An overview of the X toolkit

ABSTRACT

The X11 Window System defines a network protocol [6] for communication between a graphics server and an application. The X library [3] provides a procedural interface to the protocol. The X toolkit [4] is an object-oriented construction kit built on top of the X library. The toolkit is used to write user interface components (“widgets”), to organize a set of widget instances into a complete user interface, and to link a user interface with the functionality provided by an application. This paper describes the capabilities and structure of the X toolkit from three viewpoints: application developer, widget writer, and application user. We discuss the toolkit's mechanisms to address inefficiencies caused by the separation of application and server, and by the extensive user configurability of toolkit-based applications. We point out some drawbacks to using the toolkit, and briefly describe the tools being developed to overcome these problems.

REFERENCES

• 1: Luca Cardelli. Building User Zntqfaces by Direct Manipulation. Research Report 22, Digital Equipment Corporation, Systems Research Center, October 2, 1987.
• 2: Richard Carling. Pickling 'and Embellishing Widgets: Some Enhancements for the X Toolkit. January, 1988.(Handout from talk).
• 3: Jim Gettys, Ron Newman, Robert W. Scheifler. Xlib - C Language Zntegace X Version 1 I Release 2 edition, Software Distribution Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 1988.
• 4: Joel McCormack, Paul Asente, Ralph Swick. X Toolkit Library - C Language Interface X Version 11 Release 2 edition, Software Distribution Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 1988.
• 5: David S. H. Rosenthal. A Simple X. 11 Client Program, or, How hard can it really be to write 'Hello, World'? In Conference Proceedings, pages 229. Usenix, Winter, 1987.
• 6: Robert W. Scheifler. X Window System Protocol X Version 11 Release 2 edition, Software Distribution Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technoiogy, Cambridge, MA, 1988.
• 7: Ralph R. Swick and Mark S. Ackerman. The X Toolkit: MOR Bricks for Building User-Interfaces, or, Widgets for Hire. In Conference Proceedings, pages 221. Usenix, Winter, 1987.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.1 Network Architecture and Design
          Subjects: Network communications
      C.2.4 Distributed Systems
          Subjects: Distributed applications

  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques
          Subjects: User interfaces

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.6 Methodology and Techniques
          Subjects: Interaction techniques

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Performance