X-WINDOWS, GUI PROGRAMMING, AND MICROSOFT WINDOWS

Abstract

Every operating system has an underlying graphical user-interface that it supports. The graphical user-interface under UNIX is X-Windows. X-Windows has a rich and historical origin with capabilities that other GUI packages do not support. X-Windows is an important graphic tool; other tools exists that compliment X-Windows based development in one way or another. The technology behind X-Windows spawned a generation of similar types of graphical user interfaces on disparate operating systems; hence X-Windows can be called the father of all graphical user interfaces. XWindows provides an excellent foundation for userinterface development in a UNIX environment, yet supports usage with Microsoft Windows. In this paper we first provide a glimpse to the rich history behind X-Windows. We also examine programming considerations in X-Windows based development, where we also compare some of the methods within the X-Windows environment versus the Microsoft windows environment. Each window system has its own place, but there may be more to X-Windows than what many students and graduates of a typical IS program are exposed to. We will present a view as to why a software architect or engineer should approach a solution requiring a graphical interface with an unbiased focus and consider all tools and languages available, including libraries, network capabilities, spawning of images across networks to other computers, database considerations, debuggers, and source code maintenance.