The History Of Operating Systems [INFOGRAPHIC]

Have you ever wondered how your favourite operating system got started? Well wonder no more as the following infographic gives you all the necessary facts, going all the way back to the very first OS back in the 1950′s.

Whether it’s Windows, Mac or Linux, you’ll find some fun, cool and interesting facts below that maybe you didn’t know about before.

Created for MakeUseOf by Wix

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Tagged: Infographics • operating system

Aibek Esengulov

The guy behind MakeUseOf.com. Follow him and MakeUseOf on Twitter @MakeUseOf. For more details check out MakeUseOf about page.

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If you have any questions related to stuff mentioned in the article or need help with any computer issue, just ask it on MakeUseOf Answers.

YeaSayer

You’re pretty.
Aibek

me?
Craig

what about Multics, GCOS, MPE, VME, 8080,8085, OS2, NeXT, Plan 9, solaris, dynix ptx, HP-UX, AIX? to name but a few…..
Jim

Saying that UNIX is the backbone of Linux is dangerous, it implies that UNIX source code is contained in the Linux Kernel, which is not true (and has been the subject of legal threats and lawsuits in the past). Also, to credit Jeremy Ben in the creation of UNIX is gross negligence and indicates that whoever created that graphic has not read this: http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/… Please give credit where credit is due.
YeaSayer

You’re pretty.

http://www.makeuseof.com/ Aibek

me?
http://awesomewallpapers.wordpress.com/ Ben

That was random…

Ben

That was random…
Craig

what about Multics, GCOS, MPE, VME, 8080,8085, OS2, NeXT, Plan 9, solaris, dynix ptx, HP-UX, AIX? to name but a few…..
Jim

Saying that UNIX is the backbone of Linux is dangerous, it implies that UNIX source code is contained in the Linux Kernel, which is not true (and has been the subject of legal threats and lawsuits in the past). Also, to credit Jeremy Ben in the creation of UNIX is gross negligence and indicates that whoever created that graphic has not read this: http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/who/dmr/hist.html Please give credit where credit is due.
thor

Where are the DEC Operating systems? Tops-10/20, RSTS/E, RSX. Some of which Bill Gates and company cut their teeth on and surely influenced their later work.
thor

Where are the DEC Operating systems? Tops-10/20, RSTS/E, RSX. Some of which Bill Gates and company cut their teeth on and surely influenced their later work.
Tina

Gotta love the quotes!
http://www.makeuseof.com/answers Tina

Gotta love the quotes!
Gupta5548

Hey! You forgot OS/2 the first real multitasking multithreaded GUI for the PC !
Gupta5548

Hey! You forgot OS/2 the first real multitasking multithreaded GUI for the PC !
Amiga

… and AmigaOS
Amiga

… and AmigaOS
dantomanto

Wow, thats like totally crazy.

http://www.privacy-tools.it.tc
beizhua

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input :www newgoing com
Pavan Mysore

Its funny you have left out a major OS that created waves in the Mobile/Smartphones.
Ofcourse it is Symbian! I think it deserves due credit!
Pavan Mysore

Its funny you have left out a major OS that created waves in the Mobile/Smartphones.
Ofcourse it is Symbian! I think it deserves due credit!

http://www.makeuseof.com/ Aibek

thanks for heads up
we’ll try not to do better on the next one

Aibek

Jeff Parker

Only scrawled on Tux’s chest was OpenSuSE …but that still leaves the (original form of) NetWare Completely Missing. Novell’s NetWare was Microsoft’s bane for a decade.

???
Jeff Parker

Only scrawled on Tux’s chest was OpenSuSE …but that still leaves the (original form of) NetWare Completely Missing. Novell’s NetWare was Microsoft’s bane for a decade.

???
Ohyesh

Slackware Linux “Few supported applications”

I don’t know if there’s more truth than there is irony in that assumption. Depending on how you look at it.

If you like lectures, here’s one on the history of GUI’s called “Bad hackers copy, great hackers steal.” from CUSEC (the Canadian University Software Engineering Conference)

http://vimeo.com/4763707
Aibek

thanks for heads up
we’ll try not to do better on the next one

Aibek
Ohyesh

Slackware Linux “Few supported applications”

I don’t know if there’s more truth than there is irony in that assumption. Depending on how you look at it.

