Editing XFree86

{{short description|Implementation of the X Window System}}
{{Infobox software
| name                   = XFree86
| logo                   = Xfree86.logo.gif
| logo size              = 128px
| screenshot             = 
| caption                = 
| developer              = The XFree86 Project, Inc.
| released               = {{Start date and age|1991}} (as X386)
| discontinued           = yes
| latest release version = 4.8.0
| latest release date    = {{Start date and age|2008|12|15}}
| programming language   = [[C (programming language)|C]]
| operating system       = [[Cross-platform]]
| language               = Various
| genre                  = [[Display server]]
| license                = [[#2004: Licensing controversy|XFree86 License]] 1.1
| website                = {{URL|http://www.xfree86.org/}}
}}
'''XFree86''' is an implementation of the [[X Window System]]. It was originally written for [[Unix-like]] [[operating system]]s on [[IBM PC compatible]]s and was available for many other operating systems and platforms. It is [[free software|free]] and [[Open-source software|open source]] software under the XFree86 License version 1.1. It was developed by the XFree86 Project, Inc. The lead developer was [[David Dawes]]. The last released version was 4.8.0, released December 2008. The last XFree86 [[Concurrent Versions System|CVS]] commit was made on May 18, 2009;<ref>[http://www.mail-archive.com/cvs-commit@xfree86.org/maillist.html cvs-commit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191548/http://www.mail-archive.com/cvs-commit@xfree86.org/maillist.html |date=2013-10-29 }}. Mail-archive.com. Retrieved on 2013-09-07.</ref> the project was confirmed dormant in December 2011.<ref name="tsi"/>

For most of the 1990s and early 2000s, the project was the source of most innovation in X and was the ''de facto'' steward of X development. Until early 2004, it was almost universal on [[Linux]] and the [[Berkeley Software Distribution|BSD]]s.

In February 2004, with version 4.4.0, The XFree86 Project began distributing new code with a copyright license that the [[Free Software Foundation]] considered [[GNU General Public License|GPL]] [[License compatibility|incompatible]]. Most open source operating systems using XFree86 found this unacceptable and moved to a fork from before the license change.<ref name=wheeler/> The first fork was the abortive Xouvert, but [[X.Org Server]] soon became dominant. Most XFree86 developers also moved to X.Org.

== Usage ==

While XFree86 was widely used by most [[Unix-like]] computer [[operating systems]] before its license change with version 4.4.0, it has since then been superseded by X.org and is used rarely nowadays.<ref name=bsdcan08>{{cite journal |author= Constantine A. Murenin |date= May 2008 |url= https://www.usenix.org/legacy/publications/login/2008-08/openpdfs/bsdcan08.pdf |title= Conference Reports, BSDCan: The BSD Conference, X.Org |journal= [[;login:]] |publisher= [[USENIX]] |publication-date= August 2008 |volume= 33 |issue= 4 |page= 114 |issn= 1044-6397 }}</ref> The last remaining operating system distribution to use it was [[NetBSD]],{{r|bsdcan08}} which shipped some platforms with 4.5.0 by default until removing it as obsolete in 2015.<ref name="n/cvsweb">{{cite web |url= http://cvsweb.netbsd.org/bsdweb.cgi/xsrc/xfree/xc/ |title= xsrc/xfree/xc/ |publisher= [[NetBSD]] |date= 2015-07-23 |access-date= 2019-04-18 }}</ref><ref name="m/2015/07/23">{{cite mailing list |author= matthew green |date= 2015-07-23 |url= http://mail-index.netbsd.org/source-changes/2015/07/23/msg067606.html |title= CVS commit: xsrc/xfree/xc |mailing-list= source-changes |publisher= [[NetBSD]] |quote= "remove obsolete XFree86 sources."}}</ref>  {{Section link|NetBSD#5.0}} and later releases use X.org by default on various ports (including i386 and amd64), and X.org is available through NetBSD [[pkgsrc]] for architectures for which XFree86 remains the default because of better support.<ref name="Announcing NetBSD 5.0">{{cite web|url=//www.netbsd.org/releases/formal-5/NetBSD-5.0.html|title=Announcing NetBSD 5.0}}</ref>

{{As of|2019|04|19}}, the <code>netbsd-7</code> branch and {{Section link|NetBSD#7.2}} release were the last to potentially contain XFree86,{{r|n/cvsweb}} and XFree86 was completely removed before <code>netbsd-8</code> branch and {{Section link|NetBSD#8.0}} release in 2018.<ref name=n70>{{cite web |url= //www.netbsd.org/releases/formal-8/NetBSD-8.0.html |title= Announcing NetBSD 8.0 (July 17, 2018) |publisher= [[NetBSD]] |quote= "XFree86 has been removed, as all architectures have switched to XOrg." }}</ref>{{r|n/cvsweb|m/2015/07/23}}

== Architecture ==
[[File:Schema of the layers of the graphical user interface.svg|thumb|300px|XFree86 is a [[display server]].]]

