Ubuntu Wiki

This page is to serve as a gathering point for various X-related specs, howtos, todo lists, and other assorted resources of interest to developers and bleeding-edge users.

Using X in Ubuntu

• X/Config - How to configure Xorg

• X/InputHotplug - Using input devices (keyboards, tablets, mice, etc.) with HAL and input-hotplug

• X/NonGraphicalBoot - Running X manually, without gdm

• X/KernelModeSetting - Configuring and using KMS (in Karmic)

• X/Rootless - Running X as a user process, not as the root user

Development of X for Ubuntu

• X/SwatTeam - Joining the Xorg bug triage team

• X/Architecture - High level architectural overview of X.org

• X/Drivers - Current status of X drivers

• Packages XSwat maintains

• Ubuntu X Development

  • X/Projects - Development, triaging and packaging projects

  • X/Blueprints - Specifications of interest for X

  • X/Bugs - Analysis of collection of similar bugs

  • X/GitUsage - Instructions for using git

  • X/Testing - Test Plans for X

  • X/DriverBuilding - Building debs of upstream drivers

  • X/DriverDevelopment - Developing new Xorg drivers for Ubuntu

  • X/BetaReviewChecklist - Stuff to do around beta

  • https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/?field.tag=xorg-needs-kernel-fix - Kernel fixes needed for xorg issues

Troubleshooting Resources

• Hug Day Work - X Triaging Projects and Info for Hug Day

• X Debugging Handbook

  • I. X Reporting - How to create good X bug reports

  • II. X Glossary - Explanations for confusing terms often seen in logs and error messages

  • III. X Backtracing - How to collect a backtrace for an X crash

  • IV. X Triaging - How to ensure new X bug reports have enough info to troubleshoot

  • V. X Troubleshooting - How to analyze X bugs to make them solvable

  • VI. X/Bisecting - Using bisection techniques to solve regressions or backport fixes

  • VII. X Quirks - Fixes for some common hardware-specific issues

  • VIII. X Upstreaming - Forwarding X bugs to their upstream project

  • IX. X Crash Fixing - How to fix X crashes

• XorgOnTheEdge - for bleeding edge packages

Other Resources

• Documentation for developers can be found at Ubuntu Development

• The Foundations Team cares for a variety of critical components needed for building and running the Ubuntu platform

• The Desktop Team handles Gnome and related packages which go into the Ubuntu desktop installation

• The Installer Team looks after the Ubuntu installer

• The Kernel Team is tasked with maintaining the Linux kernel in Ubuntu

• The Mobile Team is tasked with looking after the Mobile Project

• The Bug Squad heroically handles the stream of bugs reported by Ubuntu users

• MOTU (the Ubuntu Universe packaging team) packages and maintains Ubuntu's massive collection of community-supported software packages

• The Laptop Testing Team checks the hardware compatibility of Ubuntu with laptops

• The Accessibility Team is here to help improve the accessibility technologies available with Ubuntu.