Date: Tue, 8 Jun 2004 14:38:41 -0400 From: Tom Rhodes <trhodes@FreeBSD.org> To: Mark Linimon <linimon@lonesome.com> Cc: freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: RFC: add text about freedesktop.org and related topics to FAQ Message-ID: <20040608143841.4b036aa6@localhost.pittgoth.com> In-Reply-To: <200406051411.04259.linimon@lonesome.com> References: <200406051411.04259.linimon@lonesome.com>
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On Sat, 5 Jun 2004 14:11:04 -0500 Mark Linimon <linimon@lonesome.com> 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 @@ > > <qandaset> > <qandaentry> > + <question id="whatis-X"> > + <para>What is the X Window System?</para> > + </question> > + > + <answer> > + > + <para>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;. <ulink url= "http://www.x.org">X.org</ulink>; administers > + the <ulink url="http://www.x.org/X11_protocol.html">X protocol > + standards</ulink>. The current release of the specification > + is 11.6, so you will often see references shortened to > + <literal>X11R6</literal> or even just <literal>X11</literal>. > + </para> > + > + <para>Many implementations are available for different > + architectures and operating systems. For instance, an > + implementation of the server-side code is properly known > + as an <literal>X server</literal>.</para> > + > + </answer> > + </qandaentry> > + > + <qandaentry> > + <question id="which-X"> > + <para>Which X servers are available for &os;?</para> > + </question> > + > + <answer> > + > + <para>In the past, if you wanted to run X on &os;, you were > + basically restricted to running an X implementation called > + <literal>XFree86</literal>™ which is maintained by s/<literal>XFree86</literal>™/&xfree86;/g > + <ulink url="http://www.xfree86.org">The XFree86 Project, > + Inc.</ulink> This software was installed by default on > + &os; versions up until 4.10 and 5.2. Although X.org <hostname> 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.</para> > + > + <para>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 <application> 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, <ulink url="http://www.freedesktop.org">; > + freedesktop.org</ulink> (or <literal>fd.o</literal> 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.</para> > + > + <para>The current technology roadmap for &os; includes > + replacing XFree86 with fd.o as the default server sometime <filename>fd.o</filename> ? > + later in 2004 under the assumption that the pace of its > + development will more closely match that of &os; itself. > + The XFree86 ports > + (<filename role="package">x11/XFree86-4</filename> 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.</para> 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. > + > + <note> > + <para>The following paragraphs refer to the existing > + XFree86 implementation, but most should also be applicable > + to the fd.o implementation as well.</para> > + </note> > + </answer> > + </qandaentry> > + > + <qandaentry> > <question id="running-X"> > <para>I want to run X, how do I go about it?</para> > </question> Hope that helps, remember that you are not required to take my advice. :) -- Tom Rhodes
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