History: Jmp Version
While SAS has not officially announced JMP 19 as of this writing, the roadmap likely includes:
Final rating: ★★★★½ (4.5/5 over its lifetime). JMP has never been the cheapest or the fastest, but it remains the most thoughtfully designed desktop statistical software for interactive discovery. Its version history shows a company that listens to engineers and scientists, not just programmers.
The story of (pronounced "jump") is one of a "passion project" that evolved from a niche Macintosh tool into a global standard for scientists and engineers. The Origins: "John's Macintosh Project" In the mid-1980s,
, a co-founder of SAS, wanted to create a statistical tool that leveraged the brand-new graphical user interface of the Apple Macintosh. JMP 1.0 (1989): Released in October, the name originally stood for "John’s Macintosh Project"
. It focused on interactive graphics and Design of Experiments (DOE), quickly becoming a favorite for semiconductor manufacturers. JMP 2.0 (1991):
Introduced at Macworld, it doubled the software's size but still arrived on a single floppy disk, requiring just 2 MB of memory. Expanding the Horizon
As the software grew, it broke out of its Mac-exclusive shell to meet the needs of a wider engineering world. JMP 3.1 (1994): This version marked a major milestone by adding support for Microsoft Windows , allowing it to reach a much larger corporate audience. JMP 4.0 (2002):
A complete rewrite that added powerful surface plots and the ability to import data from a vast array of new sources. JMP 5 & 6 (2005):
These versions introduced heavy-hitting data mining tools like neural networks and decision trees. The Modern Era of Discovery
In recent years, JMP has shifted toward deep integration and advanced automation. New in JMP 19
The Evolution of JMP: A Comprehensive Version History
JMP, a statistical discovery software, has been a leading tool for data analysis and visualization since its inception in 1984. Over the years, JMP has undergone significant transformations, with each new version building upon the previous one to provide more advanced features and capabilities. In this article, we'll take a journey through the version history of JMP, highlighting key milestones and enhancements.
Early Years (1984-1990)
The first version of JMP, version 1.0, was released in 1984 by John Sall, a statistician at SAS Institute. Initially, JMP was designed to provide an interactive, graphical interface for statistical analysis, focusing on exploratory data analysis and visualization. The early versions of JMP were characterized by their simplicity and ease of use.
The Rise of JMP (1990-2000)
The 1990s saw significant growth and development in JMP. The software became more widely adopted, and its user base expanded beyond SAS users.
Modern Era (2000-2010)
The 2000s saw JMP continue to evolve with a focus on usability, performance, and advanced analytics.
Recent Developments (2010-Present)
In recent years, JMP has continued to innovate and expand its capabilities, incorporating emerging technologies and trends. jmp version history
Conclusion
The version history of JMP reflects the software's evolution from a simple, interactive statistical analysis tool to a comprehensive analytics platform. With each new version, JMP has built upon its strengths, incorporating emerging technologies and trends to stay ahead of the curve. As data analysis and visualization continue to play an increasingly important role in business and research, JMP remains a leading choice for professionals seeking to extract insights and knowledge from their data.
JMP statistical software was originally launched in October 1989 as "John's Macintosh Project," named after its creator and SAS co-founder John Sall. Designed to harness the graphical user interface of the Apple Macintosh, it has evolved over three decades from a niche tool for engineers into a comprehensive data visualization and modeling suite. Early Versions (1989–1999)
JMP 1 (1989): Focused on scientists and engineers for design of experiments (DOE) and Six Sigma support.
JMP 2 (1991): Introduced at Macworld Expo, adding interactive graphics and doubling the software's size (though still delivered on a floppy disk).
JMP 3.1 (1994): Marked a major milestone by adding support for Microsoft Windows. Expansion and Integration (2000–2010)
JMP 4 (2002): A significant rewrite that expanded data import options and added surface plots.
JMP 5 (2005): Added advanced data mining tools (decision trees, neural nets) and temporary Linux support.
JMP 7 (2007): Began deep integration with SAS, allowing users to write SAS code directly within JMP.
JMP 8 (2009): Introduced a 64-bit version for Mac and drag-and-drop graph building.
JMP 9 (2010): Added a bridge to the R programming language and an Excel add-in. Modern Era (2014–Present)
JMP currently follows an 18-month major release cycle, with maintenance updates every 4–6 months.
JMP 11 (2014): Introduced the Excel Import Wizard and improved DOE features.
JMP 13 (2016): Enhanced reporting and handling of large data sets in memory.
JMP 14 (2018): Added the Projects file management tool and custom image markers for graphs.
JMP 17 (2022): Introduced the Workflow Builder for reproducible analysis and the Easy DOE platform for guided experiments.
JMP 18 (2024): Focused on performance and efficiency, including a 75% faster load time for certain visualizations and the new Columns Manager. It also added "Platform Presets" for saving report customizations.
JMP 19 (Recent/Current): Significant focus on Python integration, allowing scientists to run Python scripts more easily alongside JSL (JMP Scripting Language).
JMP, a statistical software suite originally developed as "John’s Macintosh Project" by John Sall in the late 1980s, has evolved from a niche Mac tool into a global standard for scientists and engineers. Its history is marked by a transition from a dedicated Macintosh application to a cross-platform powerhouse that became a wholly owned subsidiary of SAS in 2022. Early Origins: 1989 – 2000 While SAS has not officially announced JMP 19
JMP was first released in October 1989 to leverage the graphical user interface (GUI) of the Apple Macintosh for statistical discovery.
JMP 1.0 (1989): Designed for interactivity, allowing users to explore data visually rather than through code-heavy command lines.
JMP 2.0 (1991): Doubled in size and introduced at Macworld Expo, this version required 2MB of memory and added more interactive graphics.
