OpenStep

operating system An object-oriented applicationprogramming interface (API) derived from NEXTSTEP and

proposed as an open standard by NeXT in 1994.

OpenStep is the specification of the object kits of NEXTSTEP.

OPENSTEP/Mach was an implementation of this specification.

The original, OPENSTEP version 4.0, and really was NEXTSTEP 4.

Rhapsody was the codename for Apple's Mac OS X Server,

which is really NEXTSTEP 5 (it calls itself "kernel 5.3" at

boot time).

OpenStep was designed to be implemented independently of the

computer's operating system, hardware, and user interface.

The API for Rhapsody will be a superset of OpenStep's.

When the OpenStep API is implemented for a specific platform

and made into a product, it is written in uppercase,

e.g. OPENSTEP Developer 4.2 for Mach, or OPENSTEP Enterprise

for Windows NT and Windows 95. Versions of OPENSTEP exist

for Windows 95/NT, Solaris, HP/UX, and Mach.

(1999-11-25)