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Apple's X11 for Mac OS X

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Original poster
Along with Apple's many announcements, they also quietly released X11 Public Beta for Mac OS X:

X11 for Mac OS X offers a complete X Window System implementation for running X11-based applications on Mac OS X. Based on the de facto-standard for X11, the open source XFree86 project, X11 for Mac OS X is compatible, fast and fully integrated with Mac OS X. It includes the full X11R6.6 technology including a window server, libraries and basic utilities such as xterm.
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Apple's implementation takes advantage of Quartz to deliver hardware-accelerated graphics, and provides an easy installer.

 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2003/01/07/apples-x11-for-mac-os-x/
ken: i believe it was 41MB or something..where did you get 3?

it doesn't work as well as XDarwin with the blackbox window manager I don't think. In fact, I opened an xterm and it was above the menu bar so I can't move it at all...also, I tried running the GIMP which ran but its pulldown menus were non existent...nor could I move the windows...still needs a bit of work IMO.
 
It isn't too bad. It is much easier to install than fink. Plus it works. Another fine plus. I will have to see if it works with dual displays.
 
This still needs a LOT of work (e.g. The applications menu doesn't work properly even) but if it is open source -- and I suspect it is -- I will be quick to help out.
 
Re: excuse me for bitching....

Originally posted by medea
why is it if someone breaks a "story" first, the thread usually gets closed and then the macrumors admin starts it up again as a new thread? I posted this at 12:47am and its now being posted at 1:49am again and my thread is locked down https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16987

that sucks. why even post info in here anymore.🙄
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sorry man... I usually try to link stories to the first thread around... but sometimes I miss them... so in those cases, I try to consolidate to the main site thread.

arn
 
Well, my experience is that it even works very well with the existing XDarwin install. In fact, it made XDarwin (and KDE, which is the window manager i use there) very much faster and responsive than before. X11 as a standalone app is not very good right now, but in addition to an existing XDarwin it's great.
 
Re: Re: excuse me for bitching....

Originally posted by arn


sorry man... I usually try to link stories to the first thread around... but sometimes I miss them... so in those cases, I try to consolidate to the main site thread.

arn
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no I'm sorry for complaining, not usually my nature. it's no biggie really so I don't know what set me off.
Back on track, yeah the software is not complete yet, but it's a fine start and I'm sure a welcome "helping hand" to a lot of developers.
 
It integrates a lot better than XDarwin+OroborOSX, plus it has the add benifit of being quartz accelerated. I just hope this doesn't stop people from porting app to native Quartz apps. I wonder why it took them so long. I guess they are trying to arract the real Unix crowd and pick up where Unix is dying.
 
Originally posted by mmmdreg
In fact, I opened an xterm and it was above the menu bar so I can't move it at all...
Click to expand...
back when i had xdarwin installed, you could set up what programs launched when it started by editing the .xinitrc file which also allowed you to set the screen coordinates. xterm is probably set to launch at 0x0. i'm assuming that apple's version uses a .xinitrc of some kind (do a "locate" in the terminal). as for the other troubles, it's still at .1, it will become much better.
 
Originally posted by RandomMacGuy
This still needs a LOT of work (e.g. The applications menu doesn't work properly even) but if it is open source -- and I suspect it is -- I will be quick to help out.
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Duff-Man says - "a 0.1 release usually does need a lot of work..." Oh Yeah!
 
Does this mean I can run OpenOffice now?

For those of you UNIX CLI geeks, please forgive my ignorance; I'm just a GUI guy from way back. I would love it if I could just install this X11 from a DMG or something and then install OpenOffice the same way. I tried once or twice installing UNIX stuff that was very complicated for me to install, and I just didn't get it. I'll wait until there's an easier way. Is this X11 the easier way I've been waiting for?
 
hmmm.. here's hoping that X11 becomes a standard part of the OS... maybe even integrate the X11 protocol into the OS X Window Manger, allowing X apps to connect without having to startup a separate server.

Anyone else think it's kinda ironic that Apple has done a better job of making X11 apps integrate into Aqua than Classic apps? 🙂
 
XDarwin still owns it...btw Blackbox (get it from fink) IS the best window manager IMHO..go try it out...the default XDarwin wm is a piece of crap..
 
Re: Does this mean I can run OpenOffice now?

Originally posted by Switcher2001
For those of you UNIX CLI geeks, please forgive my ignorance; I'm just a GUI guy from way back. I would love it if I could just install this X11 from a DMG or something and then install OpenOffice the same way. I tried once or twice installing UNIX stuff that was very complicated for me to install, and I just didn't get it. I'll wait until there's an easier way. Is this X11 the easier way I've been waiting for?
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Duff-Man says....you can get the lastest (and last) beta of OpenOffice from one of the mirrors listed here: http://porting.openoffice.org/mac/ooo-osx_downloads.html Oh Yeah!
 
Re: Does this mean I can run OpenOffice now?

Originally posted by Switcher2001
For those of you UNIX CLI geeks, please forgive my ignorance; I'm just a GUI guy from way back. I would love it if I could just install this X11 from a DMG or something and then install OpenOffice the same way. I tried once or twice installing UNIX stuff that was very complicated for me to install, and I just didn't get it. I'll wait until there's an easier way. Is this X11 the easier way I've been waiting for?
Click to expand...

simply, yes. its a dmg with a pkg in it. its no harder than installing isync.
 
Windows not moveable? Run window manager!

Sounds like you need to modify your .xinitrc file to include 'exec quartz-wm' as the last line to start up the Quartz window manager. That'll attach window bars to your windows and make sure they're moveable and onscreen.
 
Originally posted by RandomMacGuy
This still needs a LOT of work (e.g. The applications menu doesn't work properly even) but if it is open source -- and I suspect it is -- I will be quick to help out.
Click to expand...

The actual XServer is XFree86 which is the defacto open source X11 implentation. The Applications menu does work, you just need to put the FULL path into the command column (for example /sw/bin/gimp to start gimp on my iBook and /Applications/OpenOffice.org1.0.1/program/swrite to start the OpenOffice word processor).
 
Re: Windows not moveable? Run window manager!

Originally posted by wfolta
Sounds like you need to modify your .xinitrc file to include 'exec quartz-wm' as the last line to start up the Quartz window manager. That'll attach window bars to your windows and make sure they're moveable and onscreen.
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sweet!!!!!! hell yeah that worked for me.

Not only that, but they behave exactly like they should. The resize button works great, you can minimize x windows to the dock, rock on. Multiple screen support is awesome.

Seriously, if you are running xDarwin, give it a try. They are both using XFree86, but the real win is the quartz-wm. Follow the directions above, and you will be very happy.

The next cool feature would be if you could send windows from apple apps to another Mac running the quartz-wm. that would be awesome. There is a differnce between running rdesktop or vnc and just setenv DISPLAY and running an app from another computer in the same UI as the rest of your apps
 
Im new to all this X11 stuff but im trying to learn...

Where can I get a good full featured EMACS to run under X11??

Thanks guys!
 
For those of you who are interested in installing applications that run in xfree86, I would go to fink and read up on it. If you do install it you will have to use the terminal in the beginning.

After that you will have a choice of GUI or CLI. If you want to use a GUI then go to finkcommander and download that. You'll be able to control fink without having to use the terminal then.

Only do this if you want to learn though. It isn't so dumbed down yet that anyone can do it but it is the easiest way to do it right now.

Eric
 
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