What is the "X API"? Are you talking about Xlib? XCB? The protocol? Does this critique include XRender? There's really two parts to modern X programming: the w

What is the "X API"? Are you talking about Xlib? XCB? The protocol? Does this critique include XRender? There's really two parts to modern X programming: the window and event stuff, and XRender. The window and event system isn't bad, and it's fully asynchronous, which is a really big deal. XRender obviously can't be used for drawing by hand (that's why you have Cairo), but it's a really good design for a drawing protocol that supports a lot of possibilities for hardware acceleration.