where can I learn to program window managers

[gogomon]

I am interested in making something like XFCE, light quick and simple, just for learning purposes and wanted to start with a window manager. I want to use gtk for the interface using the gtkmm wrappers, is there any examples that are not too advance laying around ?, thanks for any responses

[LorenzoD]

I think you may want to take a look at the code for black box. It's fairly simple and clear. I haven't peeked at the openbox 3 code but that may also be interesting. If you want C code rather that C++, maybe WindowMaker.

It would probably be a good idea to get some of those Xlib references as well. I think I remember seeing them somewhere on the 'Net as PDFs.

Metacity also uses Gtk, but I wouldn't recommend looking at that. Metacity as a window manager gives me nightmares, I can only imagine what its source code would do..

[LordHunter317]

You want to purchase and/or acquire at least the first two volumes of the O'Rilley Definitive Guide to the X Windows System: The XLib Programmer's Manual and Reference, respectively. The former even has a chapter on a basic manager.

Also, XFCE is hardly simple. Looking at blackbox, openbox, or fluxbox would be a better idea, IMO.

[gogomon]

Yeah, I downloaded the XFCE4 and previous versions source and it was pretty hard to follow. I plan to eventually knock out a usable desktop system. But the for mean time I just want to at least get a WM working, and I will keep adding from there. I will look into the books you mention and start reading. For right now I will look at the blackbox code, thanks for the suggestions guys, anymore are welcome.