pervect@bsu-cs.UUCP (Barrett Kreiner) (09/16/88)
Hello, X-based peoples :-) I am looking for some *BASIC* information on x-windows.. Specifically: 1) is it or is it not Public Domian? I ask this because a few days ago a message came across the net saying X11R2 (I think) was available from SIMTEL. Help. 2) How can *I* get ahold of this x-windows from SIMTEL? We are a basic end site and cannot ftp. We do have a .BITNET gate available (somewhere) and our system mgr. said there was supposed to be a way through to SIMTEL across SIMTEL. Any smart people out there willing to tell me how? 3) Just what can I run Windows on? Is it in 'C' that can be compiled on any system? Like I said, I'm stuped in the X-world. 4)I see from previous messages that it handles graphics, text, ect..Does this mean I need a special graphics header/package ect? As I said (about 3 times so far) I'm an x-neophyte wanting IN on the basics. Oh Great X-Gurus, come to My aid (plez) |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| |Barrett Kreiner UUCP: <backbones>!{iuvax,pur-ee,uunet}!bsu-cs!pervect | |Technical Mgr. BSU-FAC lab |-----------------------------------------------| | Ball State U. Muncie, IN | "I'll tell ya kid, the main problem with | |---------------------------| Pervish food is keeping the goo from crawling | | out of the bowl while you're eating it"| TOON: THE game for modern times | | How am I computing? => Tell my parents at ddsw1!kreiner (Hi Ma & DAD!) | | Disclamer: "I don't know them! I'm a student, nobody listens to ME!" | |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
jim@EXPO.LCS.MIT.EDU (Jim Fulton) (09/16/88)
[This message had several frequently asked questions, so it seemed worth answering publicly. Xperts probably will want to punt.] > I am looking for some *BASIC* information on x-windows.. MIT only ships language bindings for C and Common Lisp. :-) > 1) is it or is it not Public Domian? The sample implementation of the "core" X software provided by MIT is *not* in the public domain. However, it is publicly available. The difference is that unrestricted-use copyrights are placed on all software to identify its lineage. > I ask this because a few days ago a message came across the net saying > X11R2 (I think) was available from SIMTEL. Help. We actively encourage other organizations to redistribute X. Feel free to get it from anywhere you can. > 2) How can *I* get ahold of this x-windows from SIMTEL? We are a basic > end site and cannot ftp. Hmm, I suspect that you should ask around your University first. If that fails, you might need to order a magnetic tape from somewhere. You can call the MIT Software Distribution Center at (617) 253-6966 to order 1600 BPI tapes in UNIX tar format. Also, a variety of consultants and mail order shops are popping up to handle distributions in other formats. > 3) Just what can I run Windows on? Is it in 'C' that can be compiled on > any system? Actually, it is called "X"; most people associate "Windows" with Microsoft's PC product. The sample server is written in C and is divided into a portable section and a machine-dependent section. MIT currently supplies "backends" to drive displays on Apollo, Digital, HP, IBM, and Sun workstations (MacII support will be available in the next release). There are commercial implementations that are currently or soon to be available for just about everything from PC's on up to graphics supercomputers. Sample implementations of the Xlib C language programming library and the Xt toolkit run on a wide range of machines. There is also a native Common Lisp interface available. > 4)I see from previous messages that it handles graphics, text, ect..Does > this mean I need a special graphics header/package ect? X is a window system that uses the client/server model for separating the application programming interface (client) from the agent which actually interacts with the hardware (server). The server runs on the machine to which your graphics display is attached; clients may run on any machine which can connect to the server machine using any reliable byte stream (TCP/IP, DECnet, CHAOSnet, UNIX domain sockets, shared memory, etc.). Graphics requests are sent from clients to the server and input events are sent the other way (asynchronously). > As I said (about 3 times so far) I'm an x-neophyte wanting IN on the basics. As you've probably guessed by recent conversations, there are books on the market that are more suitable for novice users than the MIT documentation. Also, various companies are starting to put together training courses. And then, there is always the Obi-wan Kenobi method for the brave of heart(*). Jim Fulton MIT X Consortium (*) "Use the Source, Luke."