A small collection of tools for the X Window System, some more and some less
obscure. For cool terminal tools, see Kristof Kovacs’
Cool, but obscure Unix tools.
All applications have been tested on FreeBSD but should run on other Unix-like
operating systems as well.
3D Pong
3D Pong
is three-dimensional version of the first arcade game, “Pong”, for the X Window
System.
# pkg install games/3dpongTo play against the computer, run:
$ 3dpong :0 --computer --soundAngband
A roguelike game derived from Moria, based loosely on the books of
J. R. R. Tolkien. The ultimate aim of the game is to advance in
skill and strength, collecting better and more powerful magical items until you
are ready to face the Master of the dungeon: Morgoth himself! Start the
X11 mode with angband -mx11.
# pkg install games/angbandAppRes
Prints the resources seen by an application. It can be used to determine
which resources a particular program will load.
# pkg install x11/appresASClock
AfterStep clock with some language extensions.
# pkg install x11-clocks/asclockBattalion
Battalion is a 3D game from 1994, originally written for the Silicon Graphics
Indy UNIX workstation. The player controls a monster to blow up a city. The
author dedicated a
website to the
game.
Depending on the perspective, the controls are a little awkward. You may
want to change the camera with key 1, 2,
3, or 4. Use the mouse to rotate and to move
forward/backward. The arrow keys only work if the mouse cursor is placed in the
center of the screen. Shoot with the left control key or the left mouse button,
and tilt the head with A and Z to target helicopters
and jets. The camera can be rotated with I, J,
K, and L. Alter the rendering details with
D. Press G to grab the mouse cursor and
P to pause the game.
I made a quick & dirty
FreeBSD port based on the Linux
version (no sound). Build and run Battalion with:
$ tar xfvz battalion1.4b-freebsd.tar.gz
$ cd battalion1.4b-freebsd/
$ gmake battalion CC=gcc
$ ./battalionFree42
Simulation of the HP-42S scientific calculator and HP-82240 printer.
# pkg install misc/free42FSV2
A 3D filesystem visualiser, like
fsn for SGI
IRIX. Prone to crashing (perhaps, UTF-8 issues).
# pkg install x11-fm/fsv2GLXGears
A simple OpenGL tool for testing your graphics adapter.
# pkg install graphics/mesa-demosGMixer
Audio mixer for X11, based on now deprecated GTK+ 1.2.
# pkg install audio/gmixerGVIM
Improved version of the vi editor. The graphical front-end can be compiled
with either X11, Motif, Xaw, or GTK+ 2/3.
# pkg install editors/vimHP-15C
Emulator of the HP-15C programmable calculator, written in Tcl/Tk.
The source-code is available on the
official website.
$ unzip HP-15C_4.1.00_Source.zip
$ wish8.6 ./HP-15C.tclIco
Displays wire-framed rotating polyhedrons.
# pkg install x11/icoMgdiff
Motif-based front-end to the Unix diff command. The appearance of
mgdiff is based upon a program called gdiff, which
runs only on Silicon Graphics workstations and for which source code is not
provided.
# pkg install textproc/mgdiffMxIco
Maho’s eXtended Ico is a simple demo for X, rotating polyhedra
in the window. See
this table
for reference and start MxIco with, for example,
mxico -sleep 1 -obj n65.
# pkg install x11/mxicoMicropolis
Open-source version of the famous computer game SimCity. Available on
GitHub.
$ git clone https://github.com/interkosmos/micropolisNEdit
X11/Motif GUI text editor for programs and plain text files.
# pkg install editors/neditPlan
Plan is a schedule planner based on X/Motif.
# pkg install deskutils/planSunclock
A fancy clock for the X Window system, providing local time (legal time and
solar time), sunrise, sunset and various geographical data through a point and
click interface.
# pkg install astro/sunclockTed
A simple RTF editor for X11. Can either be compiled with Motif or GTK+ 2. The
binary starts with an upper-case letter (Ted). Prone to
crashing.
# pkg install editors/tedTiEmu
Emulator for Texas Instruments TI-89/TI-92 (Plus)/Voyage 200 graphical
calculators. ROM files not included. TIGCC is a compatible C compiler, based on
GCC, and available as a FreeBSD port as well.
