Chapter 4: Compiling xwatch

Please note (again) that you don't have to compile your own version: if you are using a Linux system based on ELF executables, you can use the binary in bin-linux/xwatch. But if you really want to compile all, follow these steps.

  • You will need the XForms library and include files to compile xwatch. Check the Makefile in the src subdirectory for two ftp sites that carry XForms for Linux. Obtain the library and install it. (Even if you don't want to compile XWatch, you'll need the shared libraries. They may or may not already be installed on your system.) XWatch will happily run with XForms version 0.81.

  • In the src subdirectory, edit the Makefile and adjust some defines at the top. E.g., a make install copies the binary by default to /usr/local/X11/bin; adjust that if you don't like this behavior.

  • Next, do a make install, followed by a make clean.

  • Copy the file XWatch.ap from the source directory to /usr/lib/X11/app-defaults/XWatch. Edit the file and state your favorite settings.

  • Next, start the program xwatch with some file arguments in your logfiles directory. If you're satisfied with the appearance and workings of xwatch, add the invocation to your script that starts an X session.