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Conference bulova::decw_jan-89_to_nov-90

Title:DECWINDOWS 26-JAN-89 to 29-NOV-90
Notice:See 1639.0 for VMS V5.3 kit; 2043.0 for 5.4 IFT kit
Moderator:STAR::VATNE
Created:Mon Oct 30 1989
Last Modified:Mon Dec 31 1990
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3726
Total number of notes:19516

1812.0. "XUIS" by PCOJCT::LEEG (VMS & ULTRIX perfect together) Wed Nov 29 1989 16:44

    I don't know if this is the right place to post this question, but
    does anyone know if XUIS is available? I have a customer who wrote
    their application under UIS, and would like to not convert their
    applciations.
    
     George
    
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1812.1SITBUL::KLEINSORGESo sue me.Wed Nov 29 1989 16:5015
    
    XUIS (or whatever legal decides we can call it) has been
    program announced and will be in field test "real soon".
    
    Note that there are a number of restrictions (like no
    DOP or QIO interfaces, no VWS kernel applications and/or
    terminal emulations... etc).
    
    There are also performance and accuracy issues.
    
    Stay tuned.  We'll let you know when there is something to
    play with.
    
    _Fred Kleinsorge (XUIS PL)
    
1812.2XUIS BlurbSSPENG::KLEINSORGESo sue me.Wed Nov 29 1989 21:2199
    
    Because of the amount of mail I've gotten asking about XUIS, I hacked
    up a short blurb explaining it.  Enjoy.
    
    Fred Kleinsorge, XUIS development
    
    






                               XUIS Overview



         XUIS is a runtime library for  VMS  which  implements  the  UIS

    application  program  interface using X11 as the graphics subsystem.

    It will provide a mechanism to run applications  developed  for  the

    VWS  window  system  on DECwindows workstations.  It will do this by

    making Xlib calls (the low-level interface  for  DECwindows)  rather

    than  directly  accessing the graphics hardware.  It will allow most

    UIS applications to execute without the need to recompile or relink.



         The XUIS library is intended as both  a  long-  and  short-term

    means  to migrate users from VWS to DECwindows.  The short-term goal

    is to move VWS/VMS users quickly to DECwindows.  While the long-term

    goal  is  to allow many applications to never require any rewriting,

    or to require only  minor  changes.   XUIS  protects  the  customers

    investment  in  both  UIS  and  VMS  while  providing  access to the

    DECwindows desktop environment and network transparent windowing.



         XUIS provides relative device independence to UIS allowing  UIS

    applications  to  execute  on  the  VS3520/40  and  next  generation

    graphics hardware only available with DECwindows.  In  addition,  it

    provides  remote  UIS  facilities,  allowing  a  UIS  application to

    display and input  on  non-VAX  and  non-VMS  DECwindows  compatable

    hardware (the UIS client must still run on a VAX/VMS system).



         XUIS  also  provides  the  UIS  virtual  display   concept   to

    DECwindows  users.   A single virtual display can control windows on

    up to 16 workstations, allowing a single output operation to draw on

    multiple  workstations.   XUIS  brings  UIS  features such as window

    integrity  (guaranteed  backing-store),  world-coordinates,  graphic

    text,   display   lists   and  hardcopy  output  to  the  DECwindows

    environment.



         XUIS is a sharable image which implements a subset of  the  UIS

    runtime  library  interface.   XUIS  will  allow  customization on a

    per-image, per-process and system-wide basis  over  performance  and

    accuracy of the emulation.



         XUIS cannot or will not provide support for:



     o  The DOP interface or direct monochrome bitmap access.



     o  The Video QIO interface.



     o  Digitizer (CREATE_TB) support.



     o  The VWS "look and feel".



     o  Access from kernel-mode.



     o  The VWS terminal emulators.



     o  Applications that depend on specific UIS quirks  or  bugs  which

        are not feasible to reproduce.


                                                                Page 2





     o  Applications which depend on the results  of  any  function  not

        implemented   in  XUIS  and  any  use  of  any  undocumented  or

        unsupported UIS features.





         XUIS is PROGRAM ANNOUNCED and has been shown at DECUS.   It  is

    not  currently  available  to  internal or external users.  Internal

    kits will be provided when the software is in a relatively  complete

    and  stable  condition.  Field Test is currently scheduled for early

    Q3, inquiries should be directed to the product Larry Villandry.



