Desktop environment
startx - Start the X Window System
startx is a script that initializes the X Window System session. It sets up the environment and launches the X server along with initial clients.
Examples:
- startx: Start the X session with default settings
- startx -- :1: Start X on display :1
- startx ~/.xinitrc: Use a custom initialization script
X server - Core component of the X Window System
The X server manages the display, keyboard, and mouse, handling rendering and input for client applications.
Examples:
- Xorg: The most common X server implementation
- Xvfb: X virtual framebuffer, a display server without a physical display
- Xnest: Nested X server, allowing an X session within another X session
X client - Application that uses the X protocol
X clients are programs that use the X protocol to display their graphical user interface.
Examples:
- xterm: Terminal emulator for X
- xclock: Simple clock application
- xeyes: Demo program showing eyes that follow the mouse cursor
Display Manager - Graphical login manager
A display manager provides a graphical login interface and starts the X session after user authentication.
Examples:
- gdm: GNOME Display Manager
- lightdm: Lightweight Display Manager
- sddm: Simple Desktop Display Manager
Window Manager - Controls window placement and appearance
The window manager handles the positioning, resizing, and decorations of windows within the X environment.
Examples:
- i3: Tiling window manager
- openbox: Lightweight stacking window manager
- awesome: Highly configurable window manager
X Window System - Network-transparent windowing system
The X Window System is a complete architecture for creating graphical user interfaces on Unix-like operating systems.
Examples:
- X11: The current version of the X Window System protocol
- Xlib: C library for X Window System client-side programming
- XCB: C library for X protocol connections
Integrated Desktop Environment - Complete graphical user interface
An integrated desktop environment provides a consistent user interface, including window management, file management, and system settings.
Examples:
- GNOME: Popular desktop environment with a focus on simplicity
- KDE Plasma: Feature-rich desktop environment
- Xfce: Lightweight desktop environment for Unix-like operating systems
xauth - X authority file utility
xauth is used to edit and display the authorization information used in connecting to the X server.
Examples:
- xauth list: Display the list of authority entries
- xauth add :0 . $(mcookie): Add a new authority entry for display :0
- xauth extract - $DISPLAY | ssh remote_host xauth merge -: Transfer X authority to a remote host
DISPLAY - Environment variable for X display
The DISPLAY environment variable tells X clients which display and screen to use.
Examples:
- export DISPLAY=:0: Set the display to the first local X server
- echo $DISPLAY: Print the current DISPLAY value
- DISPLAY=:1 xterm: Run xterm on display :1
Terminal program - Text-based interface for interacting with the system
Terminal programs provide a command-line interface within the X environment.
Examples:
- xterm: Standard terminal emulator for X
- gnome-terminal: GNOME's terminal emulator
- konsole: KDE's terminal emulator
