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Asked: 2026-05-17T21:10:21+00:00

I have stubbornly decided to learn Xlib programming for Linux GUIs, just for fun

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I have stubbornly decided to learn Xlib programming for Linux GUIs, just for fun & the gained experience. I’m young and have lots of time to read useless stuff. Nobody seems to want people to learn this, though, as everywhere I look, askers are being bombarded with suggestions of using a toolset instead – usually Qt or wxWidgets. This is kind of sad, if nobody learns Xlib, who will continue development of e.g. wxWidgets? I will learn wxWidgets too, though, when I feel comfortable with Xlib.

So – with that out of the way – my question is: Is there a recommended book (or other resources) for learning Xlib programming, preferably with C++, but C is OK too. Windows programming has its Petzold, I was wondering if Xlib had some sort of equivalent.

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  1. Editorial Team

    There used to be a whole series of books on X programming (they actually worked their way up to Xlib!) but the one you probably want is Xlib Programming Manual

    Over a year later I ran across a “retro UNIX” imgur album which has a picture of it! Keeping good company with the Red Book (the Postscript Language Reference Manual) and another in the O’Reilly X series.

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