From owner-freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Jun 8 18:38:14 2004 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 70C5016A4CE; Tue, 8 Jun 2004 18:38:14 +0000 (GMT) Received: from pittgoth.com (14.zlnp1.xdsl.nauticom.net [209.195.149.111]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id E35E243D58; Tue, 8 Jun 2004 18:38:13 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from trhodes@FreeBSD.org) Received: from localhost.pittgoth.com (acs-24-154-235-189.zoominternet.net [24.154.235.189]) (authenticated bits=0) by pittgoth.com (8.12.11/8.12.11) with ESMTP id i58IcBRJ025132 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=NOT); Tue, 8 Jun 2004 14:38:12 -0400 (EDT) (envelope-from trhodes@FreeBSD.org) Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2004 14:38:41 -0400 From: Tom Rhodes To: Mark Linimon Message-Id: <20040608143841.4b036aa6@localhost.pittgoth.com> In-Reply-To: <200406051411.04259.linimon@lonesome.com> References: <200406051411.04259.linimon@lonesome.com> X-Mailer: Sylpheed version 0.9.10claws (GTK+ 1.2.10; i386-portbld-freebsd5.2) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit cc: freebsd-x11@FreeBSD.org cc: freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: RFC: add text about freedesktop.org and related topics to FAQ X-BeenThere: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: Documentation project List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 08 Jun 2004 18:38:14 -0000 On Sat, 5 Jun 2004 14:11:04 -0500 Mark Linimon wrote: > Index: book.sgml > =================================================================== > RCS file: /home/FreeBSD/dcvs/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/faq/book.sgml,v > retrieving revision 1.620 > diff -u -r1.620 book.sgml > --- book.sgml 31 May 2004 14:58:51 -0000 1.620 > +++ book.sgml 5 Jun 2004 18:50:56 -0000 > @@ -7002,6 +7002,83 @@ > > > > + > + What is the X Window System? > + > + > + > + > + The X Window System is the most popular windowing system > + capable of running on UNIX or UNIX-like systems, including 'the most popular' kind of rubs me the wrong way. Is there any proof that it is the most popular? Polls or otherwise? I know that by default Solaris installs CDE which I don't think uses X in any way. NOTE: I have not powered up my Sun in weeks and I may be wrong about this. > + &os;. X.org administers > + the X protocol > + standards. The current release of the specification > + is 11.6, so you will often see references shortened to > + X11R6 or even just X11. > + > + > + Many implementations are available for different > + architectures and operating systems. For instance, an > + implementation of the server-side code is properly known > + as an X server. > + > + > + > + > + > + > + Which X servers are available for &os;? > + > + > + > + > + In the past, if you wanted to run X on &os;, you were > + basically restricted to running an X implementation called > + XFree86™ which is maintained by s/XFree86™/&xfree86;/g > + The XFree86 Project, > + Inc. This software was installed by default on > + &os; versions up until 4.10 and 5.2. Although X.org tags please. :) > + itself maintained an implementation during that time > + period, it was basically only provided as a reference > + platform, as it had suffered greatly from bitrot over > + the years. > + > + However, early in 2004, the XFree86 Project split > + over issues including the pace of code changes, future > + directions, and a licensing change. X.org updated its > + source tree to the last XFree86 release before the > + licensing change (XFree86 version 4.3.99.903), incorporated > + many changes that had previously been maintained separately, I think we want tags around the software name and version, but poll the list for more. > + and has released that software as X11R6.7.0. A separate but > + related project, > + freedesktop.org (or fd.o for short), > + is working on rearchitecting the original XFree86 code to > + reflect modern graphics card technology (with the goal of > + greatly increased performance) and modern software practices > + (with the goal of incresed maintainability, and thus faster > + releases as well as easier configuration). X.org intends to > + incorporate the fd.o changes in its future releases. > + > + The current technology roadmap for &os; includes > + replacing XFree86 with fd.o as the default server sometime fd.o ? > + later in 2004 under the assumption that the pace of its > + development will more closely match that of &os; itself. > + The XFree86 ports > + (x11/XFree86-4 and > + subports) will remain in the ports collection and be supported > + as developer interest permits. Note that it is not currently > + possible to mix-and-match pieces of each implementation; this > + problem is being actively worked on. Perhaps the note above could be placed into a caution tag. It doesn't seem like a note but more like a warning or caution. > + > + > + The following paragraphs refer to the existing > + XFree86 implementation, but most should also be applicable > + to the fd.o implementation as well. > + > + > + > + > + > > I want to run X, how do I go about it? > Hope that helps, remember that you are not required to take my advice. :) -- Tom Rhodes