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 Information
   1.1. 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:
       http://www.afterstep.org/

       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.



2. Resources
   2.1. 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 . Feel free
              to come in and have a chat with us!



   2.2. What are the AfterStep mailing lists, and where are their archives?
       There currently is a mailing list for users to ask questions and get
       support: as-users.


       as-users.

              as-users is the general AfterStep mailing list, open to all
              AfterStep questions, concerns and ideas. Subscribe by entering
              your e-mail at :
              http://lists.afterstep.org/listinfo.cgi/as-users-afterstep.org


              The old mailing list archives can be read at
              http://www.tigr.net/afterstep/mail/ , while current archives
              (registration required) can be found at
              http://lists.afterstep.org/private.cgi/as-users-afterstep.org/ .



3. Getting and Installing AfterStep 2.0
   3.1. 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:

           mkdir /bin mkdir -p /man/man1 ./configure --prefix /

           make install
       without 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.




3rd Berkeley Distribution     AfterStep v.2.2.12              afterstep_faq(1)
