Slackware is switching to X.org!!!!

[MMYoung]

Seems Pat got the message from users and "saw the handwritting on the wall" so to speak.

"Switched to X11R6.7.0 from X.Org. Thanks to those who sent comments to x@slackware.com. Seems the community has spoken, because the opinions were more than 4 to 1 in favor of using the X.Org release as the default version of X. I think I've heard just about every side to this issue now, and it was only after careful consideration and testing that this decision was made. It's primarily (as is usual around here) a technical decision. Nearly everyone else is going with X.Org and it seems to me that sticking with XFree86 it spite of this would be asking for compatibility trouble (indeed, we saw some issues between X.Org and XFree86 4.4.0 until a few things in XFree86 were patched). I also noticed that the ATI Radeon binary drivers designed for XFree86 4.3.0 do not work with XFree86 4.4.0, but do work with the X.Org release. Something I'm *not* in favor of is dragging around two nearly identical projects, so XFree86 4.4.0 has been moved to the /pub/slackware/unsupported/ directory on the FTP site."

This is good news to those of use that are using Dropline GNOME.

Later,
MMYoung

[Stween]

This is good news indeed. Despite the fact that the x.org code is a branch off XFree 4.3.0 (correct?), the fact that it's a different name makes is seem newer and shinier to me ;)

[hard candy]

From the linuxquestions.org slackware forum by George666:

"Switching to runlevel 1 isn't necesary, just exit X :

swaret --remove xfree (answer yes on all packages)

swaret --install x11 (answer yes on all packages)

cp /etc/X11/XF86Config /etc/x11/xorg.conf

startx

And you're done"

I haven't tried it yet.

[MMYoung]

Originally posted by hard candy
From the linuxquestions.org slackware forum by George666:

"Switching to runlevel 1 isn't necesary, just exit X :

swaret --remove xfree (answer yes on all packages)

swaret --install x11 (answer yes on all packages)

cp /etc/X11/XF86Config /etc/x11/xorg.conf

startx

And you're done"

I haven't tried it yet.
I figure that will work fine.

I've been using the X.org 6.7.0 since Dropline 2.6 without much trouble. It even comes with it's own "configurator", xorgconfig (run it just like xf86confg). Then edit xorg.conf as necessary. After the switch I have compared the XF86Config file and the xorg.conf file and they are near mirror images of each other. The only caveat that I know of is in XF86Config the

Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"

needs to be changed to

Option "XkbRules" "xorg"

At least that caused some problems with Dropline. Other than that, I haven't noticed any difference.

Later,
MMYoung

BTW, yes X.org is a branch of XFree, I think the branch just prior to 4.4.0 (4.3.0 rc1 I'm thinking :confused: )

[janet loves bill]

Originally posted by MMYoung


At least that caused some problems with Dropline. Other than that, I haven't noticed any difference.


Eh, No thanks. I'll stick with XFree 4.3 since this version IS GPL compliant!!
if it ain't broke........don't fix it!!

[serz]

Originally posted by janet loves bill
Eh, No thanks. I'll stick with XFree 4.3 since this version IS GPL compliant!!

X.Org is a fork of XFree86, and it's GPL compliant.

From Gentoo's XOrg Configuration HOWTO (http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/xorg-config.xml)

The application that provides Linux users with the ability to run graphical user interfaces and that uses the X11 standard is Xorg-X11, a fork of the XFree86 project. XFree86 has decided to use a license that might not be compatible with the GPL license; the use of Xorg is therefore recommended. Note though that the differences between Xorg and XFree86 are currently very slim; if you know one, you know the other.

[jrbishop79]

but will the nVidia drivers still work?

[serz]

Originally posted by jrbishop79
but will the nVidia drivers still work?
Yep, I'm using them. It's basically the same thing.

[jrbishop79]

so now, let me ask the obvious: Besides the whole GPL argument(s), what reason would I have to switch??

[bwkaz]

In theory, X.org is going to be updated more often than XFree86 has been (more of a truly open-source release-early-release-often project).

Time will tell whether it actually happens, though.

[MMYoung]

Originally posted by jrbishop79
so now, let me ask the obvious: Besides the whole GPL argument(s), what reason would I have to switch??
There is no reason to switch, unless you want to. If, however, you are using Slackware (or Fedora) and stay "current" then it's a moot point.

Just my thoughts,
MMYoung

[MMYoung]

Originally posted by jrbishop79
but will the nVidia drivers still work?
As serz says, they will work as it's basically the same X. I'm using the nVidia drivers in Slackware with Dropline GNOME 2.6.1 and X.org 6.7.0. No problems.

HECK, I've even been able to get the nVidia drivers to work with Fedora Core 2 and it's stock kernel. Don't ask me how, cause everything I've read about it says it shouldn't work. nVidia is supposed to be working on a fix for the "problem" that almost everybody else in the world but me is having with Fedora and nVidia's drivers. I figure when they release them I won't be able to get them to work and it will break my Fedora install! :D

Later,
MMYoung

[jrbishop79]

Originally posted by MMYoung
There is no reason to switch, unless you want to. If, however, you are using Slackware (or Fedora) and stay "current" then it's a moot point.



I'm actually using Mandrake 10, but I didn't know if you got a big increase in performance or if one was superior to the other. I'm always in search of superior software, that's why I'm using Linux :D

[timothykaine]

Originally posted by Stween
This is good news indeed. Despite the fact that the x.org code is a branch off XFree 4.3.0 (correct?), the fact that it's a different name makes is seem newer and shinier to me ;)

Windows XP, Athlon XP, Mac OS X, Ghostbusters Xtreme.

X = success. :-D

[MMYoung]

Originally posted by jrbishop79
I'm actually using Mandrake 10, but I didn't know if you got a big increase in performance or if one was superior to the other. I'm always in search of superior software, that's why I'm using Linux :D
Naw, no performance increase at all. If you're happy with MDK then I'd just keep updated with what they stick with. BTW, aren't they still using XFree 4.3.x? If so, then it's the same code (for the most part anyway) as X.org's stuff.

Later,
MMYoung

[hard candy]

X = success. :-D

Unless it's Brand X.

[jrbishop79]

Originally posted by MMYoung
Naw, no performance increase at all. If you're happy with MDK then I'd just keep updated with what they stick with. BTW, aren't they still using XFree 4.3.x? If so, then it's the same code (for the most part anyway) as X.org's stuff.

Later,
MMYoung

I am using 4.3.x, and it works fine for me... I was just exploring other options.... you know, Ford vs Chevy type stuff....

[bs_texas]

Originally posted by jrbishop79
you know, Ford vs Chevy type stuff....
Reminds me of the old bumper sticker:
"I'd rather lean on a Chevy than drive a Ford."
:D