X11Libre
| File:X11libre-logo.png | |
| Written in | C |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Operating system | Cross-platform |
| Type | Display server |
| License | MIT License |
| Website | x11libre |
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X11Libre Xserver or XLibre is an implementation of the X Window System (X11) display server, forked from the free and open-source X.Org Server..[1] and aiming to continue development of the display server in the long term.
This is executed through a large reorganization of the codebase, aiming to simplify it and alter it for the purpose of improving readability, while also adding new features that alternative protocols like Wayland already benefit from, such as variable DPI settings for multi-monitor configurations and high dynamic range.
Adoption status
Mainstream Linux distributions' developers and contributors have expressed skepticism regarding the reliability and viability of XLibre, and for this reason many have yet to adopt or package it. However, third parties are providing unofficial packages for many distributions based on Debian, Alpine and Arch[2], along with a Void package, an openSUSE repository[3] and a SlackBuild.
Artix, CuerdOS, DeLinuxCo, Nemesis, OpenMandriva, Vendefoul Wolf and Vipnix are among the few to officially package and support XLibre, while it still resides in Devuan's testing repository for further testing before being supplied in stable releases. Stormux is also looking forward to a complete migration from X.Org.
Adoption is also in progress for the Unix-like operating systems FreeBSD (whose packages are a work in progress) and Illumos, whose Illumarine distribution's team has been working on producing a port of XLibre for their own, and OpenIndiana[4]
Features
The following new features and changes are included in XLibre and documented repository's README.
Xnamespace extension
According to documentation, the included Xnamespace extension tightens security by separating X clients in their own namespaces, with the exception of the root namespace, which can access all of them.[5]
Graphical tweaks
The tear-free setting has been enabled by default in the modesetting driver. Some kernel modules, such as i915, may still require manually enabling it in their own configurations.
For video modes, atomic modesetting is available for use in XLibre as an alternative to traditional kernel modesetting. Despite some issues being addressed, it is still prone to errors and bugs, and for this reason is not enabled by default.[6]
Hardware support
XLibre contributors have managed to restore functionality for Nvidia Linux Driver v340[7] through the usage of a patched version of the driver and, as of version 25.1.0, it is officially supported for usage in the Xserver. The same goes for version 390.[8][9] Support for v470 is a work in progress.
History
Inception
XLibre was forked from X.Org on June 6th 2025 by contributor metux, otherwise known as Enrico Weigelt. Whereas the main reason was his contributions being rejected succeeding instances of the Xserver or its components breaking,[10] the XOrg feature freeze(cit. needed) was also another major factor which attracted the attention of many developers.
Drama and relocation
Successively, metux was banned from the freedesktop.org GitLab,[11][12] under the claim of violating the freedesktop.org Code of Conduct. At the same time, all of his merge requests were closed and his contributions and repository was erased.
These actions brought the project to be relocated to GitHub,[13] still early in development, and experimental release 25.0.0.0 "summer solstice release" was available by June 21st 2025[14]
Despite controversy and heavy criticism, the project gained reasonably large traction. Consequently, the first stable release 25.0.0.5, published on July 11th 2025 enveloped the work of over 500 contributors.[1]
See also
- X window manager
- X video extension
- X.Org Server
- XQuartz - An X server for macOS
- Xming - An X server for Windows
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Xlibre". x11libre.net. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
- ↑ X11Libre. "Are we XLibre yet? Third party support". GitHub. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- ↑ xlibre-opensuse/repo, xlibre-opensuse, 2026-02-19, retrieved 2026-03-05
- ↑ "Illumarine on X (formerly Twitter): We are working on a port of XLibre to illumos".
- ↑ "xserver/doc/Xnamespace.md at master · X11Libre/xserver". GitHub. Archived from the original on 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
- ↑ X11Libre. "modesetting: allow enabling atomic mode. · X11Libre/xserver@461411c". GitHub. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
- ↑ X11Libre. "Readd support for proprietary Nvidia driver v340 · Issue #1330 · X11Libre/xserver". GitHub. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ↑ X11Libre. "Run-time configurable module search paths for Nvidia and others by ONykyf · Pull Request #658 · X11Libre/xserver". GitHub. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ↑ X11Libre. "Fix support for proprietary Nvidia driver v390 · Issue #311 · X11Libre/xserver". GitHub. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ↑ "Xorg git broken again". gitlab.freedesktop.org. 2024-10-29. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- ↑ Borisov, Bobby (2025-06-07). "XLibre Xserver: Banned by Red Hat Developer Plans Revival of X11". Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ↑ "Making sure you're not a bot!". gitlab.freedesktop.org. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ↑ consult, Enrico Weigelt, metux IT (2025-06-06). "History repeats: Redhat censored me on freedesktop.org - Xlibre fork release coming in few days". Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ↑ consult, Enrico Weigelt, metux IT (2025-06-21). "Xlibre 25.0 summer solstice release". Retrieved 2026-03-05.
External links
This article "X11Libre" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:X11Libre. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
