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The `!W Window System`!, or simply `!W`!, is a discontinued `F33f`_`[windowing system`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Windowing_system]`_`f and precursor, in name and concept, to the modern `F33f`_`[X Window System`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=X_Window_System]`_`f.

W was originally developed at `F33f`_`[Stanford University`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Stanford_University]`_`f by Paul Asente and `F33f`_`[Brian Reid`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Brian_Reid_(computer_scientist)]`_`f for the `F33f`_`[V operating system`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=V_(operating_system)]`_`f. In 1983, Paul Asente and Chris Kent ported the system to `F33f`_`[UNIX`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Unix]`_`f on the `F33f`_`[VS100`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=VAXstation]`_`f, giving a copy to those working at `F33f`_`[MIT`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology]`_`f's Laboratory for Computer Science.`:cite-ref-1[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-1]`_`f]

In 1984, `F33f`_`[Bob Scheifler`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Bob_Scheifler]`_`f of MIT replaced the `F33f`_`[synchronous`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Synchronization_(computer_science)]`_`f protocol of W with an `F33f`_`[asynchronous`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Asynchronous_I/O]`_`f alternative and named the result X.`:cite-ref-2[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-2]`_`f]

Since this time, the X window system has gone through many fundamental changes and no longer bears any significant resemblance to W.

>>Contents

• `F0af`_`[See also`#see-also]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[References`#references]`_`f

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>>See also

• `F33f`_`[History of free and open-source software`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=History_of_free_and_open-source_software]`_`f

>>References

`:cite-note-1`!1.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-1]`_`f `:citerefscheiflergettys1986`aScheifler, Robert W.; Gettys, Jim (April 1986). "The X window system". `*ACM Transactions on Graphics`*. `!5`! (2): 79–109. `F33f`_`[doi`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Doi_(identifier)]`_`f:10.1145/22949.24053. `F33f`_`[ISSN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISSN_(identifier)]`_`f 0730-0301. `F33f`_`[S2CID`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=S2CID_(identifier)]`_`f 18458549.

`:cite-note-2`!2.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-2]`_`f "Talisman: Debut of X". `*www.talisman.org`*. Retrieved 2022-05-30.

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