X11

Apple's X11 for Mac OS X is an X Windows System environment. It was released as a public beta in January 2002.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/x11/

Unfortunately, minimum spec is Jaguar.

Here's one way to install X11 from scratch (i.e.: it worked for me):

  1. Download the software from http://www.apple.com/macosx/x11/download (e-mail address required but not verified).
  2. Install software.
  3. Download fink from http://fink.sf.net.
  4. Install software and it set up correctly.
  5. Use fink to install some X11 programs (I prefer xmahjongg, rxvt, and TheGimp).
  6. Launch X11.

Q: Whenever I first launch X11, I get a plain white window in the upper right corner. There's no title bar and I can't reposition the window.

A: You most probably have or had an existing X11 installation. Check to see if there's a .xinitrc file in your home directory. Rename it or move it or delete it. Relaunch X11 and you should see a properly formed xterm window.

Q: I want to use my .xinitrc file. It contains special stuff. Now what do I do?

A: You need to change the window manager in your .xinitrc file to quartz-wm.

Q: I opened the X11 program and it works well. I want to add TheGimp to my Application menu, but when I customize the menu and add The Gimp, nothing happens.

A: The Application menu doesn't seem very polished yet. You can work around this by entering the entire path to the program you want to add. In the case of the Gimp as installed by Fink, use "/sw/bin/gimp".

Naturally, you can add command line options as well. The following command sets up rxvt the way I like it: "/sw/bin/rxvt -lg -rv -geometry 80x45"

Q: I've added several commands to the application menu, but now I'm dissatisfied with the order in the list. How can I change that?

A: This is yet another unfinished bit in the beta release. You can organize your Applications menu by editing the preference file "com.apple.x11". This file is located in "~/Library/Preferences".

Q: I did a fresh install and I'm sick of seeing the xterm window open every time. How to I get something else (like the gimp) to open automatically every time?

A: You need to create a .xinitrc file in your home directory. Enter the following lines:

Now when you relaunch X11, TheGimp will be launched and xterm will not.