Working in the X Windows System

2.1 introducing X window system

Linux uses the x windows system (x) as the evasion windowing system. A windowing system is a set of software libraries that manages the graphical capabilities of a system in addition it divides the flaunt quarter of the desktop aming multiple application x window system is a portable system this is because it is not tied to a few operating system or any hardware.

A window manager is used by a windowing system thw window  boss helps to keep roadway of the location of each window on the desktop it is also used to manage the size of each window the display management on the desktop and the window management are both performed separately as a result it is likely to change the appearance of the window environment by simply changing the window manager a window manager helps to customize the desktop according to the needs.

The most commonly used window manager for linux are :

Tab window manager (twm):provides features in a memory footprint of less than 1mb it support window decorations menus and icons but it does not provides support for virtualdesktops drag and drop feature and session management the twn window manager is used as a failsafe or a fallback which is the window manager for red hat that requires less video and system memory.

Mufti window manager (mwm) provides function that facilitate control over the location and size of the window.

Sawish window manager- includes seprate graphical clients such as sawfish –ui which is usedto set focus policy and other options its also support themes that help to change the appearance of the desktop.

Window maker window manager (wmaker)

Provides features such as desktop menu themes and vertical desktops red hat linux does not provides wmaker but it can be download from the internet.

The x windoe syetem uses the clint-server model in this model the client send the requireds for some service and the server responds to it . a service is a facility that is provides by the server such as the facility to display date and time x serveice is a software program tha responds to the client request x client are application program that use the check of the x server.

To undetstan the client server model consider the following example in a restaurant we do not directly go into the kitchen and cook food for ourselves we nee waiter to place the oder of food the waiter act similer to the x client the waiter gives the order to the cooks in the kitchen who uses the food products and utensils to prepare the orderd dish . the cook acts similar to the x server after the dish is ready the cook send the dish to the waiter to give it to the client.