40 years later, X Window System is far more relevant than anyone could guess

The X Window System, celebrating its 40th anniversary, remains relevant in unexpected ways. Originally crucial for working with space-facing instruments in the 1980s, X evolved from X10r4 to X11, offering graphical capabilities like buttons and displays. Developed by Robert W. Scheifler and Jim Gettys at MIT, X's cross-platform compatibility made it valuable for institutions like Princeton University. Robert Lupton, an astrophysics professor at Princeton, recalls using X to address computer issues and questions. Despite network traffic concerns, X's portability and functionality made it a preferred window system option. Lupton's guide emphasizes X's versatility, highlighting modifier keys, starting commands, and window manager importance. As X continues to endure, Lupton attributes its survival to being a reliable and portable solution compared to alternatives available at the time. The system's ability to run on various platforms like VAX and Sun Microsystems contributed to its longevity and relevance over the years.