Course details

Graphical User Interfaces in X Window System

GUX Acad. year 2025/2026 Winter semester 5 credits

Current academic year

Interaction between user and application, different application classes. Graphical User Interface in Unix and its history. X Window System structure, X server concept, X Protocol. Wayland and core protocols. Application programming interface, Toolkits. Standard X Toolkit and its usage. Object orientation features in X Toolkit and Gtk. Widget names, attributes and manipulation. Event processing. Base Gtk classes. Programming Gtk3 and Gtk4.

Guarantor

Lampa Petr, Ing. (DIFS)

Language of instruction

Czech

Completion

Examination (written)

Time span

  • 26 hrs lectures
  • 26 hrs projects

Assessment points

  • 20 pts projects

Department

Department of Information Systems (UIFS)

Lecturer

Lampa Petr, Ing. (DIFS)

Instructor

Lampa Petr, Ing. (DIFS)

Learning objectives

The goal is to make students familiar with the design and programming of graphical user interfaces in Unix/X Window System environment.

Students will get knowledge of application programming in X Window, X Toolkit Intrinsics, Gtk3, Gtk4 and basic principles of user interface design.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

C language programming in Unix environment.

Study literature

Fundamental literature

  • Hix, D., Hartson, H., R.: Developing User Interfaces: Ensuring Usability Through Product & Process, John Wiley & Sons, 1993, ISBN 0-471-57813-4
  • Scheifler, R., W., Gettys, J.: X Window System, The Complete Reference to Xlib, X Protocol, ICCCM, XLFD, Digital Press, 1990, ISBN 1-55558-050-5
  • Nye, A., O'Reilly, T.: X Toolkit Intrinsics Programming Manual, OSF/Motif Edition, O'Reilly & Associates, 1990, ISBN 0-937175-62-5
  • Krause, A.: Foundations of GTK+ Development, Apress, 2007, ISBN13: 978-1-59059-793-4
  • Heller, D.: Motif Programming Manual, O'Reilly & Associates, 3rd ed 2002, ISBN 1-56592-016-3
  • Sheets, J.R.: Writing GNOME applications, Addison-Wesley, 2001, ISBN 0-201-65791-0
  • Dallheimer, M.K.: Programming with Qt, O'Reilly Verlag GmbH, 2001, ISBN 0-596-00064-2
  • Warkus, M.: Official GNOME 2 Developer's Guide, O'Reilly, 2004, ISBN: 1-59327-030-5

Syllabus of lectures

  1. Application classes from the point of view of user interaction.
  2. X Window System structure, X Protocol, input and output graphic operations.
  3. Simple application example using Xlib, XCB or Wayland. Toolkits, example of application using X Toolkit/Motif or Gtk3/4.
  4. OOP features in X Toolkit and Gtk, instance and class of widgets, properties, internal implementation.
  5. Widget naming system, resources, convertors.
  6. Built-in X Toolkit and Gtk widget classes and their usage.
  7. Event processing, translation table, action table.
  8. Simple Gtk widget classes and their usage.
  9. Composite widget classes.
  10. Menu and dialogs.

Syllabus - others, projects and individual work of students

  1. Gtk/GNOME application, individual assignment.

Progress assessment

Written mid-term exam (max. 20 points) and submitting projects in due dates. There is no alternative term of mid-term exam.


Projects have to be submitted before the deadline, late project submission will be graded 0 points.

Course inclusion in study plans

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