Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!samsung!uunet!orca!javelin.sim.es.com!bgeer
From: bgeer@javelin.sim.es.com (Bob Geer)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.open-look
Subject: Re: olwm resource question
Message-ID: <1991Jun21.145445.19767@javelin.sim.es.com>
Date: 21 Jun 91 14:54:45 GMT
References: <9106171252.AA1069@cas.org> <50@tdatirv.UUCP> <14480@dog.ee.lbl.gov> <1991Jun20.150622.9995@javelin.sim.es.com> <56571@rphroy.UUCP>
Reply-To: bgeer%javelin@dsd.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah
Lines: 30

rhaar@albert.cs.gmr.com (Robert L. Haar CS50) writes:
>In article <1991Jun20.150622.9995@javelin.sim.es.com>,
>bgeer@javelin.sim.es.com (Bob Geer) writes:
>|> More precisely, "copy /usr/openwin/lib/Xdefaults" into a file called
>|> ".Xdefaults" in your directory.  Then your .xinitrc must include the
>|> line "xrdb .Xdefaults &" to prepare the x server's resource database.
>I have had problems that traced back to the "&" in this xrdb call. The
>problem is that putting this into the background allows the openwindows
>initialization to begin before the xrdb load is done. A race condition
>can occur where the olwm setup depends on resource database values
>that haven't been set yet.  You are safer to wait until the xrdb
>finishes before going on. This is especially the case when your
>.Xdefaults file is complicated or when you have more than one resource
>definition file to load.

I checked the distribution file "/usr/openwin/lib/Xinitrc" which I
assume is intended to be a prototype .xinitrc that a user might copy &
customize.  It does use the "xrdb $HOME/.Xdefaults &" form; surely Sun
must know what it is doing, at least for their "standard" .xinitrc.
However, Mr. Harr's point shouldn't be ignored.  Further, the example
in the X Window System User's Guide (OSF/Motif edition) p559 omits the
"&".

I thank Mr. Haar for bringing this to my attention.

-- 
<> Bob `Bear' Geer <>   bgeer%javelin.sim.es.com   (this *should* work)   <>
<>     cola-zombie <>   speaking only for myself, one of my many tricks   <>
<> Salt Lake City, <>    "We must strive to be more than we are, Lal."    <>
<>          Ootah  <>           -- Cmdr. Data, learning schmaltz          <>