Lunduke
News • Science & Tech
W: The Window System before X... that nobody seems to remember
(Nobody seems to even know what it looked like.)
August 16, 2023
post photo preview

Most users of Linux or UNIX, nowadays, are quite familiar with the X Window System — the display server that has powered our graphical workstations for decades (in one iteration or another).

The “window system X”, as it was initially called, was created as a fork of another window system (known as “W”), back in June of 1984.

Here is the announcement email, of “window system X”, from Robert Scheifler (at MIT):

From: rws@mit-bold (Robert W. Scheifler)
To: window@athena
Subject: window system X
Date: 19 Jun 1984 0907-EDT (Tuesday)

 

I've spent the last couple weeks writing a window system for the VS100. I stole a fair amount of code from W, surrounded it with an asynchronous rather than a synchronous interface, and called it X. Overall performance appears to be about twice that of W. The code seems fairly solid at this point, although there are still some deficiencies to be fixed up.

 

We at LCS have stopped using W, and are now actively building applications on X. Anyone else using W should seriously consider switching. This is not the ultimate window system, but I believe it is a good starting point for experimentation. Right at the moment there is a CLU (and an Argus) interface to X; a C interface is in the works. The three existing applications are a text editor (TED), an Argus I/O interface, and a primitive window manager. There is no documentation yet; anyone crazy enough to volunteer? I may get around to it eventually.

 

Anyone interested in seeing a demo can drop by NE43-531, although you may want to call 3-1945 first. Anyone who wants the code can come by with a tape. Anyone interested in hacking deficiencies, feel free to get in touch.

Cool… So what, exactly, is “W”?

Now that we know that “W” is the inspiration (and original source code for) “X”… wouldn’t it be amazing to know more about W? How it worked, what it looked like, etc.?

Finding detailed information on the “W Window System” is astoundingly difficult.

In fact, almost every mention of “W” seems to consist entirely of variations on the following text (found on Wikipedia):

The W window system is a discontinued windowing system and precursor in name and concept to the modern X Window System window system.

 

W was originally developed at Stanford University by Paul Asente and Brian Reid for the V operating system. In 1983, Paul Asente and Chris Kent ported the system to UNIX on the VS100, giving a copy to those working at MIT's Laboratory for Computer Science.

 

In 1984, Bob Scheifler of MIT replaced the synchronous protocol of W with an asynchronous alternative and named the result X.

 

Since this time the X window system has gone through many fundamental changes and no longer bears any significant resemblance to W.

And… that’s it.

Screenshots? Technical details? Documentation? Nope. None of that.

This is not the original W

Fun side note: The Wikipedia entry for W (which I quote above), includes a link to an email thread that, at first glance, appears to be discussing the W from the early 1980s.

but it’s not. What that thread is referring to is a completely different Window System, from the 1990s, which also was named “W”That Window System looked like this:

This is NOT the “W” Window System from the 1980s

What is wild, is there is significantly more information about this 1990s Window Server -- which very few people have actually used -- than there is about the, deeply historically significant, 1980s W.

Great. So what DO we know about the original W?

We know that W is a Windowing System developed, originally, for the V Distributed Operating System.

The V Distributed System (sometimes just called V-System) was developed at Stanford starting in 1981. It had its own display system called “Virtual Graphics Terminal Service” (or VGTS). Files and (some) source code from V has been archived by the folks at BitSavers.org.

And those archives do contain a piece of software called “w”. But, once again, it is not the 1980’s display server “W”. The “w” contained in the V archives is a command which lists users connected to the V system.

The name of the W Window System was chosen because it ran on V.

W was next in alphabetical order. (Which is also why “X Window System” is called “X”… it is the next letter after “W”.)

In 1983, W Window System was ported to the VAXstation 100 (and, hence, to UNIX).

Let’s look at the VAXstation 100

From the VAXstation 100 technical summary document (released in 1984)

Hey, hey! What have we here? Is that a graphical desktop I see?