JMP 3.1 (1994): A major milestone where JMP expanded beyond Apple, introducing support for Microsoft Windows. Expansion and Modernization: 2002 – 2014
As the software matured, it underwent significant architectural rewrites to support more complex data sources and advanced statistical modeling.
JMP 4 (2002): Rewritten to handle a wider variety of data imports and introduced surface plots for better visualization.
JMP 11 (2014): Focused on "ease-of-use" with the introduction of the Excel Import Wizard and advanced features for Design of Experiments (DOE). The Recent Era: JMP 12 – JMP 17
The last decade has seen JMP transition toward larger datasets, better reporting, and specialized versions like JMP Pro for advanced predictive modeling.
Before JMP, SAS Institute was famous for SAS (Statistical Analysis System), a powerful but unforgiving suite requiring users to write and submit code. In the mid-1980s, a visionary SAS co-founder, John Sall, saw the future. He watched the rise of Apple’s Macintosh with its graphical user interface (GUI) and mouse-driven interaction. He believed that statistical software didn't have to be a batch process; it could be interactive.
Sall began coding a software that would link statistics directly to graphics. When you selected a point on a scatterplot, the corresponding row in the spreadsheet would highlight. When you ran a regression, the residuals updated instantly. The name "JMP" originally stood for "John’s Macintosh Program," though SAS later rebranded it as simply "JMP" (jump).
JMP (John's Macintosh Project) was first released in JMP Statistical Discovery LLC
(a subsidiary of SAS). Originally designed to leverage the graphical interface of the Apple Macintosh, it has evolved into a powerhouse for interactive data exploration across both Windows and macOS. JMP Statistical Discovery Key Version Milestones
The evolution of JMP is marked by major shifts in data handling and scripting capabilities: JMP 1 (1989):
The original release, focused on linking statistics with Macintosh graphics for scientists and engineers. JMP 2 (1991): Doubled in size and introduced interactive graphics. JMP 3.1 (1994): First version to support Microsoft Windows JMP 4 (2002): A major rewrite that introduced JMP Scripting Language (JSL) and ARIMA modeling. JMP 17 (2022): Introduced
, an end-to-end platform to simplify the Design of Experiments process. JMP 18 (2024): Refined Easy DOE and improved the overall user interface. JMP 19 (2025):
The current major release (Oct 2025), featuring expanded automation, updated One-Page Guides , and a specialized Student Edition. JMP Statistical Discovery Version Feature Comparison JMP documentation
Evolution of JMP Statistical Software JMP has transformed from a niche Macintosh tool into a global powerhouse for visual data analysis. Since its launch by SAS Institute in 1989, it has prioritized a "point-and-click" interface that bridges the gap between complex statistics and intuitive discovery. The Early Years (1.0 to 3.0)
JMP 1 (1989): Designed specifically for the Apple Macintosh. It introduced the revolutionary idea of linking graphics with data tables.
JMP 2 (1991): Expanded capabilities with more complex ANOVA and multivariate analysis. Final rating: ★★★★½ (4
JMP 3 (1994): The first version to support Microsoft Windows, marking its transition to a cross-platform tool. Scaling for Science (4.0 to 7.0)
JMP 4 (2000): Introduced the JMP Scripting Language (JSL). This allowed users to automate repetitive tasks and build custom applications.
JMP 5 (2002): Added significant features for Six Sigma and quality control, including Partition platforms and more robust DOE (Design of Experiments).
JMP 6 (2005): Integrated JMP with SAS, allowing users to leverage the power of SAS servers while keeping the JMP visual interface.
JMP 7 (2007): Focused on "Visual Six Sigma" and enhanced the Graph Builder, which would become the heart of the software. The Modern Interface (8.0 to 12.0)
JMP 8 (2008): Massive overhaul of the user interface. It introduced the "Home Window" and improved data cleanup tools.
JMP 9 (2010): Brought deep integration with the R programming language and Excel. Map shapes and GIS capabilities were also added.
JMP 10 (2012): Saw the debut of JMP Pro. This version catered to "big data" with predictive modeling and cross-validation tools.
JMP 11 (2013): Enhanced the "Data Filter" and added the Column Selection tool, making it easier to slice through millions of rows.
JMP 12 (2015): Improved the "Selection" and "Reorder" features, focusing on user efficiency and the Query Builder for SQL-like data merging. Advanced Analytics (13.0 to 15.0)
JMP 13 (2016): A milestone for text exploration. Users could now analyze unstructured data like survey comments and logs directly.
JMP 14 (2018): Focused on workflow. The "Projects" feature allowed users to organize tables, scripts, and reports into a single file.
JMP 15 (2019): Introduced the "Graph Builder" makeover. It added better support for contour plots and revamped the data import wizard for complex formats. The Current Era (16.0 to Present)
JMP 16 (2021): Focused on "Action Recording." JMP now automatically writes the JSL script as you click, making automation accessible to non-coders.
JMP 17 (2022): Added the Easy DOE tool. This guided workflow helps beginners design experiments without needing a PhD in statistics.
JMP 18 (2024): Introduced a native Python integration. Users can now run Python code directly within JMP, sharing data frames between the two environments seamlessly.
💡 Key Takeaway: JMP’s history is a move from simple visualization to automated, AI-ready predictive modeling. If you’re looking to upgrade, I can help you: Compare JMP Standard vs. JMP Pro Find the best new features in Version 18 Check system requirements for your OS
JMP 18 (released late 2023) is the most significant update in years:
Verdict: JMP 18 is a masterclass in making advanced statistics accessible. The AutoML alone brings enterprise-grade modeling to domain experts without requiring a data science team.