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From: dale@boing.UUCP (Dale Luck)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Re: X-Windows and XINU
Message-ID: <961@boing.UUCP>
Date: 26 Mar 91 07:11:08 GMT
Reply-To: dale@boing.UUCP (Dale Luck)
Organization: Boing, Milpitas, Ca.
Lines: 48


In article <1991Mar24.220320.15446@ibmpcug.co.uk> object@ibmpcug.co.uk (Ken Tough) writes:
>As mentioned in another article, we use an operating system
>closely based on XINU for various real-time programming applications.

>We would like to run the client window manager on our machines, which
>would then be connected to standard X-terminals or servers.
>Our machines are 68000 based (*not 680[234]0 based*), using this 
>XINU-like OS.
>- We were told the (8/10) MHz 16bit 68000 would be just too slow to 
>  run the Xwindows library calls.  This seems a little hard to swallow

I agree with you, the person making this statement should state
the hardware and os that they are refering to as inefficient to support
the X Window model. A standard 68000 running at 7.18mhz is clearly fast
enough if programmed properly as is evidenced by the many customers we
have using Amiga 500's and A2000's as both client and server systems.

>- The available X software seems portable among UNIXes but may be a
>  big job to port to non-UNIX OS.  Will SIGNALs and things like
>  select() calls be an enormous problem?

Signals usually can be emulated by most reasoably designed multitasking
os's. In the case of X Windows, there are very few signals that are
actually absolutely necessary. A good working select call is a must,
actually a minimal bsd socket emulation library is really needed. This
can usually be built on a well designed lower level ipc mechanism.

>- What don't we realize?
In our case the port of the clients/toolkits/etc. was not nearly as
difficult as the port of the Server.

Coexistant with the native graphics/user interface can be a source of
real trouble.

It is a big job porting X to a non-Unix platform. Fortunately the
Amiga OS has the underlying basics necessary to support a complete
X Window System.

>  Thanks for your help,
>  Ken Tough


Dale Luck
GfxBase, Inc.
-- 
Dale Luck     GfxBase/Boing, Inc.
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