# pkg install emulators/tiemu3WMY2K
Dock app that simply counts down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds left
until 00:00 January 1, 2000.
$ fetch http://www.cs.mun.ca/~gstarkes/wmaker/dockapps/files/wmy2k-2.0beta1.tar.gz
$ tar xfvz wmy2k-2.0beta1.tar.gz
$ cd wmy2k-2.0beta1/
$ make CC=gcc
$ ./wmy2kWordNet
WordNet is a lexical reference system that combines aspects of
dictionaries and thesauri with psycholinguistic theories of human lexical
memory. It is developed by the Cognitive Science Laboratory at Princeton
University.
The graphical WordNet browser wnb depends on Tcl/Tk:
# pkg install x11-toolkits/tk86 textproc/wordnetX026
X026 is an keypunch emulator, simulating the
IBM 026.
Perfect for writing FORTRAN code on Hollerith punch cards and getting a clearer
picture of how laborious data input back then was. The default character set is
BCD-H.
# pkg install deskutils/x026X48
Emulator of the HP 48GX graphing calculator. ROM image is included.
# pkg install emulators/x48XAbacus
Simply an abacus for the X Window System.
# pkg install games/xabacusXAntfarm
Ant hill simulation on the X11 root window.
# pkg install x11/xantfarmXArchiver
XArchiver is a GTK+ 2 front-end to various archiving tools (tar,
zip, 7z, …).
# pkg install archivers/xarchiverXASCII
XASCII displays the ASCII table in hex, decimal, and octal.
# pkg install x11/xasciiXBiff
XBiff shows a small mailbox with its flag raised when new mail arrives in
your inbox. It simply monitors the size of a given file. For instance, the
cache of the Sylpheed e-mail client can be watched with:
$ xbiff -file $HOME/.sylpheed-2.0/imapcache///INBOX/.sylpheed_cache You can change the pixmap in ~/.Xdefaults:
xbiff*flip: false
xbiff*fullPixmap: mailfull
xbiff*emptyPixmap: mailempty
xbiff*fullPixmapMask: mailfullmsk
xbiff*emptyPixmapMask: mailemptymsk
xbiff*shapeWindow: trueInstall it with:
# pkg install x11/xbiffXBill
XBill is an arcade game from 1994 in
which the player has to prevent an evil computer hacker named
“Bill” from installing a popular operating system on
various machines. The OS can spread over networks and purges existing systems
(BSD, Solaris, SGI IRIX, …). A contemporary modification of the game is known as
XLennart.
# pkg install games/xbillXBoard
XBoard is a graphical front-end for chess engines like GNU Chess. Start it
with xboard -fcp 'gnuchess --xboard'.
# pkg install games/xboardXCalc
A simple and clean scientific calculator for X11. Additional colour styles
imitating the Texas Instruments TI-30 and the Hewlett-Packard 10C are listed in
the file /usr/local/share/X11/app-defaults/XCalc-color. Just copy
one of the styles into your ~/.Xdefaults.
# pkg install x11/xcalcXCalendar
A calendar with an integrated notebook.
# pkg install deskutils/xcalendarXCHM
Microsoft Windows
help file
viewer for Unix.
# pkg install deskutils/xchmXChomp
Clone of the famous arcade game Pac-Man for X. See also the
unofficial homepage.
# pkg install games/xchompXClipboard
A client for clipboard management in X.
# pkg install x11/xclipboardXClock
An analog and digital clock for X.
# pkg install x11-clocks/xclockXClock/Cat Clock
A Motif-based variant of MIT xclock from 1990 that features a
“cat” mode. Available on GitHub.
# git clone https://github.com/BarkyTheDog/catclockXColorSel
Grabs the colours of X windows.
# pkg install x11/xcolorselXConsole
XConsole shows system console messages.
# pkg install x11/xconsoleXCrySDen
XCrySDen is a crystalline and molecular structure visualisation program
aiming at display of isosurfaces and contours, which can be superimposed on
crystalline structures and interactively rotated and manipulated.
# pkg install science/xcrysdenXDiary
XDiary will help you keep track of your meetings, appointments and plan your time.
