neideck@jove.pa.dec.com (Burkhard Neidecker) (12/07/90)
This apparently didn't make it to comp.windows.x.annouce, so I repost it
here.
The CEC Karlsruhe proudly announces
*******
* shX *
*******
(read: shared X), a tool for window sharing in X.
Written by: Michael Altenhofen
Digital Equipment GmbH
CEC Karlsruhe
Vincenz-Priessnitz-Str. 1
D-7500 Karlsruhe 1
Germany
e-mail: shX@nestvx.enet.dec.com
With the term *shared* we don't mean a shareable library, but we mean
a *modified Xlib* that allows *window sharing* in X across multiple
workstations.
I've implemented shX in the context of computerbased learning/training
to provide online help from remote tutors. The tutor will get a
replica of the course on the display (see, that's my problem) and will
then demonstrate the solution by manipulating the replica (see, that's
the solution).
You can think of other scenarios where window sharing could be useful,
e.g. remote debugging or tele conferencing.
The development of this modified library was guided by four major
goals:
*Transparency*
No modifications should be necessary to add this new
functionality to an existing application. The application should
not be aware of being shared.
*Dynamics*
Adding and removing displays to an application should be possible at any
time.
*WYSIWIS (What You See Is What I See)*
The output of a shared application should be identical on all
displays.
*Tolerance*
The modified library should compensate tolerable hardware differences
(which manifest themselves in Visuals); e.g. it should be possible to
replicate an application in a heterogeneous display environment.
ShX currently works on SUN3, Sparc, Vax (U*x) and DECstations.
******************** HOT TO GET SOURCES ********************
Sources are available by anonymous ftp on
expo.lcs.mit.edu /contrib/shX.tar.Z
crl.dec.com /pub/X11/contrib/shX.tar.Z
gatekeeper.dec.com /pub/X11/contrib/shX.tar.Z
The sources include the modified Xlib, a command line control
interface (helper), and the bridge, an application that allows
you to share existing applications without rebuilding them.
Send comments, bug reports, fixes and enhancements to
shX@nestvx.enet.dec.com
Have fun!
Michael Altenhofen