nelan@asuvax.UUCP (George Nelan) (09/10/85)
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WINDOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
A window management system for 4.2bsd systems is being released by George
Nelan at Arizona State University. The system, WMS, is in the public domain
and consists of :
- MSH, an executable meta-shell manager which resides on the host, manages
sub-shells (csh or user) via ptys, and coordinates communications with an
external window manager by multiplexing standard I/O;
- WTY, a host-resident executable window manager built upon MSH, utilizing the
TERMCAP database so that most programs can run in windows (vi,..);
- TOOLS, a set of code fragments to assist the do-it-yourself types in
developing their own [remote] window managers (PC,..) for linkage to MSH;
- DOCUMENTATION, a complete set of user manuals in the form of three 'man'
entries; and last, but not least,
- SOURCE CODE.
A brief description of WTY follows:
WTY emulates a virtual windowing terminal on a variety of devices (vt100,..).
The underlying actual device must support controllable scrolling regions and
cursor motion as described by a [user-defined] TERMCAP entry. Windows are
defined as multiplexed scrolling regions; all windows span the width of the
display. Each window is truly scrollable (without redraws) with all visible
windows the same size. WTY multiplexes sub-shell output into windows in a
way that allows apparent concurrency. A 'select current input window' command
may be used to direct user input to any visible window. Other commands allow
window creation/deletion, opening/folding (making visible/invisible),
labeling (windows are not bordered since context usually provides sufficient
implicit discrimination clues - labels explicitly delimit borders), and
buffer manipulation: create/delete (I/O recording), open/fold (enable/disable
recording), and read selection (take a buffer as user input). Window size
information is communicated to sub-shells by a wty-generated "setenv TERM <X>"
message, where <X> identifies a virtual terminal related to the window size.
A resize command allows retransmission of this message at any time. A 'nice'
option on all commands which affect window size allows quiet dynamic
manipulation of windows (no automatic "setenv" messages are generated). A
help command provides a summary and the command character prefix may be user-
defined.
The system has been operational since June 1985 and seems to be fairly robust
and relatively efficient. We will provide a copy of the system in 1600 BPI
TAR format if you send us:
- A mag tape (the system release is ~ 256KB).
- Return postage or a check payable for same made out to:
"A.S.U. Engineering Computer Center"
Or indicate shipping collect.
Shipping will be via UPS unless you specify otherwise.
Upon special request, a shar version is available via UUCP. As this file is
123KB long (~20 min @ 1200B), we prefer tape transfers.
Contact:
George Nelan
Engineering Research Center (ERC 207)
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona, 85287
(602)-965-2791
UUCP:
...{ucbvax,ihnp4}!arizona!asuvax!nelan
...ihnp4!noao!terak!asuvax!nelan
CSNET:
nelan@asusystem@asuvax.UUCP (Marc Lesure) (09/19/85)
Due to overwhelming demand for the 4.2 Window Management System,
I've decided to post it to net.sources. The wms package is being
sent in four parts.
If your site decides on implementing wms, please send mail to the
author so he can send updates (if any) in the future. Also, please
send all bug reports, problems, fixes, etc. to the author rather
than posting them to net.sources.bugs. This will allow him to
maintain the system better.
-------------------------------------------------
Marc Lesure
System Manager
Engineering Computer Center
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona
UUCP: ...!{ucbvax,ihnp4}!arizona!asuvax!lesure
...!ihnp4!terak!asuvax!lesure
CSNET: lesure@asu
ARPA: lesure%asu@csnet-relay