From: pierre@stendhal.Eng.Sun.COM (Pierre Bedard (SunSoft Windows Marketing))
Newsgroups: comp.windows.open-look,alt.toolkits.xview,comp.windows.news
Subject: SunSoft's OpenWindows Directions
Date: 26 Jan 93 20:58:56 GMT
Reply-To: pierre@stendhal.Eng.Sun.COM (Pierre Bedard (SunSoft Windows Marketing))
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.  Mt. View, Ca.
NNTP-Posting-Host: stendhal
Originator: pierre@stendhal


Please find attached a copy of a Windows direction statement
which was presented at the X Windows Technical Conference
last week. 

cut here---------------------------------------

SUNSOFT'S WINDOWS DIRECTIONS

SunSoft recently entered into an agreement with Adobe 
Systems to license the Display PostScript System (DPS) 
for Solaris. This message is intended to clarify 
SunSoft's OpenWindows directions in light of our 
partnership with Adobe and our commitment to MIT's X 
Window System. 

Since 1989, Sun has supported MIT's X protocol in its 
OpenWindows product. SunSoft will continue its commitment to 
MIT's X Window system by shipping an OpenWindows product 
based on the MIT source code. The last release of Solaris 
featuring X11/NeWS and TNT will ship in mid 1993. Subsequent 
releases of Solaris will incorporate MIT's X11R5 coupled 
with Adobe Display PostScript Level 2 as well as other 
imaging and geometry libraries. 

OLIT IMPROVEMENTS

The mid 1993 release of Solaris will feature major 
improvements in the OPEN LOOK Intrinsics Toolkit (OLIT) 
based on X11R5 intrinsics. A candidate for IEEE 
standardization, you can easily port applications 
developed with OLIT to European and Asian versions. You 
can dynamically customize OLIT applications at runtime, 
allowing better control of fonts and colors. Sporting the 
same look and feel of applications developed with 
SunSoft's popular XView toolkit, OLIT is an intrinsics-
based alternative.

WHY A NEW DIRECTION?

Starting in 1993, OpenWindows will use MIT's source code as 
its foundation. Though the switch from an X11/NeWS based 
server to an X11R5 server will impact applications which 
depend on NeWS technology, SunSoft believes developers and 
users will reap major benefits. Improvements in server 
quality and performance, as well as a more standard X 
implementation will benefit all Solaris users. All programs 
written using the X protocol and libraries will run on 
the new X11R5-based server. In addition, SunSoft will be 
standardizing on ddx for the writing of graphics frame 
buffer device drivers. This, along with the adoption of 
a standard Xinput extension mechanism, will lower the 
cost of bringing hardware peripherals to market.

CONTACTS

For information about X server issues:

Pierre Bedard (pierre.bedard@Eng.Sun.Com)
Bill Brown (bill.brown@Eng.Sun.Com)

For information about SunSoft's toolkits:

Jim Mukerjee (jim.mukerjee@Eng.Sun.Com)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ---------------------

Q. What versions of Solaris will this new OpenWindows 
server run on? When will this new server ship?

A. This server will run on Solaris 2.x systems only. The next 
release of Solaris will feature the last release of X11/NeWS. 
All releases after this release will support the X11R5 server 
only. No dates have been set for this release.

Q. What about XView?

A. SunSoft recognizes that many of our customers use the 
XView toolkit. You do not need to port applications from 
XView to OLIT. You can maintain your present applications 
on XView until you feel comfortable moving to an object 
environment or you need functionality not available on 
XView.

Q. Will all the applications that now run on X11/NeWS work 
on this new window system? Will Drag and Drop and ToolTalk 
work?

A. If an application conforms to X protocol, it will run. As 
an example, Deskset (except PageView which uses NeWS) runs 
on MIT's X11R5 with no code change. Applications using the 
ICCCM Drag and Drop protocol and ToolTalk will also work.

Unfortunately, applications using the NeWS Toolkit (TNT) or 
NeWS imaging will not be supported. Applications using NeWS 
imaging must be ported to Display PostScript. We recommend 
that applications using TNT be ported to OLIT.

Q. How long will X11/NeWS and TNT be supported?

A. Support for X11/NeWS and TNT will continue to be 
available. Source code for the latest release of 
OpenWindows will also be available at a reasonable price.

Q. What is DPS?

A. The Display PostScript System provides a device-
independent imaging model for displaying information on 
the screen. By allowing you to use PostScript to display 
text, graphics, and sampled images, it frees you from 
display-specific details such as screen resolution and the 
number of available colors.

In September 1992, SunSoft entered into a long-term 
partnership with Adobe Systems to provide Solaris users with 
the Display PostScript System. SunSoft will feature DPS as 
an integral part of Solaris.

Q. Is DPS a standard?

A. Though DPS is not a sanctioned standard, it is fast 
becoming a de facto UNIX standard. All major Unix platform 
vendors (SGI, IBM, DEC, NCD, etc.), except Hewlett-Packard, 
support the DPS extension to X.

Q. What do you mean by compatibility? 

A. All X applications written for Solaris which conform 
to the X protocol should run with the X11R5 server. 
Developers should be able to leverage one source base for 
multiple UNIX platforms.

Q. What about NeWSprint?

A. NeWSprint will continue to be an integral part of
Sun's printing solution.  The windows direction has 
no adverse impact on NeWSprint. In a separate agreement 
with Adobe, SunPics has licensed Adobe technology for 
inclusion into future printing and imaging products.
NeWSprint, an environment of many modules, enables 
customers to print on heterogenous networks.  One of 
the modules will be Adobe's PostScript imager or RIP 
which will be shared with SunSoft's Solaris OpenWindows 
window system.  This will enrich NeWSprint by enhancing the
RIP module with industry-standard Adobe PostScript.

Q. How much better is performance?

A. End users will see immediate improvements in server 
bootup time, application launch speed, and window snap. 

Q. Is product quality that much better?

A. We believe OWV3 is a high-quality product. By moving 
to an MIT source base we will be able to deliver an even 
higher quality product. MIT has issued many public 
patches since the release of R5, containing over 1,300 
bug fixes. Patches are issued every few weeks. Moving to 
the MIT X source base allows SunSoft to leverage all 
engineers working on X Window Systems throughout the 
world. SunSoft can also be more proactive in donating 
work to the X community at large.

Q. You say you are based on standards? Is OLIT a standard?

A. Not yet, though OLIT is now the basis of a IEEE working 
group P1295.2 the Open Toolkit Environment (OTKE). OTKE 
is standards work which has been proposed in the IEEE 
Computer Society. This work will establish a toolkit 
standard based on OPEN LOOK.
Newsgroups: comp.windows.open-look