nanogui: Microwindows/Nano-X version 0.87pre1 released
Subject:
Microwindows/Nano-X version 0.87pre1 released
From:
"Greg Haerr" ####@####.####
Date:
2 Dec 1999 08:37:35 -0000
Message-Id: <008301bf3c8e$c425d6e0$15320cd0@gregh>
I have prepared an interim release of Microwindows and Nano-X enhancements,
which
completes many things folks have asked for, version 0.87pre1. This is available
for
download at:
ftp://microwindows.censoft.com/pub/microwindows/microwindows-0.87pre1.tar.gz
The major enhancements include:
o support for running under X11. Microwindows and Nano-X can now run as a
user-defined (default 640x480) window under X Windows. The graphics output
and look and feel are identical to framebuffer, but will run on any X display
server.
Compile-time options allow configuration to emulate any of the Microwindows
truecolor or palette modes, in any pixel depth, including grayscale. This
allows
a Microwindows or Nano-X application to be emulated exactly, regardless of
the host's or target's framebuffer characteristics. Thanks to Tony Rogvall for
the X11 driver.
o the client/server network code has been completely rewritten for
_speed_!!!
I studied the X11 Xlib implementation and came up with a similar implementation.
By queuing all client data until an event or reply is required, Nano-X now runs
at extremely high speed. Unlike the Xlib implementation, Nano-X still runs
synchronously per client, meaning that once a client request packet is sent,
the server waits until the whole packet has arrived until servicing another
client.
This keeps the server code immensely simpler, while still running very quickly.
I urge interested folks to check out the implementation, in
mwin/src/nanox/nxproto.{ch}, and mwin/src/nanox/client.c.
o routines were added to allow Nano-X to be used as a "passive library",
meaning that an application with it's own main loop can now call into Nano-X
occaisonally (after a select returns a file descriptor that Nano-X is interested
in),
and it will all work. This was done for Morten. See mwin/src/nanox/client.c,
functions GrPrepareSelect(), GrServiceSelect(), GrMainLoop().
o routines were added to get the system palette, and translate an RGB color
to a PIXELVAL palette index. This was for Richard and the Opera browser.
See mwin/src/nanox/srvfunc.c, functions GrGetSystemPalette, GrFindColor().
o a null mouse driver was added for systems without a mouse, by setting
NOMOUSE=1 in Makefile.
This is released as 0.87pre1 because I still haven't finished the directory tree
reorganization, and adding Martin's cool X11 graphics makefile configuration
tool. The client/server code rewrite took alot more time than expected.
I am also working on getting all source on CVS.
Please try it out, and send bug reports and enhancement requests to me or the
nanogui list.
Greg
