Window Maker - Documentation

★ wanayoo — archive 1999 http://www.windowmaker.org/docs.html

It's a fact that one of the biggest problems with today's software is lack of good documentation (or any documentation for that matter). Programmers generally don't have a lot of time to document their work, and the things they do document are usually oriented towards advanced users. However, there are many users out there that take time to figure out and reword things in a way that an average user can understand. We will try to use this section to bring all of those pieces of information together for you.
Before you get started with using Window Maker, you need to have an understanding of how to make use of the documentation that comes with the source distribution. The main objective to using documentation is to understand it, which coincidentally requires that you read it. A common mistake is for new or novice users to overlook this information, leading them to frustration and a bad impression. Please take a moment to read below to find out how you can make your Window Maker experience a pleasant one.

The Basics

The first necessary step is to download the Window Maker source distribution. From this point on, we'll assume you have retrieved it and it's residing on your hard disk. The next step is to extract it, and change into the source directory.

# cd /path/to/your/download
# zcat WindowMaker-0.xx.xx.tar.gz | tar -xf -
# cd WindowMaker-0.xx.xx

Now that things are extracted, it's time to look at the important files. Most Unix oriented free software packages come with a README file, and Window Maker is not an exception. The README file contains a summary overview of what the distribution is, what the various directories contain, and other general information.

Next, we have the ChangeLog which describes a list of changes since the first version. Although it usually lists technical advancements about the distribution, it is also useful for finding out about bug fixes and recently added features.

Moving along, we have the NEWS file. For now, we just want to alert you to its presence. It will become useful to you in time as you use Window Maker more and more. Veteran Window Maker users will find it handy for keeping their configuration files up to date, and learning about various changes which affect Window Maker's behavior.

The two remaining files we need to look at are INSTALL and BUGS. The INSTALL file provides you with the information you need to install Window Maker successfully. However, new and novice users can benefit from more detailed instructions, which is why we have dedicated a section regarding its installation. The BUGS file contains a list of known Window Maker bugs. If you think you've found a bug in Window Maker, you should consult the BUGS file first. If your bug isn't listed, you can check for it in the Bug Tracker.

Window Maker Installation

This area is being worked on, so there should be some material here in a few days. In the meantime, please read the INSTALL file.

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Window Maker is copyrighted by Alfredo K. Kojima and distributed under the GNU GPL software license.

Suggestions and comments about Window Maker should be sent to the developers.
Inquires related to the website should be sent to the webmaster.

The Window Maker window manager is in no way associated with Windowmaker Software Ltd., makers of the world's leading software for windows and doors.
NeXTSTEP is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.

Window Maker is copyrighted by Alfredo K. Kojima and distributed under the GNU GPL software license.
	Suggestions and comments about Window Maker should be sent to the developers. Inquires related to the website should be sent to the webmaster. The Window Maker window manager is in no way associated with Windowmaker Software Ltd., makers of the world's leading software for windows and doors. NeXTSTEP is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.