Re: Comparison between using X11 or GTK for gvim?
Tony Mechelynck
> Hi,
>
> What are the advantages/disadvantages between X11 and GTK when compiling
> gvim? My Linux box uses GTK by default, but I wonder if I would be
> better served with X11. However, I couldn't find any comparisons
> between the two which would allow me to make an informed decision.
>
> Any thoughts or opinions on the matter would be appreciated.
>
> Regards,
>
What do you mean, X11 or GTK? GTK requires X11. I'd say the following
flavours of GUI vim exist:
(under Windows)
Windows GUI
you could subdivide: W16, W95, W32, W64
(under X11)
Motif
Athena
NextAW
KDE (obsolete)
GTK1 (obsolete)
GTK1 with Gnome support (obsolete)
GTK2
GTK2 with Gnome support
(under Mac OS)
X11, see above (not very Mac-friendly IIUC)
Carbon (obsolete IIUC)
MacVim (for Cocoa IIUC)
(under QNX)
Photon
Under X11, if you don't specify which GUI you want when compiling Vim,
configure will select GTK2 if it can find it, which makes me believe it
is "recommended if available". I use GTK2/Gnome2 with no problems, so I
"don't change a winning team" (or to use another saying, "it ain' broke,
so I don' fix it").
Since this thread is about compiling Vim, I'm redirecting it to the
vim_dev list. Please subscribe to it (if you haven't already) if you
want to see any further replies.
Best regards,
Tony.
--
Cleanliness is next to impossible.
Mun
On Mon, Apr 18, 2011 at 01:19 PM PDT, Tony Mechelynck wrote:
TM> On 18/04/11 21:22, Mun wrote:
TM> >Hi,
TM> >
TM> >What are the advantages/disadvantages between X11 and GTK when compiling
TM> >gvim? My Linux box uses GTK by default, but I wonder if I would be
TM> >better served with X11. However, I couldn't find any comparisons
TM> >between the two which would allow me to make an informed decision.
TM> >
TM> >Any thoughts or opinions on the matter would be appreciated.
TM> >
TM> >Regards,
TM> >
TM>
TM> What do you mean, X11 or GTK? GTK requires X11. I'd say the
TM> following flavours of GUI vim exist:
Oops, I misspoke. My apologies. Thanks for pointing out that faux pas.
I meant to say the differences between Motif and GTK. Note that I have
corrected the subject.
I'm mainly interested in functionality differences between the two. For
example, with GTK one can change the font via the menu
(Edit->Select Font...). With X11, you cannot.
Regards,
--
Mun
TM> (under Windows)
TM> Windows GUI
TM> you could subdivide: W16, W95, W32, W64
TM>
TM> (under X11)
TM> Motif
TM> Athena
TM> NextAW
TM> KDE (obsolete)
TM> GTK1 (obsolete)
TM> GTK1 with Gnome support (obsolete)
TM> GTK2
TM> GTK2 with Gnome support
TM>
TM> (under Mac OS)
TM> X11, see above (not very Mac-friendly IIUC)
TM> Carbon (obsolete IIUC)
TM> MacVim (for Cocoa IIUC)
TM>
TM> (under QNX)
TM> Photon
TM>
TM> Under X11, if you don't specify which GUI you want when compiling
TM> Vim, configure will select GTK2 if it can find it, which makes me
TM> believe it is "recommended if available". I use GTK2/Gnome2 with
TM> no problems, so I "don't change a winning team" (or to use another
TM> saying, "it ain' broke, so I don' fix it").
TM>
TM> Since this thread is about compiling Vim, I'm redirecting it to
TM> the vim_dev list. Please subscribe to it (if you haven't already)
TM> if you want to see any further replies.
TM>
TM>
TM> Best regards,
TM> Tony.
TM> --
TM> Cleanliness is next to impossible.
Tony Mechelynck
I don't know about the menu, but according to the help (options.txt
dated 2011-Mar-22),
:set guifont=*
which provides the same functionality, is available under "Win32, GTK,
Motif, MacOS and Photon".
One difference is that the "value" of the 'guifont' is more easy for a
human to guess and understand under GTK2, for instance for the same font:
" under GTK2
:set gfn=Lucida\ Sans\ Typewriter\ 12
" under GTK1, Motif, Athena, NeXtAw etc.
:set gfn=-*-lucidatypewriter-medium-r-normal-*-*-120-*-*-m-*-*
" under the obsolete kvim
:set gfn=Lucida\ Sans\ Typewriter/12/-1/5/50/0/0/0/1/0
" under Windows
:set gfn=Lucida_Console:h12:cDEFAULT
etc.
Some of the differences between the various GUI flavours may be
described here and there in the Vim help, but if there is a systematic
"comparison table" summarizing them all, I'm not aware of it.
Best regards,
Tony.
--
Once upon a time, there was a non-conforming sparrow who decided not to
fly south for the winter. However, soon after the weather turned cold,
the sparrow changed his mind and reluctantly started to fly south.
After a short time, ice began to form on his wings and he fell to
earth in a barnyard almost frozen. A cow passed by and crapped on this
little bird and the sparrow thought it was the end, but the manure
warmed him and defrosted his wings. Warm and happy the little sparrow
began to sing. Just then, a large Tom cat came by and hearing the
chirping investigated the sounds. As Old Tom cleared away the manure,
he found the chirping bird and promptly ate him.
There are three morals to this story:
(1) Everyone who shits on you is not necessarily your enemy.
(2) Everyone who gets you out of shit is not necessarily your friend.
(3) If you are warm and happy in a pile of shit, keep your mouth shut.
raf
> I meant to say the differences between Motif and GTK. Note that I have
> corrected the subject.
>
> I'm mainly interested in functionality differences between the two. For
> example, with GTK one can change the font via the menu
> (Edit->Select Font...). With X11, you cannot.
>
> Regards,
> --
> Mun
hi,
a difference between athena/motif and gtk that is important
to some (i.e. possibly just me) is that athena and motif
both honour the x resources database while gtk does not.
man xrdb for details.
the practical consequence of this is that with athena and
motif, you can use x resources to tell vim where its window
should appear and it will appear there. with gtk you may
need to position the window manually with the mouse. using
vim's built-in commands for positioning and resizing the
window may not be executed until after the window has
already been manually positioned by the user and so isn't
always an adequate substitute for the x resources method.
however, i suspect that very few people have this problem.
the modern gtk version is far more commonly used and i'm
sure it's prettier if you display the menu.
cheers,
raf
Tony Mechelynck
I use gvim maximized so precise location isn't very important to me.
With Gnome sessions, if I forget to close gvim (with GTK2/Gnome2 GUI)
before logging out of X, the same gvim session will be opened in the
same virtual desktop the next time. Only the Gnome version has this
"magical session" feature: see :help gnome-session
Of course ":set lines=999 columns=9999" leaves a fraction of a character
cell's width & height around the window but if you're finicky you can
use the Maximize button.
Best regards,
Tony.
--
Cynic, n.:
One who looks through rose-colored glasses with a jaundiced
eye.