XQuartz facts for kids
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| Developer(s) | Jeremy Huddleston Sequoia, X.Org Foundation, Apple Inc. |
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| Stable release |
2.8.5 / January 26, 2023
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| Written in | C |
| Operating system | macOS |
| Type | Display server |
| License | Apple Public Source License MIT License |
XQuartz is a special program that helps other computer programs run on macOS (Apple computers). It's like a translator that lets apps made for a different system called X11 work smoothly on your Mac. X11 is a very old and widely used system for showing graphics on computer screens.
XQuartz is an open-source project. This means many people can work on it and improve it. It replaced Apple's own built-in X11 app. The name "XQuartz" comes from "X" (for X11) and "Quartz," which is a key part of how macOS handles graphics. XQuartz is super helpful for running many science and school programs that were originally made for X11, not specifically for Macs.
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How XQuartz Started
The story of XQuartz began with Apple's own X11 app. This app was first available as a test version for Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar. It then became a standard part of Mac OS X 10.3 Panther.
Later, with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, you had to choose to install it from the DVD. For Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, and Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, X11.app was installed automatically.
However, starting with OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, Apple decided to stop directly supporting X11.app. Instead, they told users to use the open-source XQuartz project. Apple still helps out with XQuartz, even though it's not their main focus anymore.
What "Rootless" Means
In Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, Apple's X11 had a cool feature called "rootless" mode. This meant that X11 applications didn't open in their own separate desktop window. Instead, they appeared directly on your regular macOS desktop, just like any other Mac app. This made them feel more integrated.
Later, with Mac OS X Leopard, X11 was updated to use a newer and better system called X.Org Server. Before that, it used an older one called XFree86. The code for X11 is available for anyone to see and use. Some parts are under Apple's own license, while most are under the MIT License, which is a very open and free license.
What XQuartz Does Now
The current version of XQuartz helps X11 apps work well with your Mac's graphics. It supports fast 2D graphics and uses your computer's graphics card for OpenGL (which is used for 3D graphics). It also works smoothly with Aqua, which is the main look and feel of macOS.
However, as of version 2.8.0, XQuartz doesn't fully support super high-resolution screens like Retina displays for X11 apps. This means X11 apps might look a bit less sharp on those screens, running in a "pixel-doubled" mode.
Recent XQuartz Versions
Here's a look at some of the recent versions of XQuartz and what they needed to run:
| Version | macOS Requirement | Most important changes | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| XQuartz 2.8.5 | Mac OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later | 2023-01-26 | |
| XQuartz 2.8.4 | Mac OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later | 2022-12-24 | |
| XQuartz 2.8.3 | Mac OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later | 2022-12-09 | |
| XQuartz 2.8.2 | Mac OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later | 2022-06-30 | |
| XQuartz 2.8.1 | Mac OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later | 2021-04-25 | |
| XQuartz 2.8.0 | Mac OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later | Native support for Apple M1 Macs. | 2021-03-21 |
| XQuartz 2.7.11 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later | 2016-10-29 | |
| XQuartz 2.7.10 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later | 2016-10-22 | |
| XQuartz 2.7.9 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later | 2016-05-05 | |
| XQuartz 2.7.8 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later | First release supported on OS X El Capitan | 2015-10-17 |
| XQuartz 2.7.7 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later | First release supported on OS X Yosemite | 2014-08-18 |
| XQuartz 2.7.6 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later | 2014-05-17 | |
| XQuartz 2.7.5 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later | First release supported on OS X Mavericks | 2013-11-10 |
| XQuartz 2.7.4 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later | 2012-09-27 | |
| XQuartz 2.7.3 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later | 2012-08-27 | |
| XQuartz 2.7.2 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later | First release supported on OS X Mountain Lion | 2012-06-01 |
| XQuartz 2.7.1 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later | 2012-06-01 | |
| XQuartz 2.7.0 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later | First release supported on Mac OS X 10.7 Lion | 2011-11-04 |
| XQuartz 2.6.3 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later | 2011-07-20 | |
| XQuartz 2.6.2 | Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3 or later | 2011-04-30 | |
| XQuartz 2.6.1 | Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8, Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3, or later | 2011-03-17 | |
| XQuartz 2.6.0 | Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8, Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3, or later | 2010-12-19 | |
| XQuartz 2.5.3 | Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8, Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3, or later | 2010-08-13 | |
| XQuartz 2.5.2 | Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8, Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3, or later | 2010-07-20 | |
| XQuartz 2.5.1 | Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8, Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3, or later | 2010-07-10 | |
| XQuartz 2.5.0 | Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.8, Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3, or later | First release supported on Mac OS X Snow Leopard | 2010-03-29 |
See Also
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- MacX, another X11 program for older Mac computers
- XWayland, a way to run X apps on a newer system called Wayland
- XDarwin, an older X program for macOS that came before XQuartz
