View source for Draft:System 6

{{Infobox OS version
| name = 
| version of = [[classic Mac OS]]
| family=[[Mac operating systems|Macintosh]]
| developer=[[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer]]
| source_model=[[Closed source]]
| license=Proprietary
| kernel_type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]]
| first_release_date={{Start date and age|1988|04}}
| release_version=6.0.8
| release_date={{Start date and age|1991|05}}
| preceded_by=[[Classic Mac OS#System Software 5|System 5]]
| succeeded_by=[[System 7]]
| support_status=Historical, unsupported
}}
{{Classic Mac OS sidebar}}
'''System 6''' (or '''System Software 6''') is the sixth major release of the [[classic Mac OS]] [[operating system]] for [[Mac (computer)|Macintosh]] computers, made by [[Apple Inc.|Apple Computer]]. It was released in 1988. It is a [[monolithic system|monolithic]] operating system, with [[cooperative multitasking]] based on an improved [[MultiFinder]]. The boxed version cost {{US$|49|1988|about=yes|round=-1}}, and it was included with all new Macintosh computers until 1991, when it was succeeded by [[System 7]].

==Overview==

===MacroMaker===
The MacroMaker utility was introduced in System 6. It records mouse and keyboard input as [[Macro (computer science)|macro]]s, and has a unique user interface intended to look and act like a [[tape recorder]]. MacroMaker was criticized for its lack of features when compared to [[Microsoft]]'s AutoMac III, which was already available commercially. As MacroMaker records only the locations of mouse-clicks inside windows and not what is being clicked on or exactly when, it can not be used to automate actions in more sophisticated programs. The pre-recorded clicks miss buttons if the buttons had moved since the recording, or if they failed to appear upon playback. It records the start and end locations of mouse movements, but does not track the precise path of a movement or support pauses. MacroMaker is not compatible with [[System 7]], in which it is succeeded by [[AppleScript]].

===Multitasking===
Macintosh gained cooperative multitasking in March 1985 with [[Andy Hertzfeld]]'s Switcher, which can switch between multiple full-screen applications. It was not integrated, and was only sold separately by Apple. Not many programs and features function correctly with Switcher, and it does not share the screen between applications simultaneously. Systems 5 and 6 have [[MultiFinder]] instead, which is much more mature and widely used in System 6. With MultiFinder, the Finder does not quit to free resources, and the system behaves as in the still-familiar multitasking fashion, with the desktop and other applications' windows in the background.

===Hardware support===
System 6 includes support for the Apple [[ImageWriter LQ]] and [[PostScript]] [[Laser printing|laser printers]]. New [[software driver]]s allow the ImageWriter LQ to be used on [[AppleTalk]] local area networks and supports the use of [[Tabloid (paper size)|tabloid]] or B-size paper ({{convert|11|x|17|in|mm|abbr=on|disp=or}}). System 6 includes QuickerGraf (originally QuickerDraw), system software used to accelerate the drawing of color images on the [[Macintosh II]]. It was licensed to Apple and [[Radius Inc.]] by its programmer, Andy Hertzfeld.

===Limitations===
In comparison to the [[NeXTSTEP]] operating system of the time, System 6 does not make much use of sound, and its user interface is limited in file management and window displays. System 6's [[Apple menu]] cannot be used to launch applications. The icon in the upper right-hand corner of the [[menu bar]] simply shows the open application and is not a menu. System 6 supports 24&nbsp;[[bit]]s of addressable [[Random-access memory|RAM]] (random-access memory), which allows for a maximum of 8&nbsp;[[megabyte]]s of RAM, with no provision for [[virtual memory]]. These limitations were removed in System 7. System 6's version of the [[Hierarchical File System (Apple)|HFS]] file system also has a [[Volume (computing)|volume]] size limit; it supports up to 2&nbsp;[[gigabyte]]s (GB) and 65,536 files on any one volume. System 7.5 increased this limit to 4&nbsp;GB, and 7.5.2 increased it further to 2&nbsp;TB on certain machines, specifically PCI-based Macintosh models.

The Trash (known as the "Wastebasket" in the British-English version) empties when the Finder terminates. Icons on the Desktop in System 6 are not organized into a single folder, as in later operating systems. Instead, the system records if a file is on the Desktop. This is inefficient and confusing, as the user cannot browse to the Desktop in applications besides the Finder, even within the standard ''Open'' and ''Save As'' dialog boxes. Furthermore, these dialogs are primitive, and were mostly unchanged since 1984. The lack of [[alias (Mac OS)|alias]]es, shortcuts to files, is another limitation of file management on System 6, and custom file and folder icons are not supported. These issues were all remedied in System 7.

A maximum of 15 desk accessories may be installed at one time, including the Chooser, Scrapbook, and Control Panel. System 6 uses the Control Panel desk accessory to access all the installed control panels, which imposes severe user-interface limitations. In System 7, Control Panels are contained in separately openable panels, and are held in a central folder for better organization. Desk Accessories cannot be installed or removed within the Finder; this requires the Font/DA Mover utility. System 7 also fixed this.

The interface is not very customizable. The Finder allows each icon to be assigned a color, but the desktop background is limited to an 8x8-pixel color tiled pattern (color patterns were introduced in System 5), and standard window frames are black-and-white. However, many "[[Extension (Mac OS)#The INIT mechanism|INIT]]" extension files exist to add color and customization. System 7 allows the user to change the color of window frames and various other aspects of the user interface.

