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The real story behind Wayland and X

Linux.conf.au 2013 -- Canberra, Australia · talk · Watch on YouTube

Linux & open-source ecosystemsComputer graphics & renderingOperating systems & kernels

What it is

X.Org developer Daniel Stone explains the history and technical limits of the X Window System and why Wayland was created, debunking myths from forum comments. He covers topics such as network transparency and blocking calls.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN uses it as the go-to answer to claims that Wayland is unnecessary, from a developer who knew X's codebase well.

  • 4 people recommended it
  • 4 different months
  • 2 strong recommendations
  • first 2018, last 2024

What HN commenters said

  1. “Really recommend that speech as well since it's give good understanding what's wrong with X11 and why Wayland was created.”

    Explains what is wrong with X11 and why Wayland was created

    SXX, 2020-08 · Strong recommendation · in “Xplain – Explaining X11 for the rest of us (2017)”

  2. “It is quite fun and eye opening, he clearly knows his subject better than most of the comments.”

    Fun, eye-opening developer story about the old X11 codebase

    sergeykish, 2020-10 · Strong recommendation · in “The X.Org Server Is Abandonware?”

  3. “Or just look at a technical video about it”

    Technical video answering why Wayland exists, rather than conspiracy theories

    kaba0, 2021-04 · Recommendation · in “HW accelerated Xwayland rendering for Nvidia merged”

  4. “For those interested in details”

    Details on why Wayland has the better architecture

    vetinari, 2023-02 · Recommendation · in “X12”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: wayland, x11, linux graphics, display servers, daniel stone

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