Ultrix Window Manager
Encyclopedia
The Ultrix Window Manager (uwm) was the standard window manager for the X Window System
from X11R1 through X11R3 releases. In fact, it was the only X11-compatible window manager as of X11R1.
for their Ultrix
operating system
. It was released in 1985. Shortly thereafter, it became included as part of the base X Window System distribution, beginning with X10R3. Initially, it was distributed alongside two other window managers (xwm and xnwm).
In 1986 the X Window System switched to X11 version of protocol. Only uwm was ported, so it became the only window manager
for X Window System until X11R4 release, where it was replaced by twm
. uwm was never updated ever since.
, and did not place frames or title bars on windows. Instead, all window management functionality was accessed either by clicking on the root window to bring up a menu or by holding down the Meta key
while clicking or dragging within windows. It was possible to configure the key and mouse button bindings and the contents of the menus by using a configuration file, a feature inherited by many later window managers.
uwm did not provide ICCCM compatibility or multiple screen support.
Descendants of uwm include awm
and Tekwm (the Tektronix
Window Manager), which also are currently not updated.
X Window System
The X window system is a computer software system and network protocol that provides a basis for graphical user interfaces and rich input device capability for networked computers...
from X11R1 through X11R3 releases. In fact, it was the only X11-compatible window manager as of X11R1.
History
The Ultrix Window Manager was developed by the Digital Equipment CorporationDigital Equipment Corporation
Digital Equipment Corporation was a major American company in the computer industry and a leading vendor of computer systems, software and peripherals from the 1960s to the 1990s...
for their Ultrix
Ultrix
Ultrix was the brand name of Digital Equipment Corporation's native Unix systems. While ultrix is the Latin word for avenger, the name was chosen solely for its sound.-History:...
operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
. It was released in 1985. Shortly thereafter, it became included as part of the base X Window System distribution, beginning with X10R3. Initially, it was distributed alongside two other window managers (xwm and xnwm).
In 1986 the X Window System switched to X11 version of protocol. Only uwm was ported, so it became the only window manager
Window manager
A window manager is system software that controls the placement and appearance of windows within a windowing system in a graphical user interface. Most window managers are designed to help provide a desktop environment...
for X Window System until X11R4 release, where it was replaced by twm
Twm
In computing, twm is the standard window manager for the X Window System, version X11R4 onwards...
. uwm was never updated ever since.
Description
Unlike more recent window managers, uwm was not re-parentingRe-parenting window manager
A stacking window manager is a window manager that draws all windows in a specific order, allowing them to overlap, using a technique called painter's algorithm...
, and did not place frames or title bars on windows. Instead, all window management functionality was accessed either by clicking on the root window to bring up a menu or by holding down the Meta key
Meta key
The meta key is a special key on MIT keyboards, such as the space-cadet keyboard, and on Sun Microsystems keyboards, marked as a solid diamond.The key is similar in function to the Macintosh's command key, which has the same location...
while clicking or dragging within windows. It was possible to configure the key and mouse button bindings and the contents of the menus by using a configuration file, a feature inherited by many later window managers.
uwm did not provide ICCCM compatibility or multiple screen support.
Descendants of uwm include awm
Ardent Window Manager
In computing, the Ardent Window Manager was an early window manager for the X Window System. It was descended from uwm.awm was written by Jordan Hubbard for the Ardent Computer Corporation's TITAN line of workstations in 1988, which ran a version of X11R2...
and Tekwm (the Tektronix
Tektronix
Tektronix, Inc. is an American company best known for its test and measurement equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and video and mobile test protocol equipment. In November 2007, Tektronix became a subsidiary of Danaher Corporation....
Window Manager), which also are currently not updated.
License
External links
- uwm source code and binaries (MIT Project AthenaProject AthenaProject Athena was a joint project of MIT, Digital Equipment Corporation, and IBM to produce a campus-wide distributed computing environment for educational use. It was launched in 1983, and research and development ran until June 30, 1991, eight years after it began...
)