KeithP's X Server: It's sexy

[Cossins]

Think of it like this:

Xfree is GNOME
Xouvert is Garnome (that's the devel-version of GNOME right?)
Xserver is KDE

That's plain crap...

XFree86 is an X11 implementation. Xouvert is a fork of that, which aims at faster development, unconservative patch policy and so on. Xserver (the new one) is a new X11 implementation, reusing the good parts of XFree86, with a rewritten core and a new structure.

Please don't try to sound like you know something about something, when you obviously don't...

[Edit]
Or did you mean more or less metaphorically speaking? In that case, I am deeply sorry for crapping out on you...
[/Edit]

- Simon

[jcmkk]

For Cossins there that wants to correct people by saying that Xouvert is a fork.
From the Xouvert FAQ:

2.1) I thought Xouvert was a fork, so who cares about XFree86(tm)?

Xouvert is a more public development branch. Not only do we want to maintain compatablity with the Standard X11 protocol, but we also what to have our work reintegrated and recontributed back into the XFree86 project. There are are alot of good things about XFree86, like its production quality stablity, and we don't want to reinvent the wheel.

[TheJabberwokk]

http://pdx.freedesktop.org/pipermail/xs ... 00008.html

[shm]

Can this be installed along side of a xfree install, or is it one ore the other.

It can be installed along side.

[shm]

Anyway, shm, how did you get KDE to run? Did you follow their installation instructions?

I did, but when I do `xterm -display :1` it complains saying that I cannot connect to the Xserver due to the suid bit (?). I haven't fiddled with it too much, I'll probably try again later tonight.

You need to start Xvesa as root.. I started it up this way:

sudo /opt/fdo/bin/Xvesa :1 -mode 0x117 -ac -dpi 96

0x117 is 1024x768 at 16 bbp.. plenty of other modes available, just search google. -ac turns access control OFF, so you can use -display and DISPLAY envars from outside. Xvesa defaults to a weird DPI, so I use -dpi 96.

Then I run the sample compositing manager: (I suppose in the future KDE and GNOME will have their own):

LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/fdo/lib /opt/fdo/bin/xcompmgr

Then I just start KDE from a virtual terminal (starting it from another X session seems to lockup the computer HARD)-- DISPLAY=:1 startkde

[shm]

http://pdx.freedesktop.org/pipermail/xs ... 00008.html

That seems like old instructions, because it's missing a lot of new extentions: much better guide here http://www.freedesktop.org/Software/XserverInstallGuide

[shm]

Anyone having troubles building from CVS at the moment? If so, take a look here.

Hmm.. I built it with automake 1.7.5 and autoconf 2.5.7 fine.

Damn automake, introducing minor incompatabilities between minor versions

[shm]

[Edit]
Or did you mean more or less metaphorically speaking? In that case, I am deeply sorry for crapping out on you...
[/Edit]

- Simon

Xouvert seems pretty dead lately. Not much activity on their mailing lists for a while. It never had the technical expertise that freedesktop.org seems to have (keith packard and jim gettys for X hacking, KDE, GNOME, XFCE, and ROX developers, etc...)

[Ian]

Will not having libtools-1.5 make a difference? From what I can see, that's not even in portage yet, even though it's been out since april (or so says their website)...

Also, with that automake-1.7.8 bug, how do I get around it (I don't understand what the bug report is saying, exactly)? Is it something as simple as editing some source to include the second parameter, or is it more involved?

I'd like to try this new xserver, but I don't want to break my computer, yet... :p

[Ian]

I did get the first section to build, but then another error pops up...

Code: Select all

automake-1.5: Makefile.am: warning: automake does not support libXdmcp_la_SOURCES being defined conditionally
autoreconf-2.58: automake failed with exit status: 1

Any ideas?

I'm trying to downgrade automake and autoconf, but that's about all I can think of to try. I'm sure that I'm doing the horribly wrong way, but eh, I'll learn, eventually...

[Peaceable Frood]

I have the same problem.

[Ian]

Downgrading automake and autoconf didn't even help either. Interesting.

When I saw the shot with the bugs on the screen, I thought they were a joke, not literal bugs in the code :p.

Oh well, hopefully someone can fix this within a day or two? Anyone that actually knows how this stuff works want to help us out?

I think it's time I started to learn how all this crazy stuff works...

[aethyr]

To everyone that's having automake/autoconf problems, try this before building:

Code: Select all

export WANT_AUTOCONF_2_5=1
export WANT_AUTOMAKE=1.7

I've gotten it to build fine, but I still haven't been able to connect clients to the server yet. I'm gonna try tonight (i.e. now).