The XFree86 server communicates with the host [[operating system]]'s [[Kernel (operating system)|kernel]] to drive input and output devices, with the exception of [[graphics card]]s. These are generally managed directly by XFree86, so it includes its own drivers for all graphic cards a user might have. Some cards are supported by vendors themselves via binary-only drivers.

Since version 4.0, XFree86 has supported certain accelerated 3D graphics cards via the [[GLX]] and [[Direct Rendering Infrastructure|DRI]] extensions. Version 4.0 also moved to a new driver model, from one X server binary per driver to a unique X server capable of loading several drivers at a time.

Because the server usually needs low level access to graphics hardware, on many configurations it needs to run as the [[superuser]], or a user with [[user identifier|UID]] 0. However, on some systems and configurations it is possible to run the server as a normal user.

It is also possible to use XFree86 in a [[Linux framebuffer|framebuffer device]], which in turn uses a kernel graphics card driver.

On a typical [[POSIX]]-system, the directory /etc/X11 includes the configuration files.  The basic configuration file is /etc/X11/XF86Config (or XF86Config-4) that includes variables about the [[Computer display|screen]] (monitor), [[computer keyboard|keyboard]] and [[graphics card]]. The program ''xf86config'' is often used, although ''xf86cfg'' also comes with the XFree86 server and is friendlier. Many Linux distributions used to include a configuration tool that was easier to use (such as [[Debian]]'s [[debconf (software package)|debconf]]) or autodetected most (if not all) settings (such as [[Red Hat Linux]] and [[Fedora (operating system)|Fedora]]'s ''[[Anaconda installer|Anaconda]]'', [[SUSE S.A.|SuSE]]'s ''[[YaST]]'' and [[Mandrake Linux]]).

== History==

=== Early history and naming ===

The project began in 1992 when David Wexelblat, Glenn Lai, [[David Dawes]] and Jim Tsillas joined forces addressing bugs in the source code of the [[X386]] X display server (written by [[Thomas Roell]]), as contributed to X11R5. This version was initially called '''X386 1.2E'''. As newer versions of the (originally freeware) X386 were being sold under a [[proprietary software]] license by SGCS (of which Roell was a partner), confusion existed between the projects. After discussion, the project was renamed X''Free''86, as a [[pun]] (compare X-three-eighty-six to X-free-eighty-six). Roell has continued to sell proprietary X servers, most recently under the name ''[[Accelerated-X]]''.

=== Rise with Linux ===

As Linux grew in popularity, XFree86 rose with it, as the main X project with drivers for PC video cards.

By the late 1990s, official X development was moribund.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Robert L. |date=4 Feb 2002 |title=Q&A: The X Factor |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/1363581/q-a-the-x-factor.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240612224505/https://www.computerworld.com/article/1363581/q-a-the-x-factor.html |archive-date=12 Jun 2024 |access-date=12 Jun 2024 |publisher=Computerworld}}</ref> Most technical advancement was happening in the XFree86 project. In 1999, XFree86 was sponsored onto X.Org (the official industry consortium) by various hardware companies interested in its use with Linux and its status as the most popular version of X.<ref>[http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=99/12/01/1342251&tid=104 XFree86 joins X.Org as Honorary Member], Posted by CmdrTaco on Dec 01, 1999, Slashdot</ref>

=== 2002: Growing dissent within the project ===

By 2002, while Linux's popularity, and hence the installed base of X, surged, X.Org was all but inactive; active development was largely carried out by XFree86.<ref>[http://xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-April/003127.html (forum) Another teleconference partial edited transcript] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050212013335/http://xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-April/003127.html |date=February 12, 2005 }}, By Mike A. Harris, 13 Apr 2003</ref> However, there was considerable dissent within XFree86.

