In the 'Tools, not Apps' part of the article they reference Michel Beaudouin-Lafon's talk 'A World Without Apps' which goes back in time and shows the Xerox Star operating system:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ntaudUum06E&t=313s
Another reference I usually bring up is Alan Kay's talk on smalltalk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnrlSqtpOkw&t=4m19s
My related comments on this, just to show other stories along this theme:
- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36885940