Re: ugly x background when starting kdm
I've heard the proper explaination before on the Xpert list.
I'm no programmer either but the basic idea is that this is an extremely
low-level test of the X-Server. The reason for the horrible pattern it that
it can be wrapped evenly on any bit boundary. The usefullness is when you are
programming X, and you are changing things in the server, the presence or
absence of this pattern will give you a very definite idea of how far X got
before it crashed.
Of course this is of no interest to non-X-programmers who are using stable X
servers that are allready configured and working.
I do know that there are patches available to remove this, but this would
mean getting the proper version of source code to apply the patch to, patch
it and re-compile and install. Not a difficult task, even for a
non-programmer, but a lot to down-load and you would then be running a
celf-compiled X rather than the Debian packaged version.
Several people have tried to submit this patch for inclussion in X, but the
existing pattern is too useful to the developers so it will never be applied.
Think of it as similar to the BIOS report screen that appears when you first
turn on your computer. It's of no interest, UNTIL you have a problem, then
it's indespensable!
Hope this explains it purpose for you.
Cheers,
John Gay
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