Xref: utzoo comp.windows.x:2535 comp.sys.mac:13034
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!decwrl!granite!allen
From: allen@granite.dec.com (Allen Akin)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x,comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: X for the Mac?
Message-ID: <187@granite.dec.com>
Date: 23 Feb 88 03:10:56 GMT
References: <296@algol.spp2.UUCP> <2811@sfsup.UUCP>
Reply-To: allen@decwrl.dec.com (Allen Akin)
Organization: DEC Workstation Systems Engineering
Lines: 31
Keywords: X11

In article <2811@sfsup.UUCP> shap@sfsup.UUCP (J.S.Shapiro) writes:
>In article <296@algol.spp2.UUCP>, urban@spp2.UUCP writes:
>> Do I correctly understand that there is not, at present, an X11 server for
>> the Macintosh (generic)?  But that X11 will exist in some form under
>> A/UX on the Mac II only? 
>
>Yes, but this may have something to do wqith the fact that X.11 can't
>be considered stable yet. X 11.1 was very difficult to port, and
>the thing is still a sufficiently fast moving target that any
>company considering an X implementation for the WOMBAT-3000
>would do well to hold off until the X world slows down a bit.


MIT released X11 on 9/15/87.  Although the toolkit is still a
hotly-debated issue, the X11 protocol and basic programming interface
are quite stable.  Digital, Sun, Apollo, HP, and many other companies
have product-grade implementations in progress, and several ports have
been demonstrated at trade shows.

As for porting, our experience with X11 indicates that a
quick-and-dirty port should be easy.  For example, all graphics output
can be handled by writing just three routines.  You can then improve
performance by handling special cases to your heart's content.  I'm
writing this note on a performance-tuned X11 implemented in a few
months by a junior engineer and a high-school student.

I suspect there are lots of people porting X11 to the Mac OS.  (I'd
sure like to have a copy.)  If anyone has the time, the X11 sources are
available from MIT for a pittance.

Allen