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Chapter 6. The X Window System

For more information, refer to the

XF86Config

man page.

To review the current configuration of your XFree86 server, type the

xset  q

command. This pro 

vides you with information about the keyboard, pointer, screen saver, and font paths.

6.3. Desktop Environments and Window Managers

The configuration of an XFree86 server is useless until accessed by an X client that will use it to

display a program using the hardware controlled by the X server. X clients are programs designed to

take advantage of the X server's hardware, usually to provide interactivity with a user.

You do not have to run a complicated window manager in conjunction with a particular desktop

environment to use X client applications. Assuming that you are not already in an X environment

and do not have an

.xinitrc

file in your home directory, type the

xinit

command to start X with

a basic terminal window (the default

xterm

application). You will see that this basic environment

utilizes your keyboard, mouse, video card, and monitor with the XFree86 server, using the server's

hardware preferences. Type exit at the

xterm

prompt to leave this basic X environment.

Of course, most computer users require more features and utility from their GUI. Developers have

added layers of features to create highly developed and interactive environments that utilize the full

power of the XFree86 server. These layers break into two fundamental groups based on their purpose.

6.3.1. Window Managers

Window managers are X client programs that control the way other X clients are positioned, resized,

or moved. Window managers can also provide titlebars to windows, keyboard focus by keyboard or

mouse, and user specified key and mouse button bindings. Window managers work with a collection

of different X clients, wrapping around the program, making it look a certain way and appear on the

screen in a particular place.

Four window managers are included with Red Hat Linux 8.0:

  twm

  The minimalist Tab Window Manager, which provides the most basic toolset of any of the

window managers.

  mwm

  The default window manager for the GNOME desktop environment,

mwm

stands for Metac 

ity Window Manager. It is a simple and efficient window manager which supports custom themes.

  sawfish

  This full featured window manager for was was the default until the release of Red

Hat Linux 8.0. It can be used either with or without the GNOME desktop environment.

  wmaker

  WindowMaker is a full featured GNU window manager designed to emulate the look

and feel of the NEXTSTEP environment.

These window managers can be run as individual X clients to gain a better sense of their differ 

ences. Type the

xinit

path to window manager

command, where

path to window 

>

?

>

manager

is the location of the window manager binary file. The binary file can be found by typing

?

which

window manager name

or by looking for the name of the window manager in a

bin

>

?

directory.

6.3.2. Desktop Environments

A desktop environment brings together assorted X clients that can be run together using similar meth 

ods, utilizing a common development environment.

Desktop environments are different from window managers, which only control the appearance and

placement of X client windows. Desktop environments contain advanced features that allow X clients

and other running processes to communicate with one another. This allows all applications written