Could this be the elusive “W Window System” that inspired X?

Let’s take a closer look at another page from the VAXstation 100 technical summary:

After reading absolutely everything in the Technical Summary, there is no mention of “W”. Instead the graphical interface is called the “VAXstation Display System Software”.

This is continued in the VAXstation 100 Users Guide, which was published in June of 1984. The illustrations in that document appear to match the photos in the Technical Summary document.

From the June 1984 VAXstation 100 Users Guide

This appears to be the only reference to “VAXstation Display System” in existence.

However.

In October of 1984 (just a few months after those documents were published), the “VAXstation I” was released. And, with it, the first (possibly) official graphical desktop for VAX/VMS systems: VMS Workstation Software (VWS).

Now, according to Wikipedia, the VMS Workstation Software was not released before October of 1984.

Which leaves us with a few possibilities:

  1. Wikipedia is wrong (it often is).

  2. The “VAXstation Display System” is an earlier name for “VMS Workstation Software”… it does only precede it by a few months, after all.

  3. The “VAXstation Display System” is simply “W” (which was developed the year before the documentation above)… but rebranded.

The likelihood is that the “VAXstation Display System” is just a different terminology for “VMS Workstation Software” that was used in documentation a few months before the release of the VAXstation I. But that is purely conjecture based on the available data.

How do we find out more about W?

The reality is this:

In order to get W running, we need:

  • A way to properly emulate 1983 / 1984 versions of the “V Distributed Operating System” developed at Stanford.

  • And a copy of W.

Or…

  • A working VAXstation 100.

  • And a copy of W.

Either way, we need a copy of W. Which we don’t have.

Case in point: W Window System doesn’t seem to exist anywhere on the entire Internet. Either in binary or source code form.

In short: Here’s what we don’t know about W

We don’t know, with any certainty…

  • What W looked like

  • How W functioned

  • What, specifically, was changed between W and X

If any of you have additional details, I would love to hear about it. The fact that such a critical part of computing history is largely lost is a sad thing… one that deserves to be rectified.

community logo
Join the Lunduke Community
To read more articles like this, sign up and join my community today
6
What else you may like…
Videos
Podcasts
Posts
Articles
Google Intentionally Cripples Nextcloud Android App

Nextcloud is an open source competitor to Google Drive. Google doesn't like competition.

00:11:06
Yet Another Linux Distro Ditches Firefox for Brave

First Zorin OS, now the Fedora-based Nobara changes the default web browser.

00:18:50
Adobe Caves When Challenged by Lunduke

After filing multiple fraudulent YouTube copyright claims, in order to silence a critical journalist, Adobe failed to follow through with legal action when challenged.

The video Adobe doesn't want you to see:
https://x.com/LundukeJournal/status/1914160985977335942

00:15:41
November 22, 2023
The futility of Ad-Blockers

Ads are filling the entirety of the Web -- websites, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. -- at an increasing rate. Prices for those ad placements are plummeting. Consumers are desperate to use ad-blockers to make the web palatable. Google (and others) are desperate to break and block ad-blockers. All of which results in... more ads and lower pay for creators.

It's a fascinatingly annoying cycle. And there's only one viable way out of it.

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links? Check here:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

The futility of Ad-Blockers
November 21, 2023
openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"

Those in power with openSUSE make it clear they will not allow me anywhere near anything related to the openSUSE project. Ever. For any reason.

Well, that settles that, then! Guess I won't be contributing to openSUSE! 🤣

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links?
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"
September 13, 2023
"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

This episode is free for all to enjoy and share.

Be sure to subscribe here at Lunduke.Locals.com to get all shows & articles (including interviews with other amazing nerds).

"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

Hands-On with COSMIC Alpha 7 - Full Walkthrough of System76’s New Linux Desktop

System76 dropped COSMIC Alpha 7, and it’s a big step forward in their custom Rust-based desktop environment. Join me as I walk through the newest changes and features to see what's cooking for this desktop. From draggable workspaces to polished UI tweaks, COSMIC is shaping up to be a serious contender in the Linux desktop space.