==Reception==
Initial releases of System 6 are unstable; Don Crabb of ''[[BYTE (magazine)|BYTE]]'' described 6.0 as "buggy and unreliable". Many [[Third party developer|third-party developers]] did not receive advance copies, resulting in widespread compatibility issues. The contemporary versions of many common programs such as [[Microsoft Excel]], [[Microsoft Works]] and [[4th Dimension (software)|4th Dimension]] were not fully compatible with System 6. There were also software bugs in the Color Manager, Script Manager, and Sound Manager [[Extension (Mac OS)|extension]] files. Apple announced that 66 bugs were fixed with version 6.0.1 update, in September 1988. However, a major bug involving the text-spacing of screen fonts was found, and was fixed in version 6.0.2, which Crabb described as "a ''huge'' improvement" over 6.0. Some customers waited longer until moving to System 6 because of its poor reputation.

==Compatibility==
System 6 was officially supported by Apple for many different machines, some of which shipped with it. Some unsupported Macintosh computers can run it with limitations.

{| border=1 cellpadding=1 cellspacing=0 style="font-size: 85%; border: gray solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse; text-align: center"

|-
! style="background:#ececec; width:100px"|Macintosh Model
! style="background:#ececec; width:100px"|Model Date
! style="background:#ececec; width:110px"|6.0.8
! style="background:#ececec; width:110px"|6.0.7
! style="background:#ececec; width:110px"|6.0.5
! style="background:#ececec; width:110px"|6.0.4
! style="background:#ececec; width:110px"|6.0.3
! style="background:#ececec; width:110px"|6.0.2

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh 128K|128K]]
| rowspan=2 |1984
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh 512K|512K]]
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh 512Ke|512Ke]]
| 1986
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh XL]]
| 1985
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh Plus|Plus]]
| 1986
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh SE|SE]]
| 1987
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh SE/30|SE/30]]
| 1989
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh Classic|Classic]]
| 1990
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh Classic II|Classic II]]
| 1991
| {{yes}}: 6.0.8L
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh Portable|Portable]]
| 1989
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh II|II]]
| 1987
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh IIx|IIx]]
| 1988
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh IIcx|IIcx]]
| rowspan=2 |1989
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh IIci|IIci]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh IIfx|IIfx]]
| rowspan=3 |1990
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh IIsi|IIsi]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh LC|LC]]
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh LC II|LC II]]
| 1992
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh Quadra 700|Quadra 700]]
| 1991
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Macintosh Quadra 900|Quadra 900]]/[[Macintosh Quadra 950|950]]
| 1991/1992
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[PowerBook 100]]
| 1991
| {{yes}}: 6.0.8L
| {{partial}}: limited
| {{partial}}: limited
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | [[PowerBook 140]]<br/>[[PowerBook 145|145]]/[[PowerBook 145B|145B]]/[[PowerBook 170|170]]
| 1991/1992/1993
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}
| {{no}}

|-

|}

==Version history==
{| border=1 cellpadding=1 cellspacing=0 style="font-size: 85%; border: gray solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;" class="wikitable"

|-
! style="background:#ececec" | System version
! style="background:#ececec" | Release date
! style="background:#ececec" | [[Finder (software)|Finder]] version
! style="background:#ececec" | [[MultiFinder]] version
! style="background:#ececec" | [[LaserWriter]] version
! style="background:#ececec" | Release information

|-
! style="background:#ececec; text-align: left" | 6.0
| April 1988
| 6.1
| 6.0
| rowspan=8 |5.2
| Initial release

|-
! style="background:#ececec; text-align: left" | 6.0.1
| September 19, 1988
| 6.1.1
| 6.0.1
| Release for [[Macintosh IIx]] (1988)

|-
! style="background:#ececec; text-align: left" | 6.0.2
| September 19, 1988
| rowspan=2 |6.1
| 6.0.1
| Maintenance release

|-
! style="background:#ececec; text-align: left" | 6.0.3
| December 23, 1988
| 6.0.3
| Maintenance release with bug fixes for Apple File Exchange, Time Manager, and other components. New York 18 and 24 fonts were removed.

|-
! style="background:#ececec; text-align: left" | 6.0.4
| September 20, 1989
| 6.1.4
| 6.0.4
| Release for [[Macintosh Portable]] and [[Macintosh IIci|IIci]] (1989)

|-
! style="background:#ececec; text-align: left" | 6.0.5
| March 19, 1990
| 6.1.5
| 6.0.5
| Release for [[Macintosh IIfx]] (1990)

|-
! style="background:#ececec; text-align: left" | 6.0.6
| March 19, 1990 - October 15, 1990
| 6.1.6
| 6.0.6
| Packed with early Macintosh IIsi, LC, and Classic; contains bugs with keyboard and [[AppleTalk]].

|-
! style="background:#ececec; text-align: left" | 6.0.7
| October 15, 1990
| 6.1.7
| 6.0.7
| Official release for [[Macintosh LC]], [[Macintosh IIsi|IIsi]], and [[Macintosh Classic|Classic]] (1990)

|-
! style="background:#ececec; text-align: left" | 6.0.8
| May 13, 1991
| rowspan=2 |6.1.8
| rowspan=2 |6.0.8
| rowspan=2 |7.0
| Updated printing software to match the printing software of [[System 7|System 7.0]]

|-
! style="background:#ececec; text-align: left" | 6.0.8L
| March 23, 1992
| Used only on the [[Macintosh Classic]], [[Macintosh Classic II|Classic II]], [[Macintosh LC|LC]], [[Macintosh LC II|LC II]], and [[PowerBook 100]].

|}