From: sinclair@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk (Duncan Sinclair)
Newsgroups: fj.mail-lists.x-window
Subject: The Essential Selection -- X programs that changed the world.
Date: 18 Nov 92 01:34:08 GMT
Distribution: fj
Organization: Glasgow University Computing Science Dept.

Date: 17 Nov 92 18:56:31 GMT
Message-Id: <BxvJA9.HFp@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk>
Newsgroups: dept.general,comp.windows.x,comp.windows.x.apps


A while back I posted a list of my favourite X programs, looking
for new ideas, here's my latest `Essential Selection'.

I'll try and keep this up to date, and post it once a month, so
any addition/comments/flames welcome.

Most of these programs I have installed locally, non-local sites may
be able to find them at export.lcs.mit.edu.

Can't live without:
    xconsole    (Locally hacked to beep!)
    tvtwm       (Look out for the new version coming real soon now!)
    ppmplus     (Not really an X program, but essential for xwd files.)
    rx          (Local "xon"-type program, feature packed.)
    xdocviewer  (Answerbook without NeWS!  [Local: xanswerbook])

Programming things:
    ups         (All singing(!) all dancing debugger!)
    xxgdb       (If you like a more linear approach. [Includes xdbx])
    ad2c        (Keep your fallback resources up to date.)
    Tk          (Get with a new way of programming interaction.)
    Wafe        (Tk for Athena junkies.)
    xpm         (Colour bitmaps - Tk version available!)

Writer's Tools:
    aXe         (xedit with a ferrari engine!)
    ten         (Editor with similar heritage to ups.)
    bibview     (Power interface to bibtex databases.)
    xdvi        (Lacking in usability features these days.)
    ghostscript (Why build a PS engine into the server?)
    ghostview   (Previewer for above.)
    gspreview   (Some people prefer it, I haven't got it installed.)
    idraw       (Rumour has it that gcc 2.3.1 can compile this!)
    emacs       (emacs/lemacs/epoch all do the biz with X.)

Mail/News:
    xmh         (SEI hacks, local hacks, mandatory for MH users.)
    xmailtool   (I recommend this above Sun's monstrosity.)
    xmail       (Has some promise, but appears to be buggy.)
    xrn         (I use nn myself, but someone likes it.)

Network cruising:
    xarchie     (Couldn't live without it.  Use it to find these programs.)
    ftptool     (OK, it's XView, but it's good.)
    xgetit      (Ftp the selection, makes for easy ftp. [Locally hacked])

Tiny Tools:
    fixutmp     (Clear up xterm droppings.)
    xlogout     (Everything a quit button could be. [Locally hacked])
    xgrabsc     (Steal a portion of your screen and stick it in a file.)
    xless       (Gaudy colours add to appeal of this simple viewer.)
    xprompt     (What was that?)

Get Organised:
    xalarm      (Never be late for an appointment again.)
    xmessage    (A million and one uses.)
    xselection  (Just as many.)
    xdu         (Save some disk space, the interactive way.)
    xdiary      (This is the one I'd use.)
    xcal        (But some people swear by this.)
    xpostit     (This doesn't leave glue on your screen either.)

Colourful Tools:
    xv          (Small name, big program.)
    xli         (xloadimage, the sequel.)
    xcol        (Angry fruit salad time with your .twmrc files.)
    pixmap      (For colour icons.)
    xco         (Pick a colour, any colour.)
    xcolors     (As above.)
    xscribble   (These are two painting programs I've seen, but
    xpaint       neither seemed very stable to use.)

Display hacks:
    xantfarm    (An antidote to too much debugging.)
    xsplinefun  (Not seen this, but heard good things.)
    xfishtank   (Running with fish borrowed from After Dark.)
    xneko       (Cute. 'Nuf said.)
    mandelspawn (How to realise 100x 10mips of power.)
    xlock       (With locking turned off, as some say it's anti-social.)
    xnlock      (How can I integrate this into xlock?)

Clocks:
    dclock      (Interviews version is pretty.)
    dclock      (Xt version has nice features - why can't we have both?!)
    sunclock    (Now I know how dark Sweden can be.)
    wclock      (Yet Another Clock)
    xphoon      (I used to be a werewolf...)
    xdaliclock  (Original by Steve Capps - real neat.)

Power Users:
    xautolock   (Only tried it once, but seemed way k00l.)
    xmeter      (Keeps me up to date with what going down.)
    xinfo       (Maybe (l)emacs 19 will obsolete this.)
    Xaw3d       (Gives a new lease of life to the Athena Widgets.)
    xse         (The possibilities are endless.)
    xcb         (Interactive version of xselection, must check out v2.)

Other Big Ones:
    xfig        (I prefer idraw personally.)
    olvwm       (Seems some people like Open Look!)
    ctwm        (Maybe try this sometime...)



-- 
Duncan Sinclair  |  sinclair@dcs.gla.ac.uk  |  sinclair@uk.ac.gla.dcs
           ---  Rave Culture: Don't techno for an answer.  ---