[zez]

This is amazing! It's incredible to think of what is coming in the future: Linux 2.6, KDE 3.2 / GNOME 2.6, and now XServer.

I really need to make some time to test some CVS/alpha versions

[Ian]

Ah, exporting the variables makes it all work, so far (just got Xproto to compile). Thanks !

[TheJabberwokk]

http://pdx.freedesktop.org/pipermail/xs ... 00008.html

That seems like old instructions, because it's missing a lot of new extentions: much better guide here http://www.freedesktop.org/Software/XserverInstallGuide

This url includes a build script...and except for xcompmgr, its all there. It compiled fine but my mouse does not work.

[Peaceable Frood]

Linux is truly becoming ready for the Desktop for Joe Average. Just think we're all pioneers of the Linux frontier!

[SmegTheLight]

Xfree is GNOME
Xouvert is Garnome (that's the devel-version of GNOME right?)
Xserver is KDE

That analogy only works if you are one of those wierd people that people that belive KDE is better then GNOME, man decended from split pea soup, and that the answer is 42..

[Aurora]

I wonder when this will be more "finalized." Someone here described it as a pre-alpha. This is probably true as it more than likely will be an ongoing project. It's on a matter of time, though, if this project continues to progress substantially, before it is found in versions of Fedora, Suse, etc...

It looks very cool! For the time being I will stick with XFree, although this is quite a cool toy!

[Gandalf_Grey_]

Wow, the future of Linux looks very bright indeed.

[Ian]

Well, it compiles, and it works, but I have no idea how to get anything to work with it.

I can launch the server, as well as an xterm, but getting anything (preferably XFce4 ) to run after that, I have no idea how to make work.

The other problem I have is that I use Xinerama. I need Xinerama, I feel so much pain when only using one monitor at school . Seeing as most of the xserver stuff came from XFree86 (I think?) I would assume the support is still there, no? Has anyone tried Xinerama stuff, or know how to enable it?

Lastly, where's the configuration file to edit everything, cause I'd rather have a nice resolution and refresh rate over drop shadows and transparency .

[PlatinumCursor]

I am wondering if this Xserver is going to use the new XCB spec they ahve proposed, or is going to use Xlib again. It seems many of the old problems suers complained about actually stemmed from functionally defunct library, Xlib, so XCB would be a next step (also, it has a Xlib compatibility layer -there should be no reason why it ISNT included)

Also of intrest is session management in this new Xserver, whether its going to use the freedesktop standards (i think it starts with a D something), or rely on WM's or DE's to do session manager. Who knows. Exciting project, it really will get intresting in a few months. The key is going to be development of drivers - If strong and stable drivers are developed, this will sweep over Xfree86.

[petrjanda]

This looks great, we need something better than XFree86... I'd like to see the new xfree86 4.4 and what changes it will include.

[shm]

Well, it compiles, and it works, but I have no idea how to get anything to work with it.

I can launch the server, as well as an xterm, but getting anything (preferably XFce4 ) to run after that, I have no idea how to make work.

Make sure you have -ac in the args when you are launching it. Then, from a virtual terminal, DISPLAY=:1 startxfce4. xf4wm might not have the best support for this btw. If you feel that window movement is sluggish after running the compositing manager, try using metacity from gnome 2.4 or a _very_ recent kwin from CVS (I beleive that those are the only two that uses xsync ATM, which is needed for xdamage)

The other problem I have is that I use Xinerama. I need Xinerama, I feel so much pain when only using one monitor at school . Seeing as most of the xserver stuff came from XFree86 (I think?) I would assume the support is still there, no? Has anyone tried Xinerama stuff, or know how to enable it?

As far as I can see, there are a whole bunch of extentions missing (and a whole bunch added), I think xinerama is one of them that's missing ATM.

Lastly, where's the configuration file to edit everything, cause I'd rather have a nice resolution and refresh rate over drop shadows and transparency .

Hmm.. currently only VESA only seems to work-- you can change resolutions (look up xvesa modes in google), but refresh rates might be a great deal harder, since the xvidmode extention doesn't seem to be supported yet.

[aethyr]

screenshots / brief impressions:
http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?p=644879#644879

For pre-alpha software, it's surprisingly smooth, video plays at full speed. Unfortunately, my opengl drivers (nvidia) don't work, so no opengl for things like Zsnes, ScummVM, etc. Moving windows around (I hate that "benchmark", but others seem concerned) feels about a bit slower than Xfree86, and occasionally lags. I wouldn't be too worry about that though, as I don't think that speed is a priority right now for them. I don't really know how to do all those nifty transparent windows, but if someone else knows, lemme know :)

Currently it's not in a state where I'd use it as my everyday Xserver. However, it definately shows a lot of promise, and I look forward to seeing this project continue.