afterstep_faq(1) AfterStep X11 window manager afterstep_faq(1)
NAME
afterstep_faq - This document is an ever growing set of questions,
statements, ideas and complaints about AfterStep version 2.0
3. Getting and Installing AfterStep 2.0 3.1. Where can I get AfterStep 2.0? You can download AfterStep 2.0 at any of the following locations:
ftp://ftp.afterstep.org/stable/ SourceForge.net RPM packages
3.2. What do I need to compile and install AfterStep? Because AfterStep is an X application, you need to have X installed,
and the X development libraries (note, in this case "development"
means libraries need to compile things with X, not development level
code). It's probably a good idea to also have a working C compiler.
AfterStep includes some image libraries, but it is recommended that
you install those libraries using your distribution's package
management system. Note that you will need development libraries in
addition to run-time libraries. The following are the libraries that
AfterStep can take advantage of : libJPEG - support for JPEG image
format
libPNG - support for PNG image format
libTIFF - support for TIFF image format
Freetype - support for TrueType fonts
Note that following image format do not require any external
libraries : XPM, PPM, BMP, ICO, XCF, GIF.
3.3. Can I install AfterStep without being root? Yes, before compiling AfterStep, do this:
mkdir <98>/bin mkdir -p <98>/man/man1 ./configure --prefix <98>/
make install
without being root.
3.4. How do I upgrade AfterStep from AfterStep version prior to 2.0.0? Install AfterStep 2.0 and then run it. It will start with default
configuration that you may or maynot like. If you wish to try and
reuse your old configuration files, then copy them over from your old
<98>/GNUstep/Library/AfterStep/ directory and into <98>/.afterstep/.
Restart AfterStep to make changes effective. If some of the features
do not work quite right - feel free to submit bug report along with
your configuration files.
It is recommended though that you start with default configuration
and try out all of the supplied looks and color schemes. Select
whichever is close to what you want and then modify it to your
liking. These approach will allow you to take advantage of many new
features, available in AfterStep 2.0.
3.4. How do I upgrade AfterStep from AfterStep version higher then 2.0.0? Make sure that all configuration files that you ever changed are in
your home directory at <98>/.afterstep/, as installing afterstep will
replace everything in global shared location
(/usr/local/share/afterstep). Install afterstep and run. You should
not have any trouble.
3.5. What's up with all these compile errors? Most likely, you don't have the X devel package (should have come
with your operating system, if not, check http://www.x.org/ ).
3.6. How the hell does one configure AfterStep? Configuration files are usually either in
/usr(/local)/share/afterstep for system wide configuration and
~/.afterstep for personal settings.
Configuration is handled in multiple files: look file (in looks
subdirectory) for visual attributes, feel file (in feels
subdirectory) for the general behaviour; wharf, winlist, banner,
pager, animate for module specific configuration.
Just copy any file you want to modify over from
/usr(/local)/share/afterstep to ~/.afterstep to override system wide
defaults retaining subdirectory layout.
1. General Information 1.1. About this Document. This document is an ever growing set of questions, statements, ideas
and complaints about AfterStep version 2.0.
You can get this FAQ at the following locations:
http://www.afterstep.org/
The rest of this document assumes you are running AfterStep 2.0. If
you are running a version of AfterStep prior to version 2.0, this
document will suggests only one thing: upgrade.
1.2. What is AfterStep? AfterStep is a Window Manager for the X Window System (hereafter
referred to as X). It was started to emulate the look and feel of
NeXTSTEP(tm), but has evolved into something that while still being
able to emulate NeXT, can do much much more. Without using much
memory or cpu time, AfterStep provides all the features one could
want in a Window Manager.
1.3. What is AfterStep's history? Original AfterStep was a continuation of the BowMan Window Manager
which was originally put together by Bo Yang. BowMan was based on the
fvwm Window Manager, written by Robert Nation. Fvwm was based on code
from twm. And so on....
Idea was to emulate some of the look and feel of the NEXTSTEP(tm)
user interface, but overtime it evolved to include other concepts, as
dictated by end user needs. It is that unholy direction that made
Alfredo Kojima abandon project in 1997 and create a Window Manger of
its own - Window Maker, which had a goal of strict adherance to
NEXTSTEP interface ideas.
After releasing version 1.8.11 it became aparent for developers that
old AfterStep codebase had reached its limits and required a
substantial redesign. Such redesign began with development of
radically new image handling library libAfterImage, introducing high
quality image manipulation, blending, TrueType fonts, XML image
scripting, and more. Building off of libAfterImage and incorporating
new developments in X Window management, AfterStep 2.0 was born and
released in September, 2004. As of now AfterStep code base contains
none of the original fvwm parts, and association to fvwm, twm and
BowMan remain only in history.
