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OroborOSX: XDarwin Aqua-Like Window Manager
UnanimousCoward writes: "I've just downloaded OroborOSX, "A modified Oroborus-based X11 window manager for use with XFree86 and XDarwin on Mac OS X." It's truly a wm worthy of standing side-by-side with Aqua in rootless mode. Here are some screenshots from Jonathan Tyzack (I'm too lazy to create my own, but my experience is the same). Using MacGimp under OroborOSX is awesome ..." The original Oroborus looks interesting as well; the original author has discontinued work on Oroborus, but it looks like the code has found a nice new application.
What is the most disgusting thing about Apple suing some guys who make an OSX looking WM?
1. That at the same time Apple execs are fellating Adobe and MS execs while looking for Aqua-ized versions of their apps.
This is perfectly logical. Apple don't want Aqua-like stuff to appear on non-Apple platforms, but at the same time they want everything on their platform to look like Aqua.
This is a simple branding issue. Apples sell partly on their look and feel (compare G4 cases to your average grey PC tower) so keeping Aqua unique to themselves is a must if they're to avoid diluting one of their selling points.
Similarly, if there are apps on OS X that don't look like Aqua, this also detracts from the Aqua look and feel, so it's in Apple's interests to promote Aqua development on OS X.
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Karma: Chameleon (you come and go)
I do use the original, but when I want to run X Window appliations the user interface looks very different because of the window manager in use on the Xfree86 side. This kind of project helps make the whole UI more consistent. Bear in mind that the Quartz rendering engine for the Mac OS X display can't display X11 applications.
-- Solaris Central - http://w
...it looks hideous matched with the unixy-flat grey and squared off buttons inside the pretty Aqua window borders. It's like if someone putting leather seats inside of a Yugo and thinking it stands side by side with his neighbor's Lexus. It comes off as a half-assed knockoff.
I hear people all the time saying that Linux (and it's most popular apps)are not at all original but merely doing its best to ape other OSes (Linux-Unix, KDE-Windows, GIMP-Photoshop, StarOffice-MS Office). Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of Linux but things like this seem lame and add weight to thier perceptions.
I personally feel that to argue that derivative work is somehow ... Bad ... is a bit off the mark. Every major art movement in history has been based on a group of artists feeding off each other in a certain vein producing work that looks similar when compared to the establishment, but with significant differences.
I love my 'iMac' kettle. Its a kettle, but it has an iMac 'feel' about it. It's great! Personally, I feel the kettle designer guy that saw an iMac and thought 'I can do that to a kettle!' was inspired!
Lexus tries to make their cars look like Mercedes. Everyone knows this - everyone that owns a Lexus would like a Mercedes if they are honest - they just can't afford the 40% extra for one. But why shouldn't they be able to enjoy something like a Mercedes for less? This is democratic design in action - Apple has improved the world by making Aqua so pretty - lets all nick it and enjoy it in cheaper forms! Increase the peace! Spread the joy!
And to argue that Apple will stop innovating if everyone gets to copy it is like argueing Mercedes will stop making cars because Lexus is getting close! Apple exists because it innovaties and enough people will pay the premium for Macs because they are prettier.
I run MacOS X at home, and I have Xfree86 installed on it to. Even though I can run it rootless, I find that usually when I need to fire up X11 I'll end up running it rooted (on its own screen -- I use Windowmaker) because the cognitive dissonance is so high switching between OSX apps and X11 apps. Mac and X11 applications aren't the same -- the menus function differently, keystrokes do different things, they don't share a clipboard, etc. etc. etc. I find it's easier to keep things straight if I let each environment have a screen to itself. I can flip between them with a single user-definable keystroke (I use F13) and the switch is instantaneous.
Apple knows the Aqua UI is very important to the sale of OS X, and hence they try to squash Aqua clones for competing platforms, as people would just say "Why buy OS X? I already have an Aqua-like UI". However, since this is meant mainly for people running X on their OS X box, it will not take away from Apple's sales, and thus Apple's not going to go after it.
Um, how about the fact that engineers working for Apple on Apple's dime are contributing time, debugging, and new code to quite a few open projects? I'd call paying engineers salaries to work free codewhen a lot of other corporations are cutting programmers loose on the streets a pretty major contribution in itself.