In this episode of The IT Guy Show, Eric is joined by Linux content creator Brodie Robertson to dive into the display server drama of the decade: the end of X11 and the rise of Wayland.

Together they explore the history of X11, its weird quirks, and why it stuck around so long, before unpacking what makes Wayland different, better, and sometimes frustrating. From screen tearing and window managers to PipeWire, gaming, and remote desktops, this episode covers the past, present, and future of the Linux desktop experience.

Whether you’re a veteran sysadmin who lived through the xhost + days or a curious distro-hopper wondering why Wayland keeps breaking your screen sharing, this episode has something for you.

Welcome to The IT Guy Show, your go-to destination for all things tech with Eric, your friendly neighborhood IT guy! Join Eric as he shares his wealth of knowledge, insights, and experiences gained from years of working in the IT industry. From troubleshooting common tech issues to exploring the latest trends and innovations, each episode is packed with practical tips, skilled advice, and engaging discussions.

Connect with me! https://linktr.ee/itguyeric

Connect with Brodie: https://brodierobertson.xyz/link_tree

X Window System: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Window_System

Wayland Homepage: https://wayland.freedesktop.org/

Wayland Protocols Table: https://absurdlysuspicious.github.io/wayland-protocols-table

Awesome Wayland: https://github.com/rcalixte/awesome-wayland

Chapters:

00:00 Stream Start

00:13 Introduction

01:21 Brodie Robertson

04:45 What is X11?

11:56 What did X11 solve?

19:42 What is Wayland?

36:18 Full Wayland mode

44:52 Wrap up

Graphics and bumpers by Free Hive Agency

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

Special Guest: Brodie Robertson.

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