Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!think!ames!sdcsvax!ucbvax!ZERMATT.LCS.MIT.EDU!RWS
From: RWS@ZERMATT.LCS.MIT.EDU (Robert Scheifler)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: Speed of X11 on Sun
Message-ID: <870925133421.6.RWS@KILLINGTON.LCS.MIT.EDU>
Date: Fri, 25-Sep-87 13:34:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: KILLINGT.870925133421.6.RWS
Posted: Fri Sep 25 13:34:00 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 27-Sep-87 01:34:41 EDT
References: <8709251457.AA20330@catsim.silvlis.com>
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Distribution: world
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 16

X11 is documented to be *slow* in color on Suns (in contrast to the DEC
GPX code, which is reasonably fast).  This is because Sun took the
(desirable) path of trying to provide generic "color frame buffer" code
that was hopefully correct, highly portable, and easily reconfigured for
use on a variety of color frame buffers.  I believe that several other
companies have used this code to advantage in getting initial ports up
quickly on their hardware.  In that sense, Sun has done us a service.
However, the code is definitely slow as is.  I don't know of any
immediate plans for public speed improvements, but we would certainly
welcome any contributions in that direction.  For Suns in particular,
one could certainly dig in and replace various mi and cfb code with
pixrect code.  Doing just a few crucial things would go a long way.

Of course, Sun has said it is working on a combined NeWS/X server as a
product, and it will almost certainly be based on different, *fast*,
graphics code.  I suppose you can talk to your sales rep about "when".