xenial (1) afterstep_faq.1x.gz

Provided by: afterstep_2.2.12-6_amd64 bug

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       afterstep_faq - This document is an ever growing set of questions, statements, ideas and complaints about
       AfterStep version 2.0

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.

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 ~/bin mkdir -p ~/man/man1 ./configure --prefix ~/

       Then follow the normal install directions, allowing you to
           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
       ~/GNUstep/Library/AfterStep/  directory  and  into  ~/.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 ~/.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.

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/ .