Note: If you plan to have your application run under different window systems, be sure to keep the windowing code isolated as much as possible to minimize the number of files that must be special for each implementation. All Silicon Graphics systems use the X Window System. Applications on a Silicon Graphics system rely on Xlib calls to manipulate windows and obtain input. An X-based window manager (usually 4Dwm) handles iconification, window borders, and overlapping windows. The Indigo Magic(TM) desktop environment is based on X, as is the Silicon Graphics widget set, IRIS IM. IRIS IM is the Silicon Graphics port of OSF/Motif.(TM)
A full introduction to X is beyond the scope of this guide; for detailed information about X, see the sources listed in "Background Reading" on page xxv.