         Performance cannot be commented on at this time.  Keep in mind:



     o  Emulations are usually at least slightly slower than the  native

        implementation.   Comparison  is only valid between UIS and XUIS

        and  not  with  native  DECwindows.    UIS   provides   a   much

        higher-level graphic interface than Xlib.



     o  Client side backing store (when enabled) requires all operations

        to be sent to the server twice.  Even with optimizations such as

        pixmap copy areas onscreen, much more work is done.



     o  UIS application behavior which was acceptable such  as  frequent

        attribute  changing  may cause non-optimal X11 performance.  X11

        is a poor performer when drawing operations cannot be  collapsed

        and  compressed,  attribute changing reduces the Xlib and Server

        optimizations.



     o  Graphic Text  must  be  done  on  the  client  and  cannot  take

        advantage of any hardware assist.



1812.3ThanksPCOJCT::LEEGVMS & ULTRIX perfect togetherWed Nov 29 1989 23:371
    
1812.4will it run SIGHT?YIELD::HARRISTue Jan 09 1990 20:107
    Will XUIS, or what ever it will be called be able to run SIGHT.   
    My group has created many charts/drawings using sight and have to 
    modify them often.  We currently switch windowing systems to go from 
    DW to VWS(UIS) in order to use SIGHT.  Also any idea when a field test 
    version might be available.

    -Bruce
1812.5SITBUL::KLEINSORGESo sue me.Wed Jan 10 1990 00:559
    "VMS/UISX" is just about to go to FT.  Kit's should be available at the
    end of this week.
    
    The "acid test" is SIGHT, it abuses the crap out of UIS.  We have
    are at a point where almost all of SIGHT works without any problem.
    We plan on being able to support both SIGHT as well as RENDER on
    non-UIS VMS systems.
    
    _Fred
1812.6Where can I get a kit?LANDO::SCHUMANNKeep your MIPS, I want VUPSWed Jan 17 1990 12:416
>    "VMS/UISX" is just about to go to FT.  Kit's should be available at the
>    end of this week.
    
Please post a pointer to the kit.

--RS
1812.7SITBUL::KLEINSORGESo sue me.Thu Jan 18 1990 02:289
    
    Sorry, there should be an IFT kit made available in the next day
    or so.  Keep your eyes peeled.
    
    Due to a sudden reorganization (UIS is being transfered back from
    SWS/E to Worksystems Engineering!), VWS V4.3 FT1 (aka UISX) has
    has been put on hold for a while.
    
    
1812.8UISX FT1.0is hereSUBWAY::LEEVMS & ULTRIX perfect togetherSun Jan 28 1990 05:254
    UISX FT1.0 has been announce in the X notes conference.
    
    
    George
1812.9SITBUL::KLEINSORGEBFMMon Jan 29 1990 13:154
    
    Make that IFT.  Still not FT1.  Check the VWSENG::UISX notesfile.
    
    _Fred
1812.10good show...SUBWAY::GRAHAMif ya want home cookin, stay homeSun Feb 04 1990 02:358
    
    Fred,
    
    good work!  Citibank will thank you guys for XUIS!  Citibank
    bought about 1000 VS2000s to develop UIS-based applications
    for traders a few years back.
    
    Kris..
1812.11CALL::SWEENEYPatrick Sweeney in New YorkSun Feb 04 1990 17:296
    Citibank is working to re-write those applications from UIS to
    DECwindows.
    
    I really hope that no one attempts to distribute pre-release versions
    of these products to customers without approval from product management
    and the ability to support XUIS without recourse to engineering
1812.12Thanks...SITBUL::KLEINSORGEBFMTue Feb 06 1990 12:5714
    
    Information on UISX (renamed because XUIS is legally indistiguishable
    from XUI) can be found in the VWSENG::UISX notesfile.  UISX FT1 kits
    are shipping this morning, the FT1 kit will be put into
    VWSENG::UISX$FT1:UISX010.* in a few minutes.
    
    The latest version of UISX is suprisingly fast... (we did a little
    optimization with backing store) I think people will like it.
    
    Citicorp has a problem: WCDRIVER.  They took a early version of the
    VT100 emulator and modified it to function as a color terminal... this
    will not work - no inner-mode access is provided by Xlib.