On Sun, 14 Apr 2002 19:30:31 -0700 Gerald Wilson <gerald_wilson33@hotmail.com> wrote: > > Ok, taking a risk here asking the most basic of basic questions: what > is this? > > I had to install xfree86 with fink for some reason (I needed tcl and > apparently it depended on xfree86??) > > Anyway, xfree was 50 meg or so, and I have no idea what it does. > Something to do with x windows but I've never even seen such a thing. XFree86 is an implementation of the X (version 11) client/server protocol for graphical user interfacing that was developed as part of the Athena project at MIT in the mid 1980s. The cool thing about X11 is that you can run your finite element model (or whatever) in San Diego or Pittsburgh or wherever you can get some time, and see the results on your workstation on your desk as it's running. Gamers don't like it because it trades off a little performance for that networking ability. If you use any real Unix software on your Mac or on the 'net I think you'll find that XFree86 is a very nice thing to have. Tcl alone doesn't need it, but Tk, the GUI Toolkit that comes with Tcl, needs it. What will you be doing with Tcl? > Assuming that it is installed, how do I run it? The Fink kit should have instructions for that. I'm told it works seemlessly with MacOS 10. > Please cc: a reply directly because I'm not on this list. It's easy to subscribe and unsubscribe. Instructions are at the bottom of each message on the list. -- Remember, more computing power was thrown away last week than existed in the world in 1982. -- http://www.tom.womack.net/computing/prices.html
