SuperLinux Encyclopedia - The X Window System

Note: This page does not concern itself with most X applications (like xterm). X applications are listed individually or with other applications. Also see the GUI page which covers other X-based software like Motif.

Note: Also see "Fonts" on home page..

General Subject:

• NEWSGROUPS: comp.windows.x.{,announce,apps,i386unix,intrinsics,motif}
• END-USER CUSTOMIZATION OF XT APPLICATIONS
• Introduction to the X Window System (doc at U.of Virginia)
• The X Window System  Intro by C.Browne.
• LBX mini-HOWTO  How to use Low-Bandwidth X (LBX).
• Multiple displays:
  • As of early '98 (?) only the commercial X servers supported multiple "screens". The design of X11 supports multiple "screens" (monitors) per "display" (X server).
  • Multiple display of one X screen  I think this has the same image on multiple monitors.
• Remote X operations
• Screen dumping, etc:
  • How to dump a screen region
  • xwd: Dump an image of an X window. Undump it with "xwud". Use xwdtopnm, pnmtoxwd, and other tools to convert formats.
  • xv & gimp are also said to be able to capture areas of the screen.
• Screen Savers & Screen Locking (See Displays page for DPMS power saving):
  • X servers come with a built screen saver. Useful options to "X" are -s min, -p min, -logo, logo, -v, v. Some can be overridden using "xset". Useful options are "s [option]"
  • Freshmeat: Screensavers
  • beforelight: A slightly more interesting replacement for the built-in screen saver. Poor man page. It doesn't act instantly, but acts like a replacement for the built-in one.
  • setterm -blank #: This should work for those non-X console users.
  • xlock: A very configurable screensaver or screen (console) locker with about 60 "modes". Use in combination with "xautolock" to use as a auto screen locker.
  • Xautolock  "monitors console activity under the X window system, and fires up a program of your choice if nothing happens during a user-configurable period of time."
  • Xlock and Xlockmore  Jun'97 LG
  • Xscreensaver:
    • Home Page  By jwz; a much better replacement for xlock+xautolock.
    • Review  Jan'98 LG
• Wallpaper  Setting background colors, patterns, and images.
• X Benchmarks (see benchmarks)
• X Consortium
• X Big Cursor mini-HOWTO  How to use enlarged cursors with XWindows.
• comp.windows.x.apps FAQ
• X Servers:
  • Accelerated-X  $; X server by Xi Graphics.
  • Metro-X ($; X server by Metro Link, Inc.)
  • SciTech Display Doctor  $; "The Universal Display Driver Utility for Linux" & X server. [Review: Jan'99 LJ]
  • XFree86:
    • XFree86.org (with much documentation)
    • XFree86-3D-status FAQ 
    • XFree86 FAQ
    • XFree86 HOWTO  How to obtain, install, and configure XFree86 3.2 (X11R6).
    • XFree86 Video Timings HOWTO  How to compose a mode line for XFree86.
    • XFree86-XInside mini-HOWTO  How to convert XFree86 to XInside modelines.
  • S.u.S.E X Servers:
    • XSuSE X server (often has a few that are not yet in XFree)
  • TinyX (runs in small memory systems)
  • X servers and Neomagic chipsets (many laptop brands)
• X11.org "anything and everything X"

X Configuration:

• Also see "X Servers" above.
• Files and programs:
  • Note: Be sure to take a look at several related man[ual] pages, namely those for "Xserver", "XFree86", "X", and the one for your particular X server. Be sure to look at the "FILES" and "SEE ALSO" sections of "Xserver" and "XFree86", where most X servers are named and other files and programs listed.
  • XF86Config: Textual config file for X servers. Usually in /etc or /usr/X11R6/lib/X11 . Has a man[ual] page.
  • xf86config: Non-X program for creating an XF86Config file. Has a man[ual] page.
  • XF86Setup: X program for creating an XF86Config file. Has a man[ual] page.
  • xvidtune: X program for optimizing XF86Config "modelines".
• Linux Installation Primer: X Configuration  Oct'98 LG
• XFree86 Video Timings HOWTO How to compose a mode line for XFree86.
• Linux RIVA128 Xconfigurator Guide (HOWTO get Riva128 working with X11)
• Xtoolwait "decreases the startup time of your X sessions" (serializes startup so OS doesn't get inefficient)
• Customizing X - So where IS everything?  Aug'95 LG
• Customizing X with vgaset  Aug'95 LG
• Customizing X with Xaw3d - it's easy>!  Aug'95 LG
• Unclutter review  Mar'96 LG
• XDM & X-only consoles:
  • HOW TO set up XDM
  • Customizing Logins with XDM  Aug'96 LG
  • Ask Slashdot: How do I get an X only console using Linux?
• Ask Slashdot: Unexpected X-Windows Crashes?
• Ask Slashdot: Getting X to run on Dell Latitude XP 4100C  Generic X setup help too.

Other X Programming:

• Programming X APIs
• XDND - X Drag 'N Drop (proposed standard protocol)
• John Meacham's mxt "a fast and simple X toolkit for C++" (for building into a program)

To be moved:

To make xterm insert "string" when you press F1, use this X resource: xterm*VT100.Translations: #override F1: string("string")

End of page.