On August 16th 2010 a user named cjbriare started a thread with the same title in another forum. This is where the story of the first NeXT Computer emulator "Previous" began. During the next 15 years that thread was the home of all kinds of discussions about the development of Previous. Many NeXT enthusiasts posted their findings from real hardware and made it possible to transfer the functionality of black hardware to software.
Unfortunately in 2025 the thread with all its valuable informations got lost. But today I would like to pick up the thread again and continue the discussion in this new home - raising from the ashes like a Phoenix!
I suggest all general discussions on the development of Previous to take place here. Maybe we can open a separate thread on compilation issues and another one on questions about using Previous.
I am looking forward to all kinds of exciting new developments!
Thank you for starting it up again
@andreas_g ! I loved your thread and do love Previous.app too!
Super looking forward to what you do NeXT! (PUN DEF INTENDED!)
:D
Nothing makes me so happy as seeing this thread come back—and cheekily enough with its original and confusing name! :D
For anyone coming across this thread and wondering where to download Previous, our current best sources are:
The (semi-official, semi-WIP) Previous release page (for binaries): http://previous.nextcommunity.net/
The extremely official Previous SourceForge project page (for source): https://sourceforge.net/projects/previous/
And eagle (unixdude)'s collection of older builds: https://previous.unixdude.net/download.html
Hopefully we'll eventually have the release page up at https://previous.sourceforge.net/ — but for now it redirects to the project page.
In the future we'll have a site collating mcCoy's impressive repertoire of pre-installed disk images, but for the time being they can be found on mega.nz (https://mega.nz/file/F0Q22KKb#WiceqJA2LIhPbWJZvR6CmJstPZwOdZrun8gYo1e-Row) if you're looking for a system starter.
It's back!
The thread on which past and future of NeXT hangs is back. And indeed, what a curious delight to see it appear under its strangely spelled original name.
Thanks,
@andreas_g
Quote from: Rhetorica on Sep 08, 2025, 05:15 PMbut for the time being they can be found on mega.nz (https://mega.nz/file/F0Q22KKb#WiceqJA2LIhPbWJZvR6CmJstPZwOdZrun8gYo1e-Ro) if you're looking for a system starter.
link's broken (missing "w" at the end).
https://mega.nz/file/F0Q22KKb#WiceqJA2LIhPbWJZvR6CmJstPZwOdZrun8gYo1e-Row
Quote from: mikeboss on Sep 09, 2025, 08:07 AMQuote from: Rhetorica on Sep 08, 2025, 05:15 PMbut for the time being they can be found on mega.nz (https://mega.nz/file/F0Q22KKb#WiceqJA2LIhPbWJZvR6CmJstPZwOdZrun8gYo1e-Ro) if you're looking for a system starter.
link's broken (missing "w" at the end).
https://mega.nz/file/F0Q22KKb#WiceqJA2LIhPbWJZvR6CmJstPZwOdZrun8gYo1e-Row
Right! Corrected.
So,
@andreas_g, what do you have planned so far for the big 4.0? I recall some vague ideas about a possible UI overhaul.
Quote from: Rhetorica on Sep 09, 2025, 12:58 PMSo, @andreas_g, what do you have planned so far for the big 4.0? I recall some vague ideas about a possible UI overhaul.
I am a bit short on time at the moment. I do not plan big UI changes but might check how the current icon works with macOS 26. It might be time for a new one. From the drafts I saw in the past I liked the look of the "PREVIOUS EMULATOR" packaging box the most.
Just a heads up
@andreas_g that revision r1725 didn't build for me; the log is attached.
The problems seem to have started in r1716 ("some cleanups"), as that fails with the same errors.
@Rhetorica Compilation should be fixed. Maybe we should open a separate thread to discuss this kind of issues.
Can someone using macOS Tahoe make a screenshot on how Previous' icon looks like in the dock?
Here you go.
CleanShot 2025-09-22 at 12.34.16.jpg
Vertical layout and its with version 3.9
In case you want to see it on the bottom of the dock.
CleanShot 2025-09-22 at 12.35.46.jpg
Thank you very much! At least it does not look broken.