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'''Unix''' is a family of related or similar operating systems.  It was originally developed by Bell Labs in the late 1960s and 1970s for [[mini-computers]], such as the [[PDP-11]].

'''Unix''' is a family of related or similar multi-tasking operating systems originally developed by Bell Labs in the late 1960s and 1970s for [[mini-computers]], such as the [[PDP-11]].

Over time, Unix fragmented, with various manufacturers and organizations publishing their own variants under license from AT&T. These were directly or indirectly derived from AT&T source code but generally did not use the Unix trademark.  Important examples from the 1980s include [[BSD]], [[SunOS]] and [[Xenix]].

Over time improvements to Unix were developed by others under license from AT&T.   They used the AT&T source code but generally did not use its Unix trademark.  Important examples from the 1980s include [[BSD]], [[SunOS]] and [[Xenix]].

In the 1990s AT&T sold Unix to [[Novell]].  Novell transferred the trademark to [[X/Open]] in 1994<ref>http://www.unix.org/questions_answers.html#</ref>, which in turn licensed it for use on any operating system which met the [[Single Unix Specification]]<ref>http://www.unix.org/questions_answers.html#7</ref>, separating the name "Unix" from the original Unix source code.  X/Open is now part of [[The Open Group]], having merged with [[The Open Software Foundation]].

In the 1990s AT&T sold Unix to [[Novell]].  Novell transferred the trademark to [[X/Open]] in 1994<ref>http://www.unix.org/questions_answers.html#</ref>, which in turn licensed it for use on any operating system which met the [[Single Unix Specification]]<ref>http://www.unix.org/questions_answers.html#7</ref>, separating the name "Unix" from the original Unix source code.  X/Open is now part of [[The Open Group]], having merged with [[The Open Software Foundation]].

Today, the main AT&T branch of Unix is nearly irrelevant, having been eclipsed by the Unix-like [[Linux]] operating system and the various [[BSD]] derivatives.  [[Sun]]'s [[OpenSolaris]] and [[HP]]'s [[HP-UX]] are the only offshoots of [[SVR4]] still in development and widespread use.

Today, the main AT&T branch of Unix is nearly irrelevant, having been eclipsed by the Unix-like [[Linux]] operating system and the various [[BSD]] derivatives.  [[Sun]]'s [[OpenSolaris]] and [[HP]]'s [[HP-UX]] are the only offshoots of [[SVR4]] still in development and widespread use.

[[category:Computer science]]

[[category:Computer science]]