simpleX11 (simple text based interface for drawing on X11)

Very simple program that accepts from stdin graphic commands to draw in a X11 window. It can also inform over stdout for keyboard and mouse events. It uses plain Xlib but it can optionally uses cairo for antiliased drawing.

How to compile

It should run in any modern UNIX-like with minimal effort. You need to have installed the Xorg and Xlib development headers. Optionally it also need the cairo development headers. Then just run:

    make

Example

    rectangle 10 10 280 280
    set cairo color 0 0 0.8
    cairo line 20 20 280 280
    cairo line 20 280 280 20
    set cairo color 0 0 0 
    cairo circle fill 30 150 150
    set cairo color 1 0 0.2
    cairo text 200 200 Cairo
    set color green
    text 100 100 Fixed
    flush

Invocation

    Usage: ./simpleX11 <window_width> <window_height>

Graphic commands

The commands are sent to simpleX11 over the stdin. Most of them are self explanatory:

    point <pos_x> <pos_y>
    line <pos1_x> <pos1_y> <pos2_x> <pos2_y>
    rectangle [fill] <pos_x> <pos_y> <width> <height>
    circle [fill] <radius> <pos_x> <pos_y>
    text <pos_x> <pos_y> <text>  // Only accepts text without spaces
    text <pos_x> <pos_y> // Takes the text from the next entire line
    set color <name> // Uses names from /usr/share/X11/rgb.txt
    set font <name>
    set width <width>
    clear <pos_x> <pos_y> <width> <height>
    set handle keyboard // Enables keyboard events over the stdout
    unset handle keyboard // Disables them
    set handle mouse
    unset handle mouse
    set handle mouse_motion
    unset handle mouse_motion
    set handle mouse_enter_leave
    unset handle mouse_enter_leave
    get window size
    get text size <text> // Only accepts text without spaces
    get text size // Takes the text from the next entire line
    set pixmap <index> // Selects another pixmap, preserving the content of this
    flush // Flushes Xlib output buffer

If you compiled simpleX11 with cairo support, you get this also:

    cairo line <pos1_x> <pos1_y> <pos2_x> <pos2_y>
    cairo circle [fill] <radius> <pos_x> <pos_y>
    cairo text <pos_x> <pos_y> <text>  // Only accepts text without spaces
    cairo text <pos_x> <pos_y> // Takes the text from the next entire line
    set cairo color <r> <g> <b>
    set cairo width <width>
    set cairo font <name>

In order to close the simpleX11's window press ESC or close the stdin.

Project status

Version 1.0 finished, basic functionality implemented.

License

The program is under the GPLv3.

Feedback

Send me an email if you have any question about the code, you found a bug or you have a feature request. Send it to:

    jimenezrick@gmail.com

Last modified date: Wed May 5 21:44:58 CEST 2010