IRIX Interactive Desktop
| Company type | Software |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer software |
| Predecessor | IRIS Workspace |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Desktop environment |
IRIX Interactive Desktop—previously known as Indigo Magic Desktop—is a now-obsolete desktop environment that served as the standard user interface on Silicon Graphics workstations operating with IRIX. It is built upon the Motif widget toolkit, which runs on the X Window System widely utilized across Unix platforms. The environment's default window manager is 4Dwm.
History
SGI's first desktop environment for IRIX, called IRIS Workspace, was used from versions 3.0 through 5.0. In 1993, with the release of IRIX 5.1 on the Indy multimedia workstation, it was replaced by Indigo Magic Desktop. This desktop was among the earliest to be included by default on Unix systems, alongside Sun Microsystems' former OpenWindows and the Common Desktop Environment developed by COSE.
The Indigo Magic Desktop underwent rebranding to become IRIX Interactive Desktop starting with IRIX version 6.5 in 1998. In 2000, Eric Masson, an enthusiast user of SGI systems, initiated a project to recreate the IRIX Interactive Desktop for the Linux platform. By 2005, Masson and SGI formalized an agreement granting a special license to reproduce the IRIX Interactive Desktop on x86-based Linux machines under the MaXX Interactive Desktop initiative.
Features
The Indigo Magic Desktop emphasizes straightforward access to multimedia capabilities and supports extensