On Sat, 8 Sep 2001 00:03:45 -0400 (EDT), Steve <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> On Fri, 7 Sep 2001, Clarence Verge wrote:
>> Would your binary run on my RH5.1or2 system ?
> Probably. But the one at the link above certainly
> will run on your 5.x system.
>> Or does it have YOUR
>> video driver(s) as part of its internal configuration ?
> "Video Drivers" are already installed on your machine.
> They got there when you installed X. Window managers are
> built on top of X.
> svgalib has the console "video drivers." Console
> graphics apps are built on top of that.
Now comes the chance for you to explain why four layers seem to be
involved in the graphical system and what is responsible for what. <G>
As it currently appears to me:
The bottom-most level is the video driver - part of SVGAlib or some
other. It is the hardware-specific interface.
Next is "X". What it does is beyond me right now. :-( Xconfig allows
you to select the proper video driver and the resolution(s) and color
depths you wish to run in, as well as configuring your mouse I think,
and selecting a "window" manager.
The window manager seems to be most important in the user interface
arena, controlling the general appearance of your screen and providing
menus and application launching.
The application is last, even tho IT is what you were after in the first
place. Whether Netscape looks like Netscape intended or something else
is my first question.
What sets the appearance of the buttons ? Netscape, the wm or X ?
My Netscape included with RH5.? is ver 4.6 (or 4.06) and it looks
like hell. How do I make the buttons look like buttons instead of
flat squares ? (I don't use icons)
Next, what decides how much screen Netscape will occupy the next
time I turn it on ? I can see that most X users like a mess of
little windows all over the place but I don't. I want to use the
ENTIRE screen for the ONE application on which I am focussing my
attention. Every time I start Netscape it seems to only occupy
60% of the available area, and there is no way (except manual
stretching) to make it go fullscreen.
Finally, my biggest question regards X. Does it actually DO anything?
It seems to be sandwiched between the important bits - the drivers
and the manager.
Finally +1, the method used by Michael which appears to allow the
application direct interface to the drivers makes most sense to me.
Why isn't it used more often ?
This is theoretical only - I haven't got it working yet. :(
- Clarence Verge
- Back to using Arachne V1.62 ....
