NeXTSTEP Naming
For decades, the precise naming and capitalization of NeXT’s operating systems have been a source of endless confusion. Was it NeXTstep, NeXTStep, or NEXTSTEP? The answer often changed depending on the specific version, the architecture, or the marketing strategy of the time.
Even today, these terms are frequently mixed up in discussions about Apple’s history. To finally bring some clarity to this historical mix-up, the following table breaks down the correct spelling and usage for each iteration, distinguishing clearly between the Operating System and the API.
| Name | OS | API | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| NextStep | Never officially adopted, though the term “Next” was present in file system directories. | ||
| NeXTstep | ✓ | Comprised only the GUI and API; designed for porting to IBM AIX. | |
| NeXTStep | ✓ | The original operating system designation used up to version 3.0. | |
| NeXTSTEP | ✓ | Operating system name adopted from version 3.1 onwards, coinciding with the Intel port. | |
| NEXTSTEP | ✓ | Refers to OS version 3.3, which introduced support for PA-RISC and SUN SPARC architectures. | |
| OpenStep | ✓ | A cross-platform API specification derived from NEXTSTEP APIs. | |
| OPENSTEP OPENSTEP for MacOS | ✓ | NeXT’s specific implementation of the OpenStep standard (essentially “NEXTSTEP 4.x”). | |
| OpenStep for Solaris | ✓ | Sun’s implementation of OpenStep designed to run on Solaris and X11. | |
| OPENSTEP for Windows | ✓ | NeXT’s implementation of OpenStep capable of running on Windows NT. | |
| Rhapsody | ✓ | Often referred to as “NEXTSTEP/OPENSTEP 5.x” or Mac OS X Server 1.0; served as the precursor to Darwin and Mac OS X 10.x. | |
| Yellow Box | ✓ | The evolution of the OpenStep API specifically within the Rhapsody environment. | |
| Cocoa | ✓ | The further evolution of the YellowBox API found in Darwin and Mac OS X 10.x. |