# pkg install deskutils/xmdiaryXDigger
Boulderdash-like game for the X Window System. Originally written for the
East-German KC 85/3 and KC 85/4 computers in 1988 (see also the author’s
website). Unfortunately, the game
suffers from a major bug that prevents the rocks from falling.
# pkg install games/xdiggerXEarth
Renders the earth in 3D on the root window, making itself an animated
backdrop. To show it inside a window, run:
$ xearth -geometry 800x600 -shade -nolabel -wait 1 -timewarp 50 -noroot -twopixSimiliar tools are XWorld,
XGlobe and
XPlanet, which also texture the
earth.
# pkg install astro/xearthXEdit
A simple text editor for X. The automated backup function for edited files
can be disabled by adding xedit*enableBackups: off to
~/.Xdefaults.
# pkg install x11/xeditXev
Prints contents of X events to the terminal.
# pkg install x11/xevXEyes
Eyes following the mouse cursor.
# pkg install x11/xeyesXFishtank
Make fish swim in the background of your screen to waste CPU cycles.
# pkg install x11/xfishtankCurrently, the port is unfetchable. I patched the Linux version
manually to run on FreeBSD:
$ tar xfvz xfishtank-2.2.tar.gz
$ cd xfishtank2.0/
$ gmake CC=gcc
$ ./xfishtank -dXFontSel
Lists installed fonts and available font options.
# pkg install x11-fonts/xfontselXGalaga
Clone of the classic game Galaga for X11.
# pkg install games/xgalagaXgc
X11 program that demonstrates various features of the X graphics
primitives.
# pkg install x11/xgcXInfocom
Infocom game interpreter for X11.
# pkg install games/xinfocomXInvaders 3D
A 3D vector-graphics Space Invaders clone for X11.
# pkg install games/xinvaders3dXKill
Command-line tool to kill X applications.
# pkg install x11/xkillXLaby
Daemonic X Labyrinth played directly with the mouse pointer.
# pkg install games/xlabyXLennart
XLennart is a modification of the arcade game XBill. An
evil and
unpopular
computer hacker named “Lennart” tries to install
his malicious init system on
various BSD and Linux systems. Like in XBill, the player has to hit him and
restore infected machines.
# pkg install games/xlennartXLess
XLess is less for X.
# pkg install misc/xlessXLife
Cellular automaton for X11 simulating Conway’s Game of Life.
# pkg install games/xlifeXLoad
XLoad shows the current CPU load.
# pkg install x11/xloadXLock
XLock locks the screen and optionally shows a screen saver. It can be
combined with XAutoLock
to activate it after a user defined time of inactivity.
A more simple approach is used by
XTransparentLock. Jamie
Zawinski, the author of XScreenSaver, has listed some reason why you should use
XScreenSaver instead of XLock.
# pkg install x11/xlockmoreXLogo
XLogo simply draws the logo of the X Window System. The background and
foreground colours can be altered in ~/.Xdefaults.
# pkg install x11/xlogoXMahjongg
Classic Mahjongg game for X11. Several tile sets are available.
# pkg install games/xmahjonggXMan
XMan displays system man pages.
# pkg install x11/xmanXMascot
XMascot displays a moving mascot on your X11 screen. It can talk, set an
alarm, or check your mail.
# pkg install x11/xmascotXMaxima
XMaxima is a Tcl/Tk front-end to Maxima, a Computer Algebra System written in
Common Lisp.
# pkg install math/xmaximaXmBibTeX
XmBibTeX is a Motif reference manager based on the BibTeX file format. It
allows to add, delete, and edit references. The references can be saved in the
BibTeX file format, and also written directly to a LaTeX file. No Unicode
support.
# pkg install print/xmbibtexXMessage
XMessage displays arbitrary text messages.
# pkg install x11/xmessageXmGrace
A WYSIWYG 2D plotting tool for the X Window System and Motif. Features
polynomial regression, splines, running averages, DFT/FFT, and
cross/auto-correlation.
# pkg install math/graceXMH
Graphical user interface to the
MH Message Handling System.
# pkg install x11/xmhXMixer
Audio mixer for X11.
# pkg install audio/xmixerXmMix
Motif-based audio mixer for X11.
