Character Based Windows

[Dan Bernstein]

In article <382 at ulticorp.UUCP> rick at ulticorp.UUCP (rick/1024000) writes:
> We are currently in the design phase of a character based window interface.

Just to give you a start, here's how pmwindow comes up to your
requirements. pmwindow is the poor man's windowing system, posted
recently to alt.sources. The entire code fits on a couple of pages.

> 	1) Attribute control. ( Underscore, Bold, etc )

Yep.

> 	2) Color control. ( 16 colors would be adequate )

Yep. This is all handled by the terminal, without interference from the
window system.

> 	3) Boxes for the windows. ( Control of border required also ).

No, pmwindow doesn't handle this. But you could easily configure it to
put in the border.

> 	4) Standard cursor positioning, clear screen, etc.

Of course.

> 	5) Window selection, stacking, and hiding control.
> 	6) Capability to read a window internal map.

No. pmwindow only supports two non-overlapping windows.

> 	7) Correct operation on terminals with magic cookie problem.

Yes.

(My point is that you should base your window manager on the terminal
sequence for changing scrolling regions, if it's available. This lets
you depend on the terminal for all the dirty work. Use add-line and
delete-line otherwise or if you want better control. If you don't scroll
at close to the terminal's natural speed, people won't use your system.)

---Dan