Before Wayland, there was X11, the graphical backbone of Linux for over 35 years. Originally developed at MIT in the 1980s, X11 introduced network transparency, allowing applications to run on one machine while displaying on another, a concept ahead of its time. This flexibility made it an essential part of UNIX and later, Linux desktops, powering everything from early X Window Managers to full desktop environments like Xfce, MATE, and KDE.
Despite its age and complexity, X11 remains widely used today, proving that well engineered software can stand the test of time. While Wayland aims to replace it with a modern, secure approach, X11’s legacy continues to shape how we interact with Linux desktops.
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