Release Notes for X11R6.8 : Summary of new features in X11R6.8
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2. Summary of new features in X11R6.8

This is a sampling of the new features in X11R6.8. A more complete list of changes can be found in the ChangeLog file that is part of the X source tree.

2.1. New X extensions

X11R6.8 includes four new extensions:

XFixes

The XFixes extension is a collection of improvements for deficiencies in the core protocol, including

Damage

The Damage extension allows a client to be notified whenever something is drawn to a window. This feature is useful for VNC servers, for screen magnifiers, and for clients using the Composite extension to update the screen.

Composite (experimental)

The Composite extension allows a client to request that all drawing to window is redirected to off-screen buffer. Though the Damage extension the client, called a 'compositing manager', can know which areas of a window is modified and render the windows on screen. By making use of the drawing requests from both the core protocol and the RENDER extension, the compositing manager can create special effects, such as translucennt windows.

The Composite extension is considered experimental in X11R6.8 and is turned off by default.

XEvIE (X Event Interception Extension) (experimental)

XEvIE is an extension to intercept core keyboard and pointing device input It allows consumation, modification or synthesis of input events before these are sent to their final destination (i.e., interested clients). This feature is required by the GNOME accessibility project.

The XEvIE extension is considered experimental in X11R6.8 and is turned off by default.

As noted above, some extensions are disabled by default. They can be enabled either in the xorg.conf configuration file or on the Xorg command-line. For example, to enable the Composite extension, you could include a section like the following in the xorg.conf file:

Section "Extensions"
        Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection

or you could put +extension Composite on your command line.

2.2. Distributed Multihead X (DMX)

X11R6.8 includes a new X server, called Xdmx, that allows users to create a single unified desktop from multiple running X servers. It works by creating a local screen on each of these running X servers, which can be distributed across a network, and then presents that set of screens to the user. When combined with Xinerama, a unified workspace, ranging from large display walls to small two display enviroments, can be created.

More information about DMX can be found on the DMX Project's web site, including how to configure and use Xdmx.

2.3. Xprint updates

2.4. Updated Mesa and DRI from upstream sources

2.5. Video driver enhancements

Release Notes for X11R6.8 : Summary of new features in X11R6.8
Previous: Introduction to the X11R6.8 Release
Next: Drivers