Intel Deems X.Org Server as 'Abandonware'—Wayland Compositor is the Future

Isaiah Alonzo, Tech Times 26 October 2020, 02:10 am

X.Org Server is now facing controversies and talks that it is long-forgotten by its developers and creators with its latest update releasing on May 2018, and not seeing an active user base relying on its systems. The X.Org Foundation's open-source implementation is now referred to as an "Abandonware" for its inactive status favoring other software.

The sixteen-year-old software, X.Org Server, concerned with the online implementation of X Window System core protocol is facing danger to fall as an "Abandonware" within the company and industry. Its status quickly changes due to its stagnant version that was last updated in 2018.

According to Editorials 360, Intel's open-source developer, Phoronix, recently made a blog post that puts the X.Org Server in a controversial light, questioning its status as a server. The open-source implementation was harshly called an "Abandonware" that is forgotten by its creators.

Phoronix compares the "X Server" to Wayland Compositor, a free 'C' library implementation protocols. According to Wayland's Free Desktop.org, the software of the company is a "simpler replacement" to X's System.

Wayland promises an easier system to develop and use compared to X.Org Foundation's, despite the latter's reign for almost 16 years from now. The loss of the regular releases from the main branch of the X Server endangers its existence to be soon forgotten.

X.Org System vs Wayland Compositor: Which is Better?

The well-known open source and software company, Intel, particularly a developer within the company, believes that X.Org System does not have a future in the open-source implementation industry. The stagnant version of the current X System expects an upgrade that never came for the software.

According to DE 24 News, the X Server "hit a low" in nearly the two decades that has passed, and no one from the company has released any updates. The "regiment" of the X.Org Server has a six-month rule in releasing a new update; however, 24 months has already passed without its guaranteed update.

The company, X.Org Foundation, themselves have forgotten the software, thus making it an "abandonware" to most developers who are familiar with the server systems. The so-called version 1.21 that aims to deliver the anticipated updates for the X Server never came.

Intel Kernel Graphics Team member and DRM Co-maintainer, Daniel Vetter, admits that the X.Org Server needs to be out on blacklist because of the inactive status of the implementation. Red Hat and Intel's Linux were the only clients left to use and devote its resources to the X Server.

Abandonware: What is it?

According to Make Use Of.com, Abandonwares are software that is still under licensing and open status from its original publishers and developers but no longer receives updates or activities. Abandonware is largely popular on games and consoles that had its updates halted.

Websites and the public who freely use this software or applications have little to no risks or threats of a lawsuit. The reason for this is because developers do not profit from it anymore; thus, there is little to no harm to befall the users.

Despite being licensed, Abandonwares have no active support or copyright enforcement tied with it. X.Org Server is slowly becoming one, or worse have become it because of the neglect by its creators.

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Written by Isaiah Alonzo