May 15, 2025

Jeremy covers Lunduke's Minecraft story.

placeholder
May 15, 2025

Google wants to "help" you. By watching your screen to "fight scams". 🤔

How Android 16 will fight scams for you | Mashable
https://mashable.com/article/android-16-scam-protection-features

50% off Monthly, Yearly Subscriptions! Lifetime Subs for $100! Let's get everyone subscribing to The Lunduke Journal!

The number of free subscribers to The Lunduke Journal has absolutely exploded — across a bunch of platforms — which is truly amazing. The real Tech News is spreading farther than ever.

In fact, the free subscriber growth is so utterly massive, that if even a tiny fraction of you became a paying subscriber… The Lunduke Journal would become comfortably financially set for a very long time. Able to continue reporting on Big Tech — and corrupt Tech Foundations — well into the future.

All without taking a penny from Big Tech.

With that in mind, let’s do something awesome… something that will make Big Tech really grumpy.

Let’s get as many people subscribing to The Lunduke Journal as possible. Right now. This week. Let’s make this Big-Tech-Free, Non-Woke Tech News publication financially set for a good, long time.

To give everyone a kick-in-the-butt to help make that happen, I’m going to discount absolutely every type of subscription in a crazy way — through Friday, May 9th.

  • %50 off Monthly — Now $3 / Month (was $6 / Month)

  • %50 off Yearly — Now $27 / Year (was $54 / Year)

  • %50 off Yearly MP4 Downloads — Now $27 / Year (was $54 / Year)

  • %50 off Lifetime Subscriptions — Now $100 (was $200)

That Lifetime Subscription one is crazy.

Seriously. Make a one-time donation of $100, and be subscribed to The Lunduke Journal… for life. (This includes full access to the community Forum.)

If even 1% of the new free subscribers who have joined in the last month take advantage of this… The Lunduke Journal will be fully funded through the end of this year. And then some.

Let’s make it happen. Scroll down. Pick which ever subscription type works best for you. Then high-five yourself for making Big Tech grumpy.

Just be sure to do it by the end of the day on Friday, May 9th. The prices all go back to normal after that.

50% Off Yearly or Monthly Subscription:

50% off a Yearly or Monthly subscription to The Lunduke Journal are available via both Locals and Substack. (This includes full access to the community Forum.)

That means $3 / Month. Or $27 / Year (which works out to $2.25 / Month).

Via Lunduke.Locals.com:

Via Lunduke.Substack.com:

The Famous Lifetime Subscription:

The "World Famous Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscription" is exactly what it sounds like. Pay once and get full access to The Lunduke Journal. For life.

And now, through Friday, May 9th… you can snag one at a crazy discount. Normally these are $200… but you can grab one for $100. (You can also pay more if you’d like to donate a little extra.)

The Lifetime Subscription can be obtained via Locals, Substack, or using Bitcoin. All three options work great and are super easy. Scroll down and choose your option.

How to get a Lifetime Subscription via Locals:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Locals.com/support.

  2. Select "Give Once".

  3. Enter "100" (or more) into the amount field.

  4. After checking out, Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status. (This usually happens within a few hours.)

How to get a Lifetime Subscription via Substack:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Substack.com/subscribe.

  2. Select the “Lifetime Subscription” option.

  3. After checking out, Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status. (This usually happens within a few hours.)

If you would also like full, Lifetime access to Lunduke.Locals.com (which is included):

  1. Make a free account on Lunduke.Locals.com.

  2. Email “bryan at lunduke.com” with the email address you use on both Substack and Locals (can be different email addresses).

