Nxt crypto-currency platform shares many similarities with the Linux operating system, particularly in its support of the open-source ethos.The Nxt core code was written in Java by the developer 'BCNext', with the Nxt system going live on November 2013, utilising its own native blockchain separate from Bitcoin.
It's a '2nd gen' crypto-currency and platform, which means that in addition to the basic features of '1st generation' systems such as Bitcoin, Nxt has been designed to be a modular system with a group of core features that can be used as a foundation for 3rd party projects. Think of it more of a platform, than a currency.
The current Nxt core features are: