS|tvOS]] and [[Apple Vision Pro|visionOS]].

=== Releases ===
[[File:MacosxlogoX1.png|thumb|The "X" logo for Mac OS X versions 10.0 "Cheetah" and 10.1 "Puma", released in 2001]]

==== Desktop ====
The first 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 yearly basis.<ref name="Mountain Lion Gruber Schiller" />
* [[Software:Mac OS X 10.0|Mac OS X 10.0]] – code named "Cheetah", released to end users on Saturday, March 24, 2001
* [[Software:Mac OS X 10.1|Mac OS X 10.1]] – code named "Puma", released to end users on Tuesday, September 25, 2001
* [[Software:Mac OS X Jaguar|Mac OS X Jaguar]] – version 10.2, released to end users on Friday, August 23, 2002
* [[Software:Mac OS X Panther|Mac OS X Panther]] – version 10.3, released to end users on Friday, October 24, 2003
* [[Software:Mac OS X Tiger|Mac OS X Tiger]] – version 10.4, released to end users on Friday, April 29, 2005
* [[Software:Mac OS X Leopard|Mac OS X Leopard]] – version 10.5, released to end users on Friday, October 26, 2007
* [[Software:Mac OS X Snow Leopard|Mac OS X Snow Leopard]] – version 10.6, publicly unveiled on Monday, June 8, 2009
* [[Software:Mac OS X Lion|Mac OS X Lion]] – version 10.7, released to end users on Wednesday, July 20, 2011
* [[Software:OS X Mountain Lion|OS X Mountain Lion]] – version 10.8, released to end users on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
* [[Software:OS X Mavericks|OS X Mavericks]] – version 10.9, released to end users on Tuesday, October 22, 2013
* [[Software:OS X Yosemite|OS X Yosemite]] – version 10.10, released to end users on Thursday, October 16, 2014
* [[Software:OS X El Capitan|OS X El Capitan]] – version 10.11, released to end users on Wednesday, September 30, 2015
* [[Software:MacOS Sierra|macOS Sierra]] – version 10.12, released to end users on Tuesday, September 20, 2016
* [[Software:MacOS High Sierra|macOS High Sierra]] – version 10.13, released to end users on Monday, September 25, 2017
* [[Software:MacOS Mojave|macOS Mojave]] – version 10.14, released to end users on Monday, September 24, 2018
* [[Software:MacOS Catalina|macOS Catalina]] – version 10.15, released to end users on Monday, October 7, 2019
* [[Software:MacOS Big Sur|macOS Big Sur]] – version 11, released to end users on Thursday, November 12, 2020
* [[Software:MacOS Monterey|macOS Monterey]] – version 12, released to end users on Monday, October 25, 2021
* [[Software:MacOS Ventura|macOS Ventura]] – version 13, released to end users on Monday, October 24, 2022
* [[Software:MacOS Sonoma|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 its version number updated during development. 10.16 was updated to 11.0 in the third beta; the third beta version of macOS Big Sur was 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= [[Company:Apple Inc.|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>
* [[Software:Mac OS X Server 1.0|Mac OS X Server 1.0]] – code named "Hera", released in 1999
* [[Software:Mac OS X Server|Mac OS X Server]] – later called "OS X Server" and "macOS Server", released between 2001 and 2022.

==Other projects==
<!-- Keep it brief: This article is intended as a pointer to the main articles that contain most of the information on these systems. -->

=== Shipped ===
====A/ROSE====
The Apple Real-time Operating System Environment (A/ROSE) was a small [[Embedded operating system|embedded operating system]] which ran on the Macintosh Coprocessor Platform, an [[Engineering:Expansion card|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 [[Engineering:NuBus|NuBus]]-based [[Engineering:Expansion card|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====
In 1988, Apple released its first UNIX-based OS, A/UX, which was a UNIX operating system with the Mac OS [[Look and feel|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|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.<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|Software:Macintosh Application Environment}}
The [[Software:Macintosh Application Environment|Macintosh Application Environment]] (MAE) was a software package introduced by Apple in 1994 that allowed users of certain [[Software:Unix|Unix]]-based computer workstations to run Apple Macintosh application software. MAE used the [[Software:X Window System|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 [[Company:Sun Microsystems|Sun Microsystems]] [[Engineering:SPARCstation|SPARCstation]] and [[Company:Hewlett-Packard|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| Software:MkLinux}}
Announced at the 1996 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), [[Software:MkLinux|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 [[Software:Linux|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's adaptation of the [[Software:Linux kernel|Linux kernel]] to run as a server hosted atop the [[Software: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====
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 [[Company:Intel|Intel]]-compatible [[X86|x86]] personal computers. In partnership with Apple and with support from Intel, the project was instigated by [[Company:Novell|Novell]], which was looking to integrate its [[Software:DR-DOS|DR-DOS]] with the Mac OS GUI as a mutual response to the monopoly of [[Company:Microsoft|Microsoft]]'s [[Software:Windows 3.0|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 [[Software:QuickTime|QuickTime]], running smoothly on the x86 architecture. The project was canceled a year later in early 1993, but some of the code was later 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 
 |last=Linzmayer 
 |first=Owen W. 
 |location=San Francisco, CA 
 |publisher=No Starch Press 
 |year=1999 
 |isbn=9781886411289 
 |oclc=245921029 
 |access-date=May 29, 2017 
 |url-access=registration 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920220241/https://archive.org/details/appleconfidentia00linz 
 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 
 |url-status=live 
 }}</ref>

====Taligent====
{{Main| Software:Taligent}}
[[Software:Taligent|Taligent]] (a portmanteau of "talent" and "intelligent") was the name of an [[Object-oriented operating system|object-oriented operating system]] and the company dedicated to producing it. Started as a project within Apple to provide a replacement for the [[Software:Classic Mac OS|classic Mac OS]], it was later spun off into a joint venture with [[Company:IBM|IBM]] as part of the AIM alliance, with the purpose of building a competing platform to Microsoft Cairo and [[Software:NeXTSTEP|NeXTSTEP]]. The development process never worked, and Taligent is often 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|Software:Copland (operating system)}}
[[Software:Copland (operating system)|Copland]] was a project at Apple to create an updated version of the [[Software:Classic Mac OS|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. As originally planned, a follow-up release known as "Gershwin" would 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 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 [[Company:NeXT|NeXT]] for its [[Software:NeXTSTEP|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==

==See also==
* [[Software:Comparison of operating systems|Comparison of operating systems]]
* [[History of the graphical user interface]]
* Mac
* [[Software:List of Mac software|List of Mac software]]

==References==
{{Reflist|20em}}

==External links==

{{Apple Inc. operating systems|}}
{{Mac OS}}
{{macOS}}
{{Apple software}}
{{Operating system}}

[[Category:Macintosh operating systems| ]]
[[Category:History of software]]
[[Category:Lists of operating systems]]
[[Category:Macintosh operating systems development]]
[[Category:Operating system families]]
[[Category:Software version histories]]

{{Sourceattribution|Mac operating systems}}