Re: Can't X be elemenated?

From: Paul Jakma (paul_at_clubi.ie)
Date: 09/30/03

  • Next message: Mark W. Alexander: "Re: keyboard repeat / sound [was Re: Linux 2.6.0-test6]"
    Date:	Tue, 30 Sep 2003 19:48:22 +0100 (IST)
    To: kartikey bhatt <kartik_me@hotmail.com>
    
    

    On Mon, 29 Sep 2003, kartikey bhatt wrote:

    > 1st. X is bloat.

    This isnt true.

    [paul@fogarty paul]$ cat /proc/`pidof X`/status | grep ^Vm
    VmSize: 47700 kB
    VmLck: 0 kB
    VmRSS: 22580 kB
    VmData: 25540 kB
    VmStk: 72 kB
    VmExe: 1488 kB
    VmLib: 1580 kB

    X is actually quite tiny, ~3MB of exe+lib. The data size is due,
    vastly, to the X /clients/ using the server (in the above case RH9
    GNOME + windowmaker + xchat2 + galeon + few xterms).

    Here's Xipaq (tinyX handheld X server):

    ~ $ cat /proc/`pidof Xipaq`/status | grep ^Vm
    VmSize: 5072 kB
    VmLck: 0 kB
    VmRSS: 3164 kB
    VmData: 1788 kB
    VmStk: 16 kB
    VmExe: 848 kB
    VmLib: 2028 kB

    That's Xipaq, exe is smaller, but libs are bigger, balances out to
    ~3MB again. However, the data segment is much smaller, < 2MB compared
    to > 25MB for the desktop case. The handheld runs the GPE
    (http://gpe.handhelds.org) environment.

    So perhaps you could come to the conclusion that 'X' (in the X server
    sense) is not bloat, but that the /clients/ on modern desktops are?

    > Though it's good for server environments. For desktop pcs it's too
    > heavy.

    You are misinformed. See above.

    > 2nd. It's process based client/server architecture is a bottleneck.

    Why do you think so? For large amounts of data, X clients can use
    shared memory. Further, even if they must transfer data (ie
    pixmaps/pics) across the socket connection, the X server can cache
    it, and the client can use it by reference. (ie a once off cost).

    Also, local X clients use unix sockets - blazingly fast.

    > It's not as interactive as is supposed to be.

    Have you tried 2.6.0-test6? The interactivity problems were the
    kernel's fault more than that of 'X'.

    > 3rd. Most important. I can't impress or convince my
    > window(crash)(TM) user friends, relatives (who saw X running on my
    > pc) to use Linux.

    You wont impress /anyone/ with "just X" (ie just the X server) -
    cause all you'll get is a tiled background of tiny X logos and an X
    mouse pointer.
     
    > 4th. I want to see desktop being ruled by Linux.

    "X" isnt the obstacle.

    To be able to constructively criticise something you first need to
    /understand/ it. You dont.

    Most of you what you complain about, bloat and heavyness, is due to
    the desktop environment - not X itself. Try running GPE
    (http://gpe.handhelds.org) or (easier/actually practical too for a
    desktop) Xfce (http://www.xfce.org)

    Finally, this isnt a kernel problem.

    regards,

    -- 
    Paul Jakma	paul@clubi.ie	paul@jakma.org	Key ID: 64A2FF6A
    	warning: do not ever send email to spam@dishone.st
    Fortune:
    Real wealth can only increase.
    		-- R. Buckminster Fuller
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  • Next message: Mark W. Alexander: "Re: keyboard repeat / sound [was Re: Linux 2.6.0-test6]"

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