Background Info

• environment and shell variables
  • allow you to customize various characteristics of env
    • PATH -- directories to look in for commands
    • PRINTER -- which printer to use
    • PROMPT -- how your prompt looks
  • type env and set to see them
  • which shell do you use, tcsh or bash?
    • tcsh prompt usually ends with percent sign
    • bash prompt usually ends with dollar sign
    • type ps to see your processes, one of which is your shell
  
  
• XWindows for console logins
  • Unix windowing system: X Windows, or X11
  • allows remote display (ex: xterm, mozilla)
  
  
• the Window Manager
  • allows you to "manage" your windows:
    • which windows have title bars
    • size of desktop, how many
    • which mouse button raises a window
    • contents of root menus
  • we are using fvwm, but there are many others (wmaker, blackbox, etc)