XFree86 used to have a ''Core Team'' which was made up of experienced developers, selected by other Core Team members for their merits. Only the members of this Core Team were allowed to commit to [[Concurrent Versions System|CVS]]. This was perceived as far too [[The Cathedral and the Bazaar|cathedral]]-like in its development model: developers were unable to get commit rights quickly and vendors ended up maintaining extensive [[patch (computing)|patch]]es.<ref>[http://www.xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-March/002018.html (forum) Keith Packard issue] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050212013349/http://www.xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-March/002018.html |date=February 12, 2005 }} By Ralf Nolden, 20 Mar 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.advogato.org/person/mharris/ Advogato: Blog for mharris]</ref>

A key event was [[Keith Packard]] losing his commit rights. Hours before the feature freeze window for XFree86 4.3.0 started, he committed the [[XFixes|XFIXES]] extension (which he developed himself), without prior discussion or without review within the Core Team. The Core Team decided to remove Keith's commit access, but without removing him from the Core Team itself, and the XFIXES extension was backed out six weeks later.<ref>[http://xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-March/000125.html (forum) Suggestion for XFree86] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423070141/http://xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-March/000125.html |date=April 23, 2010 }}, By David Dawes, 20 Mar 2003</ref><ref>[http://cvsweb.xfree86.org/cvsweb/xc/doc/specs/Xfixes/Attic/ CVS commit: Finish removing XFIXES] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615131754/http://cvsweb.xfree86.org/cvsweb/xc/doc/specs/Xfixes/Attic/ |date=June 15, 2011 }}, By David Dawes, 12 Jan 2003</ref>

=== 2003: The fork and the disbanding of the Core Team ===

In March 2003, the Core Team claimed that Packard had been trying to fork the XFree86 project by working inside the project while trying to attract core developers to a new X Server project of his own making. Packard denied this had been his aim, but some emails were provided as evidence otherwise.<ref>[http://xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-March/000128.html (forum) Some perspective from the cheap seats ...] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040228213700/http://xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-March/000128.html |date=February 28, 2004 }}, By David Wexelblat, March 20, 2003</ref> Keith Packard was subsequently expelled from the Core Team.<ref>[http://www.xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-March/001997.html (forum) Invitation for public discussion about the future of X] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050212013104/http://www.xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-March/001997.html |date=February 12, 2005 }}, By XFree86 BOD, 20 Mar 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-March/002165.html (forum) A Call For Open Governance Of X Development] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050212012809/http://www.xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-March/002165.html |date=February 12, 2005 }}, By Keith Packard, 21 Mar 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-April/003016.html (forum) Notes from a teleconference held 2003-3-27] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050212013506/http://www.xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-April/003016.html |date=February 12, 2005 }}, By Keith Packard, 03 Apr 2003</ref>

A short time later, Packard created xwin.org, which mainly served as a meeting point for cultivating the XFree86 fork.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031012063438/http://xwin.org/index.php?page=1 (Archived) XWin front page], By Keith Packard and others, 11 Apr 2003</ref> The rest of the year, many of the developers that were still active at XFree86 went over to the project that was being set up at the [[freedesktop.org]] and [[X.org Foundation|X.org]] domains.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040128225716/http://www.xwin.org/bin/view/Software/xorg (Archived) X.org software page at xwin.org], by Kaleb Keithley, 18 Nov 2003</ref>

By the end of the year, due to dwindling active membership and limited remaining development capacity, the XFree86 Core Team voted to disband itself.<ref>[http://www.mail-archive.com/devel%40xfree86.org/msg04639.html (devel) Core Team disbands], By David Dawes, 30 Dec 2003</ref>

=== 2004: Licensing controversy ===

Versions of XFree86 up to and including some release candidates for 4.4.0 were under the [[MIT License]], a [[permissive free software license|permissive]], non-[[copyleft]] free software license. In February 2004, XFree86 4.4 was released with a change to the XFree86 license, by adding a credit clause,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xfree86.org/legal/licenses.html |title=XFree86 Licenses| access-date=2008-05-02| publisher=XFree86 Project, Inc.| date=2005-01-01}}</ref> similar to that in the original [[BSD license]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2004-January/001892.html |title=Announcement: Modification to the base XFree86 license |access-date=2007-07-12 |last=Dawes |first=David |date=2004-01-29 |publisher=XFree86 Project |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185719/http://www.xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2004-January/001892.html |archive-date=2007-09-30 }}</ref> but broader in scope.  The newer terms are referred to as the XFree86 License 1.1.
Many projects relying on XFree86 found the new license unacceptable,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/04/02/18/131223.shtml?tid=104 |title= XFree86 4.4: List of Rejecting Distributors Grows |access-date=2007-07-12 |date=2004-02-18 |publisher=[[Slashdot]] }}</ref> and the [[Free Software Foundation]] considers it incompatible with the version 2 of the [[GNU General Public License]], though compatible with version 3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gnu.org/licenses/license-list.html#XFree861.1License |title=Various Licenses and Comments about Them |access-date=2013-03-12 |publisher=[[Free Software Foundation]] }}</ref> The XFree86 Project states that the license is "as GPL compatible as any and all previous versions were", but does not mention which version or versions of the GPL this is valid for.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xfree86.org/legal/licenses.html |title=XFree86 Licenses |access-date=2007-07-12 |date=2005-01-01 |publisher=XFree86 Project }}</ref>

