NeXT merges with Apple Computer, starting the path to Mac OS X.

The Legacy of NeXT: From Workstations to macOS Foundation

NeXT, Inc., an American technology company that later operated as NeXT Computer, Inc. and then NeXT Software, Inc., was a pivotal player in the evolution of computing. Founded by Apple Computer co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs in 1985, following a significant power struggle that led to his departure from Apple, NeXT was established with an ambitious vision: to create state-of-the-art computer workstations primarily for the higher-education and business sectors. Based in Redwood City, California, the company aimed to push the boundaries of computing with a focus on powerful hardware and revolutionary software.

NeXT's Innovative Hardware: The Black Cubes

NeXT's foray into the hardware market began in 1988 with the introduction of its inaugural product, the NeXT Computer. This workstation was notable for its distinctive matte black, magnesium cube-shaped enclosure and a strong emphasis on computational power and advanced display capabilities. It also famously pioneered the use of a magneto-optical disk drive as its primary storage medium, a forward-thinking but ultimately slow technology for the time. Following this, the company launched the more compact and cost-effective NeXTcube and NeXTstation in 1990.

Despite their groundbreaking design and powerful capabilities, NeXT's computers faced challenges in achieving widespread commercial success. Their high price point – the original NeXT Computer cost around $6,500 for a monochrome system, rising to $9,999 with a printer and color display – and specialized niche market meant sales remained relatively limited, with only approximately 50,000 units shipped in total throughout their hardware lifespan. However, their impact transcended sales figures.

Pioneering Software Innovation: NeXTSTEP and Object-Oriented Development

The true legacy of NeXT lay not just in its hardware, but profoundly in its software, particularly the NeXTSTEP operating system. NeXTSTEP was revolutionary for its time, featuring an advanced graphical user interface (GUI) and a robust, developer-friendly object-oriented programming environment. It was built upon a UNIX foundation, specifically the Mach microkernel and a BSD-derived operating system layer, which provided exceptional stability and power. Key innovations included:

These features made NeXT computers highly influential trendsetters in computer innovation, especially within academic and research institutions. Notably, it was on a NeXT Computer at CERN that Tim Berners-Lee developed the first web server, web browser, and the foundational technologies of the World Wide Web in 1990-1991, demonstrating the system's power for cutting-edge development.

Strategic Shift: From Hardware to Software and OpenStep

Recognizing the immense value of their software stack and facing the challenges of a competitive hardware market, NeXT made a strategic pivot. In 1993, the company officially withdrew from the hardware industry to concentrate entirely on software development and licensing. This transition was marked by a significant partnership with Sun Microsystems to create OpenStep.

What was OpenStep?
OpenStep was a standardized, open specification for the application programming interfaces (APIs) derived from the NeXTSTEP operating system's application layer. The goal was to make these powerful, object-oriented frameworks available on third-party operating systems, thereby expanding their reach beyond NeXT's proprietary hardware.
What was OPENSTEP for Mach?
Following the partnership, NeXT began marketing its own implementation of the OpenStep specification, specifically for the Mach kernel, which was known as OPENSTEP for Mach. This allowed other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to license and run NeXT's advanced software environment on their own hardware, effectively turning NeXT into a pure software company.

WebObjects: A Pioneer in Dynamic Web Applications

Beyond its core operating system technologies, NeXT also developed WebObjects, a truly groundbreaking enterprise web application framework launched in 1996. WebObjects was one of the very first platforms designed to build dynamic, data-driven web applications rather than relying on static HTML pages. It allowed developers to create complex, scalable web services using object-oriented principles, long before many modern web frameworks existed. Although its adoption was not widespread due to its exceptionally high price tag (reportedly around $50,000 for a developer license), its influence was profound. It demonstrated the power of server-side logic and database integration for generating personalized, interactive web content. Notably, Apple itself used WebObjects to build its first online store, showcasing its capabilities for e-commerce and dynamic content delivery.

The Apple Acquisition and the Birth of macOS

The culmination of NeXT's journey arrived dramatically in December 1996, when Apple Computer acquired NeXT for a substantial sum: $429 million in cash and 1.5 million shares of Apple stock. This acquisition was a strategic move by Apple, then struggling with an aging Mac OS and searching for a modern operating system foundation. A critical component of the deal was the return of Steve Jobs, then Chairman and CEO of NeXT, to Apple in an advisory role. His presence quickly escalated, leading to him becoming interim CEO and eventually permanent CEO, steering Apple's remarkable resurgence.

A key promise of the acquisition was the integration of NeXT's highly advanced operating system technology into Apple's product line. Apple committed to porting NeXT's robust, Unix-based operating system to Macintosh hardware and combining it with the familiar Macintosh user experience. This ambitious project ultimately yielded Mac OS X (initially pronounced "Mac OS Ten"), which was later rebranded as macOS. Mac OS X fundamentally revitalized Apple's software platform, providing a stable, powerful foundation with a modern graphical user interface (Aqua) and robust developer tools, propelling Apple into a new era of innovation and commercial success.

Frequently Asked Questions About NeXT

Why did Steve Jobs found NeXT after leaving Apple?
Steve Jobs founded NeXT in 1985 after he was forced out of Apple Computer following a boardroom power struggle. His vision for NeXT was to create advanced workstations for the higher education market, unconstrained by the corporate politics he experienced at Apple.
What was the main innovation of NeXT computers?
While NeXT computers featured distinctive hardware, their primary innovation was the NeXTSTEP operating system. This OS pioneered object-oriented programming, an advanced graphical user interface with technologies like Display PostScript, and sophisticated developer tools that significantly streamlined software creation.
Was NeXT successful in terms of sales?
No, NeXT's hardware sales were relatively limited, with only about 50,000 units sold due to their high price point and niche market focus. However, its software, particularly NeXTSTEP and WebObjects, was highly influential and laid the groundwork for future computing paradigms.
How did NeXT contribute to the internet's development?
The first web server, web browser, and fundamental World Wide Web technologies were developed by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN using a NeXT Computer and the NeXTSTEP operating system, demonstrating its advanced development environment capabilities.
What was the significance of the Apple acquisition of NeXT?
The 1997 acquisition of NeXT by Apple was critically important for two main reasons: it brought Steve Jobs back to Apple, and it provided Apple with the modern operating system technology (NeXTSTEP) that would serve as the foundation for Mac OS X (later macOS), revitalizing Apple's software platform.