  3. Lunduke will toss you an email once your account is set to full lifetime status on Locals.

How to get a Lifetime Subscription with Bitcoin:

You can also obtain a Lifetime Subscription via Bitcoin.

bc1qyjakve8fywm8pz2v99v57yhjj0vzr2vjze6fcq

  • Email "bryan at lunduke.com" with the following information: What time you made the transaction, how much was sent (in Bitcoin), and the email address you use (or plan to use) on Locals.com or Substack.com.

50% Off DRM-Free, MP4 Downloads:

Want to be able to download every show The Lunduke Journal releases (and watch them on whatever device you like)? Yeah. You can do that. For 50% off.

Note: This DRM-Free download option does not include access to the Forum. This option is strictly for downloading the episodes.

Make a One Time Donation

Subscription not enough (or not your thing)? Want to toss in a one-time donation to The Lunduke Journal? There’s a few great options!

Via BitCoin:

Send any amount of BTC to the following address:

bc1qyjakve8fywm8pz2v99v57yhjj0vzr2vjze6fcq

  • Email "bryan at lunduke.com" with to let us know it was you! You can choose to keep your donation anonymous if you prefer. (Either way, all BTC donations get included in the matching deal.)

Via Locals:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Locals.com/support.

  2. Click “GIVE ONCE”.

  3. Enter any amount you like.

You Make This Possible

A huge thank you to all of the subscribers who have made The Lunduke Journal possible. Because of you, we have been able to do true Tech Journalism — to tell the stories that no other Tech News outlet has the cajones to touch.

And to all of you new Lunduke Journal subscribers: Welcome to the last bastion of truly independent, Big-Tech-Free, ad-free, non-Woke Tech Journalism.

-Lunduke

Read full Article
Lunduke Interviewed by Side Scrollers

Yesterday I joined the Side Scrollers show for an hour-long interview.

We covered the Adobe Copyright fight, PewDiePie and Linux, Pokemon Go and the CIA, and how The Lunduke Journal came to be. Definitely worth a watch. I join the show around the 56 minute mark.

 

Next Monday (May 12th), I’ll be a guest on Citizen Podcast with Dan Hollaway.

Critically Important Reminder: The Lunduke Journal refuses to take any funding from Big Tech. The coverage from The Lunduke Journal is only possible because of you.

And with efforts to silence The Lunduke Journal ramping up (including fraudulent copyright take-downs on YouTube), your support is needed more than ever before. If you haven’t already become a subscriber… there’s a lot of options.

All of them make a huge difference:

Without your support, so many stories about Big Tech and Woke Tech would never get told.

Seriously. Now’s the time to support this work, if you are able.

And a huge thank you to each and every one of you. You are making the Tech World a better place.

-Lunduke

Read full Article
Adobe silences Lunduke, "GNOME is Antifa", & Linux Leftists v. PewDiePie
The Lunduke Journal coverage for the week ending May 4th, 2025.

This has been one heck of a weird week — both for Open Source in general, and The Lunduke Journal in particular.

From GNOME contributors declaring that “GNOME is Antifa” to Open Source project leaders declaring that they intend to block PewDiePie fans from using Linux — because PewDiePie fans are, according to Open Source Leftists, “fascists”. Just plain weird.

And, of course, the saga of Adobe working to silence The Lunduke Journal continues to march forward.

As usual, most of these stories were not only broken by The Lunduke Journal… but most Tech News outlets have refused to cover them at all.

Highlights from the last week (ending Sunday, May 4th, 2025):

Those links are all to X — but you can also find all of these shows on every other platform where The Lunduke Journal is available (including Rumble, Podcast, YouTube, and the rest).

Reminder: The Lunduke Journal refuses to take any funding from Big Tech. This type of reporting is only possible through the support of all of you. There are a number of ways you can help out — and, big or small, every option goes directly towards funding this work.

Without your support, so many stories about Big Tech and Woke Tech would never get told.

Seriously. You make The Lunduke Journal possible.

Thank you.

-Lunduke

Read full Article
See More
Available on mobile and TV devices
google store google store app store app store
google store google store app tv store app tv store amazon store amazon store roku store roku store
Powered by Locals