Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!mailrus!bbn!ulowell!m2c!applix!scott
From: scott@applix.UUCP (Scott Evernden)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: X Performance
Message-ID: <878@applix.UUCP>
Date: 8 Dec 88 16:44:01 GMT
Sender: root@applix.UUCP
Reply-To: scott@applix.UUCP (Scott Evernden)
Organization: APPLiX Inc., Westboro MA
Lines: 37


What exactly do folks expect in terms of graphics performance from X Windows?
I've seen little mention of this topic since I've started reading this
newsgroup, and I'm curious to hear what others have to say.

I've been working with R2 (haven't gotten R3 yet) for about 6 weeks now on
a B&W Sun3, and I must say I'm pretty disappointed with performance.  I
understand the Sun server is completely unoptimized, but I feel that even
a 10 fold speed improvement won't cut it for the types of graphical
interaction I am attempting.

As a random example, I wanted to be able to fill a polygon with a graduated
shade.  In order to accomplish this, I needed to ask for several differently
filled polygons (in fact, they were rects) to be drawn.  The result was so
slow that I seriously doubt this sort of thing can be done effectively under
any X Windows server.

Even simple rubber-banding of lines, rects, etc. is, I feel, unacceptably
slow.  I would expect the update to look as tho the line/rect is _locked_
to the mouse cursor- like on a Macintosh or my Amiga.  (I believe that the
X server should be able to do these and other sorts of "common" interaction
techniques locally, without any intervention by the client.)

Does anyone really believe that xfig, under the current Sun server, is
actually even close to usable??  How about if it was 10 times faster?
What is the likelihood of a useful "paint" (i.e., pixel pumping) program
being developed under X Windows.  How about animation?  I mean, is it
believed that the client/server model is appropriate to meet the demands
of this type of application?  What types of applications is X Window
_unsuitable_ for?  

I've played a little bit with a "tuned" server on a different platform,
and I still think the performance is marginal.  Xfig is no more usable.
I've look at a beta Visual XDS.  I'd be unhappy with it on my desk, yet it
appears some people find it's speed adequate.  Certainly there must be
platforms which run exceptionally well- can someone talk about them??

-scott