From: jg@decwrl.dec.com (Jim Gettys)
Newsgroups: comp.newprod
Subject: X WINDOW SYSTEM, C Library and Protocol Reference book
Keywords: X Window book Xlib Protocol
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Date: 9 Nov 88 23:22:23 GMT
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X WINDOW SYSTEM
C Library and Protocol Reference
By
Robert Scheifler/James Gettys/Ron Newman
Written by the people who designed and created the system, this
text is the essential reference tool for X and C programmers and
experienced computer users interested in expanding their use of
graphics and multiple window systems.
WHAT IS THE X WINDOW SYSTEM?
The X Window System, or "X" for short, is a network transparent window
system. X allows you to run multiple applications simultaneously in
windows, generating text and graphics in monochrome or color on a bitmap
display. X is designed to permit applications to be device independent;
that is, applications need not be rewritten, recompiled, or relinked
to work with new display hardware.
X provides facilities for generating multi-font text and two dimensional
graphics (such as points, lines, arcs, and polygons) in a hierarchy of
rectangular windows. Every window can be thought of as a "virtual
screen", and can in turn contain windows within it to arbitrary depth.
Windows can overlap each other, like stacks of papers on a desk, and can
be moved, resized, and restacked dynamically. Windows are designed to be
inexpensive resources; applications using several hundred subwindows are
common. For example, windows are often used to implement individual user
interface components such as scroll bars, menus, buttons, and so forth.
DESCRIPTION AND GENERAL CONTENTS OF BOOK:
This book contains the complete C Library and Protocol reference material,
together with an informative introduction, analytical diagrams, and a
very comprehensive technical index covering both parts of the book...
the essential reference manual for those programming with X and C.
The book consists of two parts:
PART I is the reference manual for the C Language X Interface Library,
also known as Xlib. It presents an overview of the system, explains how
to create and manipulate windows, and gives an in-depth look at the
graphics capabilities. The text also explains events, event-handling
functions, and a variety of utility functions.
PART II is a precise specifications of the X protocol semantics, with an
appendix defining the precise encoding. It is independent from any one
programming language and can be used as a starting point for creating
interface libraries for other programming languages.
Both the protocol and Xlib are considered standards by the MIT X
Consortium and are fast being adopted by leaders in the industry.
PART I, the Xlib manual, consists of ten chapters. Chapter 1 provides a
basic overview and establishes conventions used throughout the manual.
Chapter 2 deals with opening and closing connections, and obtaining basic
information about the connected display. Chapters 3 and 4 explain how to
create and manipulate windows. Graphic capabilities are presented in
Chapters 5 and 6. Window manager functions and data are described in
Chapters 7 and 9. Events and event-handling functions are explained in
Chapter 8. A variety of utility functions for keyboard input, command line
parsing, region arithmetic, and resource management are presented in
Chapter 10. An appendix describes Version 10 compatibility functions.
PART II, the protocol specification, not only serves as a starting point
for creating interface libraries, but also provides clarification on
points that may prove confusing in the the Xlib manual. Xlib does not
always provide a one-to-one mapping of procedures to protocol requests; an
appendix summaries the correspondence.
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Part I: Xlib - C Language X Interface
Chapter 1: Introduction to Xlib
Chapter 2: Display Functions
Chapter 3: Window Functions
Chapter 4: Window Information Functions
Chapter 5: Graphics Resource Functions
Chapter 6: Graphics Functions
Chapter 7: Window Manager Functions
Chapter 8: Events and Event-Handling Functions
Chapter 9: Predefined Property Functions
Chapter 10: Application Utility Functions
Part II: X Window System Protocol
Section 1: Protocol Formats
Section 2: Syntatic Conventions
Section 3: Common Types
Section 4: Errors
Section 5: Keyboards
Section 6: Pointers
Section 7: Predefined Atoms
Section 8: Connection Setup
Section 9: Requests
Section 10: Connection Close
Section 11: Events
Section 12: Flow Control and Concurrency
Appendix A: Xlib Functions and Protocol Requests
Appendix B: X Font Cursors
Appendix C: Extensions
Appendix D: Version 10 Compatibility Functions
Appendix E: KEYSYM Encoding
Appendix F: Protocol Encoding
Glossary
Index
WHO NEEDS THIS BOOK?
The book is intended for C programmers using X, for students looking for
graphics, windowing systems and user interface information, and those PC
users who want to learn about X programming.
AUTHORS:
ROBERT W, SCHEIFLER is the Director of the MIT X Consortium. He was the
chief architect of the X Window System protocol and participated in the
design and implementation of the CLU and Argus programming languages and
systems. He has a BS in Mathematics and an MS in Computer Science from
MIT.
JAMES GETTYS is a consultant engineer for Digital Equipment Corporation
and was previously stationed at MIT with Project Athena, as one of the
Digital engineers on site. He was the chief architect of the X library,
and participated in the X Window System protocol design. He has a BS in
Earth and Planetary Science from MIT.
RON NEWMAN is a software engineer at Lotus Development Corporation. He
graduated from MIT and worked at Project Athena for three years, and
participated in X Window system design.
SPECIFICS AND ORDERING INFORMATION:
Publication date: November 21, 1988, with a 1989 copyright
Pages: 732
Price: $55.00
ISBN: 1-55558-012-2
Digital Order Number: EY-6737E-DP
HOW TO ORDER:
Mail a check or Money Order, made out to Digital Equipment Corporation, for
$55.00.
If you pay by VISA or MasterCard, include your card number and expiration
date.
For VISA and MC orders, you may call: 1-800-343-8321
Mail to:
Sales Manager,
Digital Press
12 Crosby Drive BUO/E94
Bedford, MA 01730
Be sure to include your state sales tax.
Postage is paid.
X Window System is a trademark of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.