Library Definitions

Most X clients are built using some combination of the libraries described here. Some clients are built using only the lowest level API that is available for X, but most clients are built using a widget set that implements a certain GUI. Widgets are programmable objects that provide commonly used functionality such as menus and scroll bars.

Xlib

This is the lowest level API for XThis library creates and manages the connection to the X server. It converts the API calls into protocol Requests. Xlib also handles Replies, Events and Errors that come from the server.

Xext

This library provides the API for extensions to the X protocol. One common extension is the shape extension.

Xmu

This library provides some common utility functions to do things like create a colormap or read in a bitmap file.

Xt - The Toolkit

This library provides the basic mechanism for implementing widgets. Programming interfaces such as widget creation, management, destruction, and event callbacks are provided by the toolkit\*F. This library still provides a low level API compared to some of the GUI libraries. This library is required by almost all of the widget libraries.

Xaw - Athena Widgets

The Athena widgets are provided by MIT with the core distribution of X. These widgets implement their own GUI. Most of the core X utilities (such as xterm and xclock) are built using this library.

Xm - Motif Widgets

The Motif GUI is implemented using this widget set. This library provides the implementation of the Motif widgets and the Motif API that is defined by OSF.

Mrm - Motif Resources

This library also provides some of the Motif API. This library is used in conjunction with a UIL description to define the structure of a user interface.

OLIT - Open Look Widgets

The Open Look GUI is implemented by this library. The widgets and API are both included in this library.