IRIX Interactive Desktop
Encyclopedia
IRIX Interactive Desktop (formerly called Indigo Magic Desktop) is a desktop environment
normally used as the default desktop on Silicon Graphics
workstations running IRIX
. The IRIX Interactive Desktop uses the Motif
widget toolkit
on top of the X Window System
found on most Unix
systems. The default window manager
on the IRIX Interactive Desktop is 4Dwm
. IRIX Interactive Desktop debuted in September 1993 on the Indy
workstation model. The IRIX Interactive Desktop was preceded by the IRIS Workspace
in IRIX versions 3.0 through 5.0, and was one of the first default desktop environment
s to be standard on a particular Unix computer system.
workstation. The Indigo Magic name was later changed to IRIX Interactive Desktop with the release of IRIX 6.5 in 1998.
The System Manager is the main utility for desktop and system configuration. The Toolchest is a menu (normally located on the desktop) that shows which applications are installed on that particular Silicon Graphics workstation. When not in use, program windows minimize onto the desktop in a small rectangular shape, while the file manager
that also displays the desktop uses a distinct vector graphic
icons (utilizing the IconSmith .fti file format).
Desktop environment
In graphical computing, a desktop environment commonly refers to a style of graphical user interface derived from the desktop metaphor that is seen on most modern personal computers. These GUIs help the user in easily accessing, configuring, and modifying many important and frequently accessed...
normally used as the default desktop on Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics, Inc. was a manufacturer of high-performance computing solutions, including computer hardware and software, founded in 1981 by Jim Clark...
workstations running IRIX
IRIX
IRIX is a computer operating system developed by Silicon Graphics, Inc. to run natively on their 32- and 64-bit MIPS architecture workstations and servers. It was based on UNIX System V with BSD extensions. IRIX was the first operating system to include the XFS file system.The last major version...
. The IRIX Interactive Desktop uses the Motif
Motif (widget toolkit)
In computing, Motif refers to both a graphical user interface specification and the widget toolkit for building applications that follow that specification under the X Window System on Unix and other POSIX-compliant systems. It emerged in the 1980s as Unix workstations were on the rise, as a...
widget toolkit
Widget toolkit
In computing, a widget toolkit, widget library, or GUI toolkit is a set of widgets for use in designing applications with graphical user interfaces...
on top of the X Window System
X Window System
The X window system is a computer software system and network protocol that provides a basis for graphical user interfaces and rich input device capability for networked computers...
found on most Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
systems. The default window manager
X window manager
An X window manager is a window manager which runs on top of the X Window System, a windowing system mainly used on Unix-like systems.Unlike the Mac OS and Microsoft Windows platforms which have historically provided a vendor-controlled, fixed set of ways to control how windows and panes display...
on the IRIX Interactive Desktop is 4Dwm
4Dwm
4Dwm is a window manager normally used on Silicon Graphics workstations running IRIX. 4Dwm is derived from the older mwm window manager and uses the Motif widget toolkit on top of the X Window System found on most Unix systems....
. IRIX Interactive Desktop debuted in September 1993 on the Indy
SGI Indy
The Indy, code-named "Guinness", is a low-end workstation introduced on 12 July 1993. Developed and manufactured by Silicon Graphics Incorporated , it was the result of their attempt to obtain a share of the low-end computer-aided design market, which was dominated at the time by other workstation...
workstation model. The IRIX Interactive Desktop was preceded by the IRIS Workspace
IRIS Workspace
The IRIS WorkSpace is a graphically organized iconic Desktop Environment that allows quick and easy access to the IRIX file system along with simplified system administration via the System Manager. The IRIS WorkSpace was used by Silicon Graphics from 4D1-3.0 - IRIX 5.0...
in IRIX versions 3.0 through 5.0, and was one of the first default desktop environment
Desktop environment
In graphical computing, a desktop environment commonly refers to a style of graphical user interface derived from the desktop metaphor that is seen on most modern personal computers. These GUIs help the user in easily accessing, configuring, and modifying many important and frequently accessed...
s to be standard on a particular Unix computer system.
History
The Indigo Magic Desktop was introduced in 1993 with IRIX 5.1 on the Silicon Graphics IndySGI Indy
The Indy, code-named "Guinness", is a low-end workstation introduced on 12 July 1993. Developed and manufactured by Silicon Graphics Incorporated , it was the result of their attempt to obtain a share of the low-end computer-aided design market, which was dominated at the time by other workstation...
workstation. The Indigo Magic name was later changed to IRIX Interactive Desktop with the release of IRIX 6.5 in 1998.
Features
IRIX Interactive Desktop has two primary components: the System Manager and the Toolchest.The System Manager is the main utility for desktop and system configuration. The Toolchest is a menu (normally located on the desktop) that shows which applications are installed on that particular Silicon Graphics workstation. When not in use, program windows minimize onto the desktop in a small rectangular shape, while the file manager
File manager
A file manager or file browser is a computer program that provides a user interface to work with file systems. The most common operations performed on files or groups of files are: create, open, edit, view, print, play, rename, move, copy, delete, search/find, and modify file attributes, properties...
that also displays the desktop uses a distinct vector graphic
Vector graphics
Vector graphics is the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygon, which are all based on mathematical expressions, to represent images in computer graphics...
icons (utilizing the IconSmith .fti file format).
Components
- 4Dwm4Dwm4Dwm is a window manager normally used on Silicon Graphics workstations running IRIX. 4Dwm is derived from the older mwm window manager and uses the Motif widget toolkit on top of the X Window System found on most Unix systems....
- background
- clogin
- Desks Overview
- Desktop File Manager
- Icon Catalog
- mediad
- searchbook
- soundscheme
- System Manager
- Toolchest