1.4. Fine, what if I'm not running AfterStep 2.0? Is there a FAQ for me? Yes. There should be a version of the AfterStep FAQ available within
your specific AfterStep distribution. If you are using a version
earlier than 2.0, it is strongly suggested you upgrade.
1.5. What is X? What are these window managers ? "X" is shorthand for The X Window System. It is a basis for building
graphical user interfaces for UNIX (it is available for non-UNIX
systems, but wasn't designed to be as such). "X" is not the interface
itself, just a foundation for one. For more information, check
www.x.org .
A Window Manager is a program that manages your windows during your X
session. AfterStep is one of many available window managers .
1.6. What are AfterStep's main features? The Wharf
Similar to NeXTSTEP's(tm) Dock, it allows applications to be
Swallowed, shortcuts with icons, and many other things.
The Pager
Shows a miniature view of the Afterstep desktops, you can move
between them, and move windows around in the Pager as though
it were a miniature desktop.
The WinList
A list of all the windows, clicking on the items can show that
window, destroy it, shade it, or anything you might want.
Configurability
Almost anything can be changed.
XML image scripting
AfterStep allows XML scripts to be used to assemble complex
images for things like buttons, frame sides, etc, from other,
simplier images or graphical primitives.
TrueType fonts support
Antialised TrueType fonts could be used to render window
titles and other labels.
Unicode, UTF8 and other encodings support
Most international character encodings are supported as long
as fonts provide glyphs.
ColorSchemes
AfterStep can calculate a set of about 34 colors to create
looks with harmonious color composition.
1.7. Is AfterStep 2.0 GNOME and/or KDE compliant? AfterStep 2.0 supports Extended Window Manager Hints, ICCCM protocol
and Motif hints, thus making it as compatible as possible with both
GNOME and KDE, as well as most other X applications.
1.8. Can I run it in Microsoft Windows(tm)? AfterStep 2.0 does run under Windows using CYGWIN compatibility
layer, while running any X server. Some of the X servers available
under Windows allow so-called root-less mode, where X applications
can coincide with native applications. See sample screenshot .
1.9. Who develops AfterStep? Sasha Vasko <sasha at aftercode.net>
coordinator, coder, web designer, carpenter, and everything
else ( at the moment ).
Niklas Lunger <niklas at fet dot at>
documentation and user testing.
Nathan Mahon <as_ml at vaevictus net>
realease manager
1.10. AfterStep is awesome! How can I help? Code contributions are welcome. Hardware donations are welcome. If
you can help write AfterStep, or feel you can help the effort
elsewhere, do so. Hang out on irc (#afterstep, efnet), participate on
the mailing lists, suggest ideas, help code, etc etc.
1.11. Who writes this FAQ? see 1.9. above.
2. Resources 2.1. Where can I find AfterStep resources, or help? HTML documentation
AfterStep 2.0 comes installed with complete set of
documentation in HTML format, usually installed at
/usr/local/share/afterstep/doc/html or
/usr/share/afterstep/doc/html . Same documentation is
available online from : http://www.afterstep.org/visualdoc.php
. If you find that documentation incomplete in some areas -
please feel free to submit any corrections to any of the
AfterStep mailing lists.
WWW Page
The official AfterStep web page is at
http://www.afterstep.org/ . This web site is managed by
whoever has write access to AfterStep CVS, and is kindly
hosted by the generous people at Web Conquest .
FTP site
The FTP site, ftp://ftp.afterstep.org/ , is the best place to
get AfterStep.
AfterStep applets
The applets (asapps) that go with AfterStep are distributed
separately. The applet distribution is maintained by Albert
Dorofeev, (<tigr@tigr.net>). You can find the applets at
http://www.tigr.net/afterstep/as-apps/ . RPMs for many an
applet could be found here : http://www.afterstep.org/rpms/
Man pages.
AfterStep installation comes with set of man pages that
attempt to cover all aspects of AfterStep configuration.
Please read the relevent man page before asking a question.
Also note that the Pager man page is 'man Pager' (note the
capitalization).
IRC
There is also #afterstep on freenode.net IRC servers . Feel
free to come in and have a chat with us!
2.2. What are the AfterStep mailing lists, and where are their archives? There currently is a mailing list for users to ask questions and get
support: as-users.
as-users.
as-users is the general AfterStep mailing list, open to all
AfterStep questions, concerns and ideas. Subscribe by entering
your e-mail at :
http://lists.afterstep.org/listinfo.cgi/as-users-afterstep.org
The old mailing list archives can be read at
http://www.tigr.net/afterstep/mail/ , while current archives
(registration required) can be found at
http://lists.afterstep.org/private.cgi/as-users-afterstep.org/
.
3rd Berkeley Distribution AfterStep v.2.2.12 afterstep_faq(1)
