FVWM 2.6.0 released

From: "Jason L Tibbitts III" <tibbs-AT-math.uh.edu> To: fvwm-announce-AT-fvwm.org Subject: FVWM 2.6.0 Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:01:31 -0500 Message-ID: <ufalizbmud0.fsf@epithumia.math.uh.edu> Archive-link: Article, Thread

FVWM 2.6.0 released! ==================== It's been almost five years since the last stable release of FVWM (2006) and almost ten years since the development version of FVWM (2.5.X) which became this latest stable release was started! A lot of hard work from many talented individuals has made this release possible. Highlights ========== In no particular order (and neither an exhaustive list): * EWMH support, including support for managing different window types ("docks" for example). * Colorset commands replace FvwmTheme (which is now deprecated) * WindowStyle command applies a style to a specific window only. * XFT fonts are supported, per locale. * Focus-specific policies supported as styles (FP*, !FP*) * FocusStyle command allows styling of focus policies specifically. * Dynamic actions can be sent to most modules whilst they're running to customise their behaviour (SendToModule). * Gettext support introduced for output strings (most commonly seen on menu items.) * Mouse gestures (libstroke) bindings are available. * New module FvwmProxy to manage moving windows around. * New module FvwmWindowList to make the list of running windows more customisable over the builtin "WindowList" command. * Variable placeholders ($w, $d, $c) deprecated in favour of newer formats. Also, the number of variable placeholders has been expanded. - $[func.context], $[w.desk], $[w.layer], etc. * Nesting of placeholders is also allowed. * FvwmEvent: The PassId option is deprecated as actions always run within a window context. * Many new conditional commands with different options. * New style command "Unmanaged" to make certain windows completely divorced from FVWM's control. * New command FakeKeyPress. * Window-specific key/mouse bindings. (Bindings no longer have to be global.) * Many new style options: - FixedSize - FixedPosition - MoveByProgramMethod - UseTitleDecorRotation - IconBackgroundColorset - IconTitleColorset - HilightIconTitleColorset - IconTitleRelief - IconBackgroundRelief - IconBackgroundPadding - Closable - Iconifiable - Maximizable - AllowMaximizeFixedSize - PositionPlacement - InitialMapComand Plus many others... * Window states are now available to identify windows to perform "groups" of commands on. * fvwm-menu-desktop uses the XDG menu specification. * PNG/SVG support for icons. * Menu-context bindings. * The name style names match against can be augmented by the X-resource "fvwmstyle". * New fvwm-convert-2.6 script to convert older fvwm 2.4.x config files. * Bugfixes! There are of course significant bug fixes gone into this release; far too many to list here, and many of them so specific to the development version alone that listing them is out of context when comparing them to the last stable release. Overall, a number of bug fixes for memory management, and ease of managing windows has happened. Upgrading from FVWM 2.4.X -> 2.6.0 ================================== It is worth spending some time looking at the dependencies at FVWM's disposal. None of them are required per se for FVWM to work: * Xinerama * Readline * Fribidi * XFT * Iconv * PNG * SVG * XPM * XRender * Stroke * Xsm * Xcursor * SM (Session Manager) Note that not all of these are external libraries -- some of them are merely facets of an XServer's configuration, but a lot of it will depend on the platform FVWM is running on. Preferred way of upgrading your configuration file ================================================== In the old stable (2.4.X), the path to the default user config file is now: $ ~/.fvwm/config by default, although the older paths of: $ ~/.fvwm/.fvwm2rc $ ~/.fvwm2rc are still supported; just deprecated in favour of ~/.fvwm/config. Note that the "INITIALIZATION" section in "man fvwm" lists the other locations FVWM might also look in to find a valid config file. Since there's been some syntax changes, a handy script can be used -- "fvwm-config-2.6" to convert a 2.4.X style config file. Please see the man page for "fvwm-convert-2.6". History ======= It's taken almost ten years for FVWM 2.6.0 to arrive. In that time, FVWM has had contributions from numerous people -- many of them can be found here: http://fvwm.org/authors/ Whilst it is unfair to single any one particular person out, it is without question that I (Thomas Adam) would like to pay particular homage to the following people (again in no particular order; and *far* from exhaustive): * Dominik Vogt -- for being one of the most useful sources of information on FVWM to date, and making it such a great program. * Viktor Griph -- for implementing some cool features * Dan Espen -- just for being completely reliable with any request I've thrown at him, and for helping to cobble this release together. * Olivier Chapuis -- for writing far too many features than can be listed here, but responsible for things like: new conditional commands, original EWMH support, XFT support, gettext support, numerous bug fixes, etc., fvwm-themes. * Mikhael Goikhman -- for perllib, Session management support, various perl helper scripts FVWM uses (fvwm-config, fvwm-menu-desktop, etc.), as well as along with Olivier Chapius, starting fvwm-themes. * Scott Smedley -- Converting documentation to use Docbook, window-specific binding support, FvwmTabs, perllib fixes, FvwmButtons enhancements. But that list is far from the full picture. There are numerous people on IRC in #fvwm (freenode) who have given up their time in terms of user support, and that's just as important as development. So I would like to also thank the following people (in no particular order): * pebcak * somiaj * theBlackDragon * starshine * haddock * Janon * surrounder * taviso * swimmer This list is not exhaustive either, but they have in particular been the life-blood of the channel on ensuring it runs smoothly and help provide the best support possible. Thank you all! Dedications =========== During the course of FVWM's development, the community lost one of its members, Alex Wallis ("awol", on IRC). Alex founded the IRC channel, brought together a community on IRC for FVWM, which still continues to this day. He also was a large contributor to the fvwm-themes project. Sadly, Alex is no longer with us, and he would have been proud to see the FVWM he knew, as being released as stable, so this release is dedicated to him. May he still rest in peace. Contact ======= The official fvwm homepage: http://www.fvwm.org/ Questions about the release can be asked on our mailing list: fvwm _at_ fvwm.org Bugs can be reported to the fvwm-workers mailing list. -- Thomas Adam (2011/04/15), on behalf of the FVWM community.