Wayland display server protocol
The X Window System has provided a framework for desktop graphics in Unix and Linux for more than 30 years. X has gone through many phases since it first appeared in 1984, but it stabilized long ago. Version 11 of the X protocol (referred to as X11) has been around since 1987, and it is a fundamental part of the Linux landscape; however, computers have changed a lot since 1987, and many experts believe the X Window System needs to be replaced.
The Wayland display server protocol, developed since 2008 under the direction of Intel employee Kristian Høgsberg, is primed to take over for X11. Wayland could eventually solve a load of problems that developers have to contend with when integrating Linux applications with a graphic desktop, but is Wayland equal to the task? This article looks at the state of Wayland integration.
The Turning Point
X11 is a patchwork of code difficult to maintain and almost impossible to expand. Serious mistakes often emerge that have remained hidden in the code for years. For example, a security vulnerability in the font server dating from 1991 wasn't discovered until 2014 [1]. Rigorously practiced backward compatibility is also part of the reason X11 is not considered secure. Several of the core components carried over from the early days are no longer of any real use, but they have to be available by default.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Kali Linux Waxes Nostalgic with BackTrack Mode
For those who've used Kali Linux since its inception, the changes with the new release are sure to put a smile on your face.
-
Gnome 50 Smooths Out NVIDIA GPU Issues
Gamers rejoice, your favorite pastime just got better with Gnome 50 and NVIDIA GPUs.
-
System76 Retools Thelio Desktop
The new Thelio Mira has landed with improved performance, repairability, and front-facing ports alongside a high-quality tempered glass facade.
-
Some Linux Distros Skirt Age Verification Laws
After California introduced an age verification law recently, open source operating system developers have had to get creative with how they deal with it.
-
UN Creates Open Source Portal
In a quest to strengthen open source collaboration, the United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology has created a new portal.
-
Latest Linux Kernel RC Contains Changes Galore
Linux kernel 7.0-rc3 includes more changes than have been made in a single release in recent history.
-
Nitrux 6.0 Now Ready to Rock Your World
The latest iteration of the Debian-based distribution includes all kinds of newness.
-
Linux Foundation Reports that Open Source Delivers Better ROI
In a report that may surprise no one in the Linux community, the Linux Foundation found that businesses are finding a 5X return on investment with open source software.
-
Keep Android Open
Google has announced that, soon, anyone looking to develop Android apps will have to first register centrally with Google.
-
Kernel 7.0 Now in Testing
Linus Torvalds has announced the first Release Candidate (RC) for the 7.x kernel is available for those who want to test it.