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Xenix was a discontinued, multi-user, and multi-tasking variant of the Unix operating system, licensed by Microsoft in the late 1970s and released in 1980. Designed for microcomputers, Xenix was the most common version of Unix during the mid-to-late 1980s.

Key facts about Xenix:

Developers: It was developed by Microsoft after licensing Unix from AT&T, which did not permit the use of the "Unix" name for derivative products at the time. Microsoft did not sell Xenix directly to end-users but licensed it to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like Intel, Tandy, Altos, and the Santa Cruz Operation (SCO).

Platforms: Initially targeted at 16-bit microprocessors, Xenix was ported to various platforms, including Intel 8086/80286/80386, Motorola 68000 (including the Apple Lisa 2), and Zilog Z8001.

Features: It incorporated features from both AT&T Unix and BSD Unix, such as the vi text editor. Microsoft added its own extensions, including kernel features like file locking and semaphores. It included a "visual shell" to give users a menu-driven interface, an alternative to the traditional Unix command-line shell.