Window Manager for PDA type appliance

[3doutpost]

I've been asked to look at finding / creating a Window Manager for a
PDA type device (Zaurus type specs). Matchbox looks really excellent
but it's released under GPL and one of the requirements given to me is
that we need to be able to make changes to the code base without
releasing the source. <shrug>

I'm considering writing one myself (in C++) but since I'm from a MS
Windows background and I know virtually nothing about X11, the task
seems a little daunting.

Can anyone recommend a good starting point - I can't find "writing an
x window manager for dummies" on fatbrain :)

Seriously though, I have the X reference books and I intend to look
through as much source as I can find - any other suggestions.

Many thanks.

3D.

[Lew Pitcher]

Post by 3doutpost
I've been asked to look at finding / creating a Window Manager for a
PDA type device (Zaurus type specs). Matchbox looks really excellent
but it's released under GPL and one of the requirements given to me is
that we need to be able to make changes to the code base without
releasing the source. <shrug>
I'm considering writing one myself (in C++) but since I'm from a MS
Windows background and I know virtually nothing about X11, the task
seems a little daunting.
Can anyone recommend a good starting point - I can't find "writing an
x window manager for dummies" on fatbrain :)

I can't help you with creating a Window Manager, but I can help find one.

Check out freshmeat (http://freshmeat.net/); they have a list of over 100
window managers for X. I know that the list includes at least one WM written
explicitly for a PDA (the Matchbox WM
http://freshmeat.net/projects/matchbox/?topic_id=906%2C56), and I'm sure
that there are more that might suit your requirements.

[3doutpost]

i've looked at several of the most popular ones and like i said in my
message, i've taken a good look at matchbox - it's very impressive but
since it's released under a GPL licence means i am unable to use it
for my project.

Post by Lew Pitcher
I can't help you with creating a Window Manager, but I can help find one.
Check out freshmeat (http://freshmeat.net/); they have a list of over 100
window managers for X. I know that the list includes at least one WM written
explicitly for a PDA (the Matchbox WM
http://freshmeat.net/projects/matchbox/?topic_id=906%2C56), and I'm sure
that there are more that might suit your requirements.