afterstep_faq(1)         AfterStep X11 window manager         afterstep_faq(1)



NAME
       afterstep_faq - This document is an ever growing set of questions,
       statements, ideas and complaints about AfterStep version 2.0 1. General
       Information1.1. 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:

       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 2.03.1. 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:

              Source : mkdir /bin
              mkdir -p /man/man1
              Source : make installwithout 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. Resources2.1. 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. You can
              view current activity here :
              http://www.rchitecture.com/~computer/

              2.2. What are the AfterStep mailing lists, and where are their
              archives?  There are three AfterStep mailing lists. as-users,
              as-devel and as-bugs.


       as-users.

              as-users is the general AfterStep mailing list, open to all
              AfterStep questions, concerns and ideas ( NO LiteSTEP, Window
              Maker, some-x-app questions unless it really does pertain to
              AfterStep, please). Subscribe by entering your e-mail at :
              http://mail.afterstep.org/mailman/listinfo/as-users/


       as-devel.

              as-devel is the development AfterStep mailing list. It is used
              to send notices about commits to CVS repository. Subscribe by
              entering your e-mail at :
              http://mail.afterstep.org/mailman/listinfo/as-devel/


       as-bugs.

              as-bugs is the AfterStep mailing list for submiting bug reports.
              It is geared toward development questions, ideas and complaints.
              Subscribe by entering your e-mail at :
              http://mail.afterstep.org/mailman/listinfo/as-bugs/


              The mailing list archives can be read at
              http://www.tigr.net/afterstep/mail/ .




3rd Berkeley Distribution      AfterStep v.2.2.9              afterstep_faq(1)