Some projects made releases (notably [[OpenBSD]] 3.5 and 3.6, and [[Debian]] 3.1 "Sarge") based on XFree86 version 4.4 RC2, the last version under the old license. Most operating systems incorporating XFree86 (including later versions of OpenBSD and Debian) migrated to the [[X.Org Server]].<ref name=wheeler>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwheeler.com/essays/gpl-compatible.html#xfree86 |title=The Cautionary Tale of XFree86 |access-date=2007-07-12 |last=Wheeler |first=David A. |date=2007-07-06 |archive-date=2004-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040901083643/http://www.dwheeler.com/essays/gpl-compatible.html#xfree86 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The last code commit was in 2009; the project was confirmed dormant in 2011<ref name="tsi">Marc Aurele La France: [http://marc.info/?l=xfree86-forum&m=132291851222618&w=2 Is there ever going to be a new version of xfree86] XFree86-Forum, December 3rd. 2011</ref> and the website was last updated in 2014, commemorating the then-22nd anniversary.

== Forks of XFree86 ==

=== Xwin ===

Shortly after he was expelled from the XFree86 Core Team, Keith Packard started setting up xwin.org.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031012063438/http://xwin.org/index.php?page=5 (Archived) XWin front page], By Keith Packard and others, 11 Apr 2003</ref> While this was claimed to be the fork of XFree86,<ref>[http://developers.slashdot.org/story/03/04/13/0253224/Keith-Packards-Xfree86-Fork-Officially-Started Keith Packard's Xfree86 Fork Officially Started], [[Slashdot]], 11 Apr 2003</ref>  Keith Packard later refined this to "a forum for community participation in X".<ref>xwin.org goals by Keith Packard, 12 Apr 2003.{{cite web|url=http://xwin.org/article.php?story=2003041221350542 |title=Xwin.org - xwin.org goals |access-date=September 13, 2012 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031206063052/http://xwin.org/article.php?story=2003041221350542 |archive-date=December 6, 2003 }}</ref> XWin saw a lot of activity in the first two months after the announcements, but most of the activity was happening behind the scenes, and Keith moved his own development to freedesktop.org.<ref>[http://www.osnews.com/comments/5105 Screenshots from freedesktop.org's New X Server] Osnews, 11 Nov 2003</ref>

=== Xouvert ===

Xouvert was later also hailed as the first XFree86 fork in August 2003.<ref>[http://developers.slashdot.org/story/03/08/17/160254/XFree86-Fork-Gets-a-Name-Website: XFree86 Fork Gets a Name, Website] by Piethein Strengholt, 17 Aug 2003</ref> Even though releases were announced for October 2003 and April 2004,<ref>[https://lwn.net/Articles/45434/ The Xouvert Project] by Jonathan Corbet, 20 Aug 2003</ref> no releases were made.  The last status change was made in March 2004 and it was communicated that there were delays in setting up a revision control system.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040328002044/http://www.xouvert.org/ (archived) Xouvert front page], Mar 28, 2004.</ref>

=== X.Org ===

{{Main|X.Org Server}}

The '''X.Org Server''' became the official [[reference implementation (computing)|reference implementation]] of X11. The first version, X11R6.7.0, was [[Fork (software)|fork]]ed from XFree86 version 4.4 RC2 to avoid the XFree86 license changes, with X11R6.6 changes merged in. Version X11R6.8 added many new extensions, drivers and fixes. It is hosted by and works closely with corporate-sponsored [[freedesktop.org]].

Most of the open-source Unix-like operating systems have adopted the X.Org Server in place of XFree86, and most of the XFree86 developers have moved to X.Org.