# pkg install audio/xmmixXMore
XMore is more for X.
# pkg install x11/xmoreXMosaic
NCSA Mosaic, one of the first graphical web browsers, for X. The source code
of version 2.7b is available on GitHub.
# git clone https://github.com/alandipert/ncsa-mosaicXMOTD
XMOTD shows the message of the day. Run it with
xmotd -always /etc/motd. The appearance can be altered in
~/.Xdefaults.
# pkg install x11/xmotdXMountains
XMountains renders a mountain scene into the root window. Also
available as an XScreenSaver module.
# pkg install graphics/xmountainsXNeko
Neko (猫) is a cat chasing the mouse cursor all over the screen. Oneko
is a modified version of xneko for BSD and Linux. In the port
games/oneko-sakura several other creatures can be choosen, like
tora-neko, Sakura Kinomoto, Tomoyo Daidouji, the BSD daemon, or a dog.
# pkg install games/xnekoOr:
# pkg install games/onekoOr:
# pkg install games/oneko-sakuraXOdometer
XOdometer tracks the total distance of your pointing device. The source code
of the version from January 1996 is available on
GitHub
# git clone https://github.com/interkosmos/xodoXOJ
XOJ lets the
O. J. Simpson
chase relive on your X root window.
# pkg install games/xojXOSView
XOSView is a visual system monitor for X11.
# pkg install sysutils/xosviewXplore
Yet another Motif-based file manager. Prone to crashing (probably, encoding
issues).
# pkg install x11-fm/xploreXPostIt
The most ugly note taking application on earth.
# pkg install deskutils/xpostitXRoach
XRoach displays disgusting cockroaches on your root window. These
creepy crawlies scamper around until they find a window to hide
under. Whenever you move or iconify a window, the exposed beetles
again scamper for cover.
# pkg install games/xroachXScreenSaver
Jamie Zawinski’s
famous screen saver for X.
# pkg install x11/xscreensaverXSnow
Let it snow on your desktop. Shows snow flakes, trees, and santa.
# pkg install x11/xsnowXSol
Motif-based solitaire game from 1998, similar to Klondike. Another
implementation with the same name from 1987 had been
ported to FreeBSD, but was
later removed due to dependencies to the deprecated X10 headers. I haven’t found
a port of this XSol, but the game can still be compiled from
source:
$ tar xfvz xsol-0.3.1.tar.gz
$ cd xsol/
$ make
$ ./xsolXSpread
XSpread is a simple spreadsheet application based on math/sc. It
can be started without X11 by using the parameter -X.
# pkg install math/xspreadXStarRoll
XStarRoll is a simple
demonstration program for X11. Letters and pixmaps fly far, far, far away,
optionally on the root window. Start the program by running, for instance:
ls -al | xstarroll -font "-*-courier-medium-r-*-*-20-*-*-*-*-*-*-*" -bg "black" -fg "yellow" -geometry 640x400 -noblur.
# pkg install x11/xstarrollXtacy
A trippy colour-cycling toy for X11. Displays various graphical effects and
fractals, like bouncing quadrilaterals, plasma clouds, or phased sine waves.
May run too fast on modern computers. See also the
official website.
# pkg install x11/xtacyXTar
XTar is a Motif-based tool for viewing and manipulating (compressed)
tar archives.
# pkg install misc/xtarXTerm
Terminal emulator for the X Window System.
# pkg install x11/xtermXTide
Harmonic tide clock and tide predictor for X.
# pkg install astro/xtideXTrojka
A Tetris-like game where the player has to control and place
falling blocks to create three patterns or colors in a row,
horizontally or diagonally.
# pkg install games/xtrojkaXv
Image viewer that displays various formats.
# pkg install graphics/xvXvkbd
Virtual keyboard for X applications.
# pkg install x11/xvkbdXWorld
Earth as seen from the direction of the sun.
# pkg install astro/xworldXWPE
A Borland-like integrated development environment (IDE).
# pkg install devel/xwpeXZoom
Tool to magnify, rotate, and mirror a section of the X screen.
# pkg install x11/xzoomLast Update:
Wed, 04 May 2022 17:45:16 +0200
