virtualhub.eu.org/docs/1970s/1973/alto-os/index.md

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---
keywords: ["Alto OS", "Xerox", "Alto", 1970s, 1973]
image: ./alto-os.webp
description: "The Xerox Alto OS, was the first GUI system. It was way ahead of its time. We can run it on ContrAlto emulator."
sidebar_position: 1
---
import DocCardList from '@theme/DocCardList';
# Alto OS
![Alto OS](./alto-os.webp)
The Xerox Alto OS, was the first GUI system. It was way ahead of its time. We can run it on ContrAlto emulator.
<DocCardList />
## Manuals
:::tip
The manuals refer to the mouse buttons by their color. On a modern 3-button mouse, the colors map as the following:
- Red = Left mouse button
- Yellow = Middle mouse button
- Blue = Right mouse button
On most mouses, pressing the scroll-wheel simulates pressing the middle mouse button.
:::
You can download the Alto OS manuals from [bitsavers](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/). These are the most useful ones:
- [Alto User's Handbook](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/Alto_Users_Handbook_Sep79.pdf)
- [Alto Subsystems Manual](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoSubsystems_Oct79.pdf)
- [Alto Operating System Reference Manual (Part 1)](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoSWRef.part1.pdf)
- [Alto Operating System Reference Manual (Part 2)](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoSWRef.part2.pdf)
- [BCPL Reference Manual](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/bcpl/AltoBCPLdoc.pdf)
- [Bravo Course Outline](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/BravoCourse.pdf)
You may also be interested in the Alto hardware manual:
- [Alto Hardware Manual (Part 1)](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoHWRef.part1.pdf)
- [Alto Hardware Manual (Part 2)](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoHWRef.part2.pdf)
## Apps
- [Preinstalled Apps](/1970s/1973/alto-os/preinstalled-apps/)
## Related Pages
- [VirtualHub Screenshots](https://screenshots.virtualhub.eu.org/1970s/1973/alto-os/)
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- [Run Alto OS in your browser: ContrAltoJS](https://archives.loomcom.com/contraltojs/) (Instructions given on page)
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- [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox_Alto#Software)
- [Computer History Wiki Alto page](https://gunkies.org/wiki/Xerox_Alto)
- [Toasty Tech Xerox Alto page](http://toastytech.com/guis/alto.html)
- [Toasty Tech page on running Alto OS on the older `salto` emulator](http://toastytech.com/guis/salto.html)
- [Computer History Museum: Xerox Alto Source Code Release](https://computerhistory.org/blog/xerox-alto-source-code/)
## Credits
- The manuals were taken from [Bitsavers](http://bitsavers.org).