gretzky@UNISON.LARC.NASA.GOV (Mr. Stanley Cup) (04/26/89)
I have heard of X10 and X11, but was there ever an X9, X8, ... X0 ??? Will there be an X12, X13, ... Just wondering. -=>gretzky<=- .mitch ============================ gretzky@unison.larc.nasa.gov ============================ #include <disclaimer/stupid_questions.h>
jim@EXPO.LCS.MIT.EDU (Jim Fulton) (04/27/89)
> I have heard of X10 and X11, but was there ever an X9, X8, ... X0 ??? Yes. Along with W and V (both from Stanford). Jim Gettys gives a history of X in his introduction to The Book(*). Briefly, the early versions of X were used primarily at MIT Project Athena and a the MIT Lab for Computer Science. In the summer of 1985, X6 was licensed to a small set of companies for $100 (MIT later decided to stop requiring a license and to not place any restrictions on redistribution). Non-MIT and non-Digital ports began with X9 in the late summer and early fall of 1985 (there have been commercial, third party products based top of X since at least November 1985). Then along came X10.... Again, see Jim's history for real details. > Will there be an X12, X13, ... Not if we can help it. There will be compatible extensions in the future, but the core will be called X11 until they run over us with a steamroller. Jim Fulton MIT X Consortium (*) "X Window System C Library and Protocol Reference", by Scheifler, Gettys and Newman, published by Digital Press, ISBN 1-55558-012-2.
jg@jumbo.dec.com (Jim Gettys) (04/27/89)
In article <8904261647.AA01674@unison.larc.nasa.gov> gretzky@UNISON.LARC.NASA.GOV (Mr. Stanley Cup) writes: >I have heard of X10 and X11, but was there ever an X9, X8, ... X0 ??? Yes, there were versions before X10.... There were 8 of them (anyone out there want to guess what the non-existant version of X was?) And before V1 was W. Versions refer to the protocol version, which is the point at which old applications stop working, and need at least some change to continue working. There have been three fundamental designs of X, the first of which culminated with V6, which was the first to be ported to something other than a DEC VS100 (anyone out there want to say what that was?). It only supported monochrome displays. Very few people outside of MIT or Digital ever saw it; it required a license from MIT. It ran on VS100's and VS1's and VS2's. The second resulted in V10. It supported up to 16 bit/pixel color displays, and was the first version which was widespread. No license was required. Its limitations, for example the 16 bit limitation, doomed it from its beginning. The third is V11, with which you are familiar. There is more detail in the Digital Press book on X historical trivia. > >Will there be an X12, X13, ... Nope. Hell will freeze over first. V11 was designed to allow upward compatible extension. No one is ever going to contemplate breaking compatibility with old stuff at this point. We all have too many scars.... And applications are where its at these days. - Jim Gettys
rbj@DSYS.ICST.NBS.GOV (Root Boy Jim) (04/28/89)
? From: Mr. Stanley Cup <gretzky@unison.larc.nasa.gov> ? Will there be an X12, X13, ... Anyone familiar with the old Univac 1108's will realize that the next release should be called `A0' and not `X12' :-) Root Boy Jim is what I am Are you what you are or what?