If you like lectures, here’s one on the history of GUI’s called “Bad hackers copy, great hackers steal.” from CUSEC (the Canadian University Software Engineering Conference)

http://vimeo.com/4763707
yochai

adding iOS and not android (which is linux) seems silly… I assume the linux share does not include android.
yochai

adding iOS and not android (which is linux) seems silly… I assume the linux share does not include android.

Anonymous

iOS is unix based also, just had to throw that out there.

Guys it is just a brief overview, It takes forever to do these. Ones that cover everthing are boring, but ones that do not suck… man no one ever wins.

http://www.makeuseof.com/ Aibek

good point

James Jones

Who the bleep is Jeremy Ben?
Morgancoxuk

As you have missed out the greatest computer ever made (Amiga) I can only assume the rest if factually incorrect.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=794027854 James Jones

Who the bleep is Jeremy Ben?

Jim

Original author of Space Travel http://www.osdata.com/kind/history.htm

Morgancoxuk

As you have missed out the greatest computer ever made (Amiga) I can only assume the rest if factually incorrect.
soumalya

i like the quotes better than the infographic.
Jim

Original author of Space Travel http://www.osdata.com/kind/his…
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/6RFA6FR557Z56V3HTUYATQHSO4 soumalya

i like the quotes better than the infographic.

http://www.makeuseof.com/ Aibek

yep, the quotes are pretty cool

Aaron

infographics are a horrible way to present information. they serve the graphic designer’s ego, not the reader. the trend toward using these ridiculous types of graphics is a disturbing move in the dumbing down of our society.

just say no to infographics.
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/KDLUXZS7EDXADVNL56DSWPFHNU Aaron

infographics are a horrible way to present information. they serve the graphic designer’s ego, not the reader. the trend toward using these ridiculous types of graphics is a disturbing move in the dumbing down of our society.

just say no to infographics.

http://www.makeuseof.com/ Aibek

infographics represent lots of data in an easy to digest and engaging manner. whats wrong with it?

JK

I don’t think “Supported” is accurate for Slackware. “Included” would have been a much better word – Slackware, by default, comes with everything you need to build most pieces of software in the world, which is more than I can say for certain other distros (ERROR: Missing headers. Please install comment-dev and comment-headers and try again.)
JK

I don’t think “Supported” is accurate for Slackware. “Included” would have been a much better word – Slackware, by default, comes with everything you need to build most pieces of software in the world, which is more than I can say for certain other distros (ERROR: Missing headers. Please install comment-dev and comment-headers and try again.)
Guillermo Garron

Nice!
Thanks
http://www.go2linux.org/ Guillermo Garron

Nice!
Thanks
Jeremy Ben

What’s Mac OS 7.06? It was Mac OS 7.6
Jeremy Ben

What’s Mac OS 7.06? It was Mac OS 7.6
Aibek

yep, the quotes are pretty cool
Aibek

infographics represent lots of data in an easy to digest and engaging manner. whats wrong with it?
Aibek

Thanks for all the feedback guys, good and bad. We’ll do better with the next one.
http://www.makeuseof.com/ Aibek

Thanks for all the feedback guys, good and bad. We’ll do better with the next one.
RichardCarpen

iOS is unix based also, just had to throw that out there.

Guys it is just a brief overview, It takes forever to do these. Ones that cover everthing are boring, but ones that do not suck… man no one ever wins.
Sidd

GEOS?
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_N6BJ56PKHQMYMIH3LYCOQC233I Sidd

GEOS?

Anonymous

It was a GUI designed for (originally anyway) Commodore 64, that was writen by Berkeley Softworks.

Some out there are running on thier DSes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuKIHP88GVQ

Aibek

good point
Steven Macarzer

what operating system was running in those Sinclair ZX..series????
Steven Macarzer

what operating system was running in those Sinclair ZX..series????
echorse

“all the best people in the world seems to like LINUX”
Orly? Prettu strong words
Anonymous

“all the best people in the world seems to like LINUX”
Orly? Prettu strong words
RichardCarpen

It was a GUI designed for (originally anyway) Commodore 64, that was writen by Berkeley Softworks.

Some out there are running on thier DSes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
John Massaglia

What does “Non-debian Compatible” mean in the list of Ubuntu’s attributes?
http://twitter.com/jmassaglia John Massaglia

What does “Non-debian Compatible” mean in the list of Ubuntu’s attributes?
Spud

“UNIX is the backbone of Linux”. I love living dangerously!!
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