Microwindows - Enabling graphical applications on embedded Linux systems

Compile time options

The Nano-X API allows applications to be built using a client/server protocol over a network socket, or local UNIX domain sockets. This allows several applications, running on the embedded device or a remote host to connect to the Microwindows server to for display. In addition, the client/server protocol can use shared memory for passing data between the client and server. A compile time option allows all applications to be linked with the server for smaller environments, or environments without a filesystem. Microwindows also supports linking directly with a real time operating system for extremely compact environments. Compilation for various features is turned on or off in a configuration file, which allows Microwindows to be built in modules, and include only the items that will be used.

Summary

The Microwindows Project provides a much-needed solution for smaller systems and embedded devices by providing a graphical runtime with minimal ram and disk requirements. By implementing the two most popular graphics APIs, users already familiar with graphics programming can start producing applications quickly. Because Microwindows is open source and free, it is being evaluated and used in an increasing number of systems designs today.

Microwindows is a work in progress, and new features are being added regularly. I invite you to check out our web site at http://microwindows.org for more information and screenshots of demo applications. The Microwindows project is licensed under the MPL (Netscape license), which means that it can be used with designs under non-disclosure, without having to release proprietary source code.

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