== Release history==
{{See also|X Window System#Release history|X.Org Server#Releases}}

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Version
! Release date
! Most important changes
|-
|{{Version  |o  |X386 1.1}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1991|02|11}}
|First [[X386]] version by Thomas Roell, based on [[X11R4]].
|-
|{{Version  |o  |X386 1.2}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1991|08|29}}
|Included with X11R5.
|-
|{{Version  |o  |X386 1.2E 0.0}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1992|05|07}}
|First pre-XFree86 code by eventual team members.
|-
|{{Version  |o  |X386 1.2E 1.0}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1992|07|18}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |X386 1.2E 1.0.1}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1992|07|23}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |X386 1.2E 1.0.2}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1992|08|08}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 1.0m}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1992|09|02}}
|First version named "XFree86".
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 1.1}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1992|10|01}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 1.2}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1993|02|08}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 1.3}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1993|06|05}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 2.0}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1993|10|24}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 2.1}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1994|03|11}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 2.1.1}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1994|05|04}}
|Last version based on X11R5.
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 3.0}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1994|08|26}}
|Release for X11R6.
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 3.1}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1994|09|29}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 3.1.2}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1995|08}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 3.2}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1996|10|26}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 3.2.1}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1996|12}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 3.3}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1997|05|30}}
|[[XFree86 Acceleration Architecture]] (XAA)
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 3.3.1}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1997|08|08}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 3.3.2}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1998|05|24}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 3.3.3}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1998|12|30}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 3.3.3.1}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1998|12|31}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 3.3.4}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1999|06|21}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 3.3.5}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1999|08|17}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 3.3.6}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|1999|12|31}}
|Last 3.x version.
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 4.0}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2000|03|07}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Release Notes for XFree86[tm] 4.0|url=http://www.xfree86.org/4.0/RELNOTES.html|website=XFree86 Project|date=7 March 2000|access-date=16 September 2018}}</ref>
|Complete new architecture.<ref>{{cite web|title=Release Notes for XFree86[tm] 4.0 - Introduction|url=http://www.xfree86.org/4.0/RELNOTES1.html#1|website=XFree86 Project|date=7 March 2000|access-date=16 September 2018}}</ref> X11R6.4 included.
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 4.0.1}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2000|06|30}}
|[[XRender]]
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 4.0.2}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2000|12|18}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 4.0.3}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2001|03|16}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 4.0.4}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2001|04}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 4.1.0}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2001|06|02}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 4.2.0}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2002|01|18}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 4.2.1}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2002|09|03}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 4.3.0}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2003|02|26}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 4.4 RC2}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2003|12|19}}<ref>[http://www.spinics.net/lists/rh-xf/msg01387.html XFree86 4.4.0 RC2 (fwd)]. Spinics.net (2003-12-19). Retrieved on 2013-09-07.</ref>
|Forked to [[X.Org Server]]
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 4.4.0}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2004|02|29}}
|First version under XFree86 License 1.1.
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 4.5.0}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2005|03|16}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 4.6.0}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2006|03|10}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |o  |XFree86 4.7.0}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2007|08|12}}
|
|-
|{{Version  |c  |XFree86 4.8.0}}
|{{dts|format=mdy|2008|12|15}}
|
|-
|colspan=3 |{{Version|l|show=010100}}
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}

* [[DirectFB]]
* [[XFree86 logfile]]
* [[XFree86 Modeline]]
* [[XF86Config]]
* [[X Window System]]
* [[X.Org Server]]
* [[Wayland (protocol)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
;Notes
{{Refbegin}}
* [http://www.skytel.co.cr/bsd/research/1992/1003.htm Announcing the release of XFree86 1.1]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://archive.today/20130105121229/http://www.skytel.co.cr/bsd/research/1993/0214.htm Announcing the release of XFree86 1.2]
* [http://www.skytel.co.cr/bsd/research/1993/0616.htm Announcing the release of XFree86 1.3]{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225603/http://cvsweb.openbsd.mirror.frontiernet.net/cgi-bin/cvsweb/~checkout~/X11/xc/programs/Xserver/hw/xfree86/CHANGELOG.R5?rev=1.1.1.1 xfree86/CHANGELOG.R5?rev=1.1.1.1]
* [http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=6157 X Marks the Spot: Looking back at X11 Developments of Past Year] (Oscar Boykin, ''OSNews'' February 25, 2004) &mdash; the licensing controversy and forks
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050219175024/http://www.linuxmagazine.com/2001-12/xfree86_01.html The History of XFree86: Over a Decade of Development] (Michael J. Hammel, ''Linux Magazine'', December 2001)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040228213700/http://xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-March/000128.html Some perspective from the cheap seats ...] (David Wexelblat, March 20, 2003) &mdash; on why Keith Packard was sacked from the core team
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040804184301/http://xfree86.org/pipermail/forum/2003-March/000168.html A Call For Open Governance Of X Development] (Keith Packard, March 21, 2003)
* [https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/03/21/xfree86_dustup_questions_x11_model/ XFree86 dust-up questions X11 model] (Andrew Orlowski, ''The Register'', March 21, 2003)
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031020210433/http://xfree86.org/ Project home page]

{{XWinSys}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xfree86}}
[[Category:X servers]]