X Windows

There are two (at least) implementaions of X for the NeXT.

XNeXT

There is a public domain X-windows system for the NeXT, known as XNeXT, from a student at MIT. I have a copy of this. It includes the X client library as well as the server, but to use it you only need take the server and the fonts.

The disadvantage which XNeXT is that the entire X world is represented as a subworld within the NeXT window. Further, if any change happens in the X world, then the window is brought to the front, and positioned in its "proper" position on the screen. This can be infuriating it you are trying to use NeXT applications at the same time. The (beta) version I have now also does not use the Next's grey scale, which is a pity.

co-Xist

There is also a commercially available package from Pencomm, called co-Xist. Rumour has it that it is about $279, including Motif and online documentation. That is with educational discount.

If this, as its name suggests, allows NeXTStep and X to coexist harmoniously on the same screen, then it would be far superior to XNeXT. I have no further data at the moment.

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Tim BL