X.org
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| X.org | |
|---|---|
| Name | X.org |
| Developer | X.Org Foundation |
| Operating system | Unix-like |
| Type | Windowing system |
| License | MIT License |
X.org is a free and open-source windowing system for Unix-like operating systems, including Linux, BSD, and Solaris. It was created by the X.Org Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Jim Gettys and Keith Packard, with the goal of maintaining and developing the X Window System. The project is supported by major Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora, as well as by companies like Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA. X.org is widely used in conjunction with desktop environments like GNOME and KDE.
Introduction
X.org is the most widely used windowing system on Unix-like operating systems, providing a foundation for graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and desktop environments. It is designed to be highly customizable and extensible, with a large community of developers contributing to its development, including Red Hat, Novell, and Sun Microsystems. X.org is compatible with a wide range of hardware platforms, including x86, ARM, and PowerPC, and is used in various embedded systems, such as set-top boxes and mobile devices, running Android and iOS. The system is also used in supercomputers, such as those running Linux at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
History
The X.org project was founded in 2004, as a fork of the XFree86 project, which was the primary implementation of the X Window System at the time. The fork was led by Jim Gettys and Keith Packard, who were dissatisfied with the direction of the XFree86 project, and wanted to create a more open and community-driven development process, similar to that of the Apache Software Foundation and the Free Software Foundation. The X.org project quickly gained support from major Linux distributions and companies, including Red Hat, Novell, and Intel, as well as from IBM, HP, and Oracle Corporation. The project has since become the de facto standard for windowing systems on Unix-like operating systems, with contributions from developers at Google, Microsoft, and Apple Inc..
Architecture
X.org is designed as a modular and extensible system, with a client-server architecture, similar to that of the World Wide Web and FTP. The system consists of a server, which manages the display and input devices, and clients, which are applications that use the server to display graphics and receive input, such as Mozilla Firefox and LibreOffice. The server and clients communicate using the X protocol, which is a standardized protocol for remote graphical communication, developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). X.org also provides a range of libraries and tools, such as Xlib and XCB, which make it easy for developers to create graphical user interfaces and desktop environments, using programming languages like C++ and Java.
Features
X.org provides a wide range of features, including support for multiple displays, 3D graphics, and input devices, such as keyboards, mouses, and touchpads. The system also includes support for accessibility features, such as screen readers and on-screen keyboards, developed by organizations like the Accessibility Directorate and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. X.org is highly customizable, with a wide range of options for configuring the display, input devices, and other aspects of the system, using tools like Xconfig and Xrandr. The system is also extensible, with a large collection of extensions and plugins available, developed by companies like Adobe Systems and Autodesk.
Releases
X.org releases are typically made on a regular schedule, with new versions of the system being released every 6-12 months, following a similar release cycle to that of the Linux kernel and the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC). Each release includes a range of new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements, developed by contributors from organizations like Canonical Ltd. and SUSE. The X.org project also provides a range of stable releases, which are maintained for a longer period of time, and are suitable for use in production environments, such as those used by NASA and the European Space Agency. The project is supported by a large community of developers, including those from Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks.
Community
The X.org community is large and active, with many developers and users contributing to the project, including those from Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. The project has a range of mailing lists and IRC channels, where developers and users can discuss the system and get help with any issues they may be experiencing, similar to those used by the Apache Software Foundation and the Free Software Foundation. X.org also has a range of documentation and tutorials available, which make it easy for new users to get started with the system, including those developed by IBM and HP. The project is supported by a range of sponsors, including Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA, as well as by organizations like the Linux Foundation and the Open Source Initiative.