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trusted_content · Jan 29, 2003, 05:49 PM

I know Xfree86 isn't GPL, so there is no obligation to release the source code, but seeing as Apple's X11 is basically an optimized XDarwin (whose source IS available via Fink) with a nice window manager, don't you think the community would be better off with some source to play with?

MacGorilla · Jan 29, 2003, 06:06 PM

Maybe but Apple is hardly the first company to do with X Windows. Recent examples are Tenon and Exodus.

asmodeus · Jan 31, 2003, 03:34 AM

The source code is available to download, even though they're not required to. http://developer.apple.com/darwin/projects/misc/

The source code of Quartz-WM however is not availble AFAIK.

Angus_D · Jan 31, 2003, 10:27 AM

Originally posted by asmodeus:
The source code of Quartz-WM however is not availble AFAIK.

This is because it uses private windowserver SPI (CGSRegion stuff), according to jkh.

el_humpo · Feb 2, 2003, 05:47 PM

Customized, high performance X servers are generally closed source. The next time someone says that X is slow, tell them to play with a SGI IRIX box.

However, the optimizations usually are hardware specific, and no hardware vendor wants everyone to be able to access the specs for their latest and greatest device. That's why nVidia only releases binary drivers for XFree86.

MacGorilla · Feb 2, 2003, 05:54 PM

I have an irix and the GUI is fasssssssssst.