NeXT

What does NeXT mean?

NeXT is a computing platform developed by NeXT Inc., a company founded by Steve Jobs after his departure from Apple in 1985. The NeXT platform consisted of hardware, software, and development tools specifically designed for use in higher education and research environments.

The NeXT computer was introduced in 1988 and was known for its advanced features, including a 68030 microprocessor, an object-oriented operating system called NeXTSTEP, and a graphical user interface (GUI) that was considered groundbreaking at the Time. The NeXT computer also included built-in networking capabilities and support for advanced multimedia applications.

The NeXTSTEP operating system was written in the Objective-C programming language and was one of the first commercially successful object-oriented operating systems. NeXTSTEP was also notable for its portability, as it could run on both the NeXT computer and on industry-standard Intel x86 hardware.

In addition to the hardware and software, NeXT also provided a suite of development tools that made it easy for developers to create and deploy applications for the NeXT platform. These tools included an integrated development Environment (IDE), a debugger, and a profiler.

The NeXT platform was not commercially successful, as it was priced significantly higher than comparable computers from Apple and IBM. However, the NeXT platform and its technologies had a significant impact on the development of the computing industry. Many of the concepts and technologies introduced by NeXT, such as object-oriented programming, graphical user interfaces, and multimedia support, became standard features of modern computing platforms.

Applications

The NeXT platform was primarily used in higher education and research environments, where it was valued for its advanced capabilities and its ability to support demanding applications. NeXT computers were also used by a number of software development companies, including Adobe, Macromedia, and Pixar.

Today, the NeXT platform is no longer used for mainstream computing purposes. However, the legacy of the NeXT platform lives on in many ways. Many of the concepts and technologies introduced by NeXT have become standard features of modern computing platforms, and NeXTSTEP has had a significant influence on the development of operating systems such as macOS and iOS.

History

The NeXT platform was developed by NeXT Inc., a company founded by Steve Jobs in 1985. Jobs had left Apple after a power struggle with the company’s board of directors, and he was determined to create a new computing platform that would be superior to anything else on the market.

NeXT Inc. was initially funded by a $7 million investment from Ross Perot, the founder of Electronic Data Systems (EDS). NeXT Inc. also received a significant amount of funding from venture capitalists and other investors.

The NeXT computer was introduced in 1988 and was met with critical acclaim. However, the computer was priced significantly higher than comparable computers from Apple and IBM, and it failed to achieve commercial success. NeXT Inc. continued to develop the NeXT platform and its technologies, but the company never achieved financial stability.

In 1993, NeXT Inc. was acquired by Apple for $429 million. Apple was interested in acquiring NeXT’s Technology, particularly the NeXTSTEP operating system. NeXTSTEP was used as the foundation for macOS, which is still used on Apple computers today.

The acquisition of NeXT by Apple marked the end of the NeXT platform as a separate entity. However, the legacy of the NeXT platform lives on in many ways. Many of the concepts and technologies introduced by NeXT have become standard features of modern computing platforms, and NeXTSTEP has had a significant influence on the development of operating systems such as macOS and iOS.