--== M A L F U N C T I O N ==--

AfterStep, the window manager for X.

Since there is the new version of AfterStep out, I thought it would be good to re-new this page and show some differences between the versions 1.0 (the classic AfterStep) and the new version 1.4.X

This great guys who developed the new AfterStep, are now moving in a different direction. They decide to add features to it that aren't NeXT like, because WindowMaker shall take that place and the developers will concentrate on the NeXT look and feel. So who the hell needs two window managers looking like NeXT?

I will try to show up some differences between the versions I use or have used. I also will try to keep this page up to date and to compare the AS 1.0, AS 1.4.X (stable) and the latest version I use:

	AfterStep 1.0	AfterStep 1.4.5.X	AfterStep 1.4.5.55N6
Configuration	Everything goes to ~/.steprc	Single files for Wharf, Audio and all the other Modules spawned by AfterStep. Single files also for the root menus, for each program in the "Hotlist" or now "Start..." menu there is a file in ~/GNUstep/Library/AfterStep/start/ that contains the call for the program (i.e. xterm &). This is very flexible and highly configurable, but the first time it takes much time.	For some directories you have to decide where to store it´s contents. Either in /u/s/a/ or in ~/G/L/A/. For example the look directory, AfterStep can´t merge both directories. So if you save a look file in your ~/G/L/A/d/l/ this will be the only one to show up in the start menu.
Pager	Simple Pager	Pager comes around with different "Desks", you now can send programs to different desks at startup, or just click the respective button.	Some key-bindings has changed, but will be changed back in the final version.
Windows	I only know the 1.0 version with its two buttons, one for iconify and one to close the window.	You now got five buttons. One to switch to the next window or to call the man page for that program running. One for window operations. One to iconify. One to shade the window and one to kill it. Needless to mention that you can change the bindings on them.	Same as in 1.4.X, but with more different button types within the distribution
Taskbar	No taskbar	The taskbar is a very small bar where you can switch to other tasks. It looks good and is very handy.	Same as in 1.4.X
Distribution	AfterStep 1.0 comes alone, only the code for the window manager itself.	AfterStep 1.4 comes with the code for the WM and also with lots of applications for the wharf. And also with "xiterm" to me it seems like a rxvt :).	Now you got some more button types
Backgrounds	You can use xli or xv to set the root window.	Now you can use different backgrounds on each desk. But only pixmaps, what is an advantage for tiled backgrounds, but a disadvantage for huge pictures that can't be tiled. A 1024x768 pixmap takes about 1,5 MB. Maybe you can use jpeg and I'm only blind ;-) In 1.4.4 you can use jpeg but it seems to be a little bit tricky. Also you can change backgrounds without leaving AfterStep.	Same as in 1.4.X
Look	Nothing appropriate	You can make so called "look" files that can be loaded during runtime. A look file contains the parameters for windows, borders, menus, ... You can there define colors, pixmaps, etc.	Same as in 1.4.X
Feel	Nothing appropriate	Same as look, but here you can define the behavior of the windows and change key- or mouse bindings. That's very nice.	Same as in 1.4.X, with some more features.
Session management	Nothing appropriate	Yeah, AfterStep now works with a try of a session management. It restores the desktop. So open some applications you always want to be open and quit, when you restart everything will be there. It doesn't work perfect yet (different desks) but it's a nice feature. You can disable it if you don't like it.	Same as in 1.4.X.
Other things	Nothing	Nothing	Swallowed apps in the Wharf can now be folders and folders can contain subfolders. That was a long missing feature. Also apps can be swallowed into folders. The menu can now be pinned, means the menus will stay on the desktop even when you move the pointer away from them.
News in AS 1.5beta4: The latest beta I use, has quite some more improvements and also features. I don't want to compare the version anymore, so here are only the news. New Icon feature: it is now possible to use icons without a back-tile that is limited to 64x64. The syntax of the wharf has changed, some of my hints become obsolete for the beta versions. But you will find out, and I will change them when 1.5 final is released. New sets of window buttons in the distribution. e menu texture features now really work. AfterStep now uses very few resources! Many broken stuff were fixed. This beta really rocks ;-).
News in AS 1.5beta5: I found the time to install the latest beta, here are the news: JPEG support no works really good The pager now handles the jpeg pictures very well, thank Sasha, great job! The root menu looks better then in any other version, IMO. All features regarding the root menu now seems to work fine, in beta4 there were some little bugs. Even more broken stuff is now fixed. Some changes in the feel files. This beta rocks even more.
News in AS 1.6.0: 1.6.0 is the first non-beta release since a while. Originally it should have been 1.5.0 but the developers made a little number-jump ;-). So what is new: Very stable Lot of bugfixes Added theme support (experimental) AS 1.6.0 is available as a port for FreeBSD It's almost perfect
News in AS 1.6.6: 1.6.6 is the latest stable release. Here are the news: One bug left, the pager now somtimes won't get swallowed into the wharf! install.sh bug fixed Compliance for wterm/aterm "fast" transparency Minor modifications BTW: it runs also fine on FreeBSD So take f.a.o by storm ;-)

Screenshots
Here are two screenshots, one is AfterStep 1.0 the other 1.4, but as you can read above the differences are not that visible and I liked my 1.0 desktop the way it looked.

My old 1.0 Desktop	One of my 1.6.6 Desktops (Or here in 1024x768)

[ HOME ]	[ LINKS ]	[ ENVIRONMENT ]	[ AS CONFIGURATION GUIDE ]
[ AS FAQ (Non-Devel) ]

Tomas Duewiger

Last modified: Thu Feb 10 19:05:28 CET 2000