leadedsolder
The #sparcstation lives! It's been nearly a decade. Not sure why I can't get a console in my regular user account, but that's the least of my worries. Is there a way to use Sun OpenLook without a mouse? #sun4m #retrocomputing #retrounix
Jun 17, 2025 at 4:19pmWeb
Show threadR.L. Dane    🍵 Jun 17, 2025

@leadedsolder

Oh man, I miss those lozenge buttons!! #OpenLook #OpenWindows

Show threadTrammell HudsonJun 17, 2025
@leadedsolder the OpenLook UI and widgets are my favorites, especially the little corner decorations.
(no idea about keyboard shortcuts, sorry!)
Show threadacbJun 17, 2025

@th @leadedsolder Agreed; it’s the best-looking GUI of its era.

Did the OpenLook source code ever get released? I know the window manager (olvwm) was open-sourced, and OSF/Motif eventually made it out into some similar status (possibly after it ceased being a revenue stream).

Show threadTrammell HudsonJun 17, 2025
@leadedsolder based on the default olvwm config in the source file, it looks like you might be able to open an xterm instead of cmdtool -C, which requires rw permission to access /dev/console
Show threadleadedsolderJun 23, 2025
@th ooh good tip, thanks. I'm not sure why the console is blocked, it was working fine in the emulator when I built the image. A problem for another day when I get a working mouse.
Show threadPawlickerJun 23, 2025
@leadedsolder remote x session