The Original X Window Announcement

19 June 1984 From: rws@mit-bold (Robert W. Scheifler) To: window@athena Subject: window system X Date: 19 Jun 1984 0907-EDT (Tuesday) I've spent the last couple weeks writing a window system for the VS100. I stole a fair amount of code from W, surrounded it with an asynchronous rather than a synchronous interface, and called it X. Overall performance appears to be about twice that of W. The code seems fairly solid at this point, although there are still some deficiencies to be fixed up. We at LCS have stopped using W, and are now actively building applications on X. Anyone else using W should seriously consider switching. This is not the ultimate window system, but I believe it is a good starting point for experimentation. Right at the moment there is a CLU (and an Argus) interface to X; a C interface is in the works. The three existing applications are a text editor (TED), an Argus I/O interface, and a primitive window manager. There is no documentation yet; anyone crazy enough to volunteer? I may get around to it eventually. Anyone interested in seeing a demo can drop by NE43-531, although you may want to call 3-1945 first. Anyone who wants the code can come by with a tape. Anyone interested in hacking deficiencies, feel free to get in touch.

A scanned reproduction of Robert W. Scheifler's 19 June 1984 email announcing the X window system, describing its early code, interfaces, applications, and request for collaborators. The joke is that an informal early announcement of a foundational technology now appears historically momentous, especially when shared on the 40th anniversary of the X Window System. EN: A scanned reproduction of Robert W. Scheifler's 19 June 1984 email announcing the X window system, describing its early code, interfaces, applications, and request for collaborators. The joke is that an informal early announcement of a foundational technology now appears historically momentous, especially when shared on the 40th anniversary of the X Window System.

• @gentoomemes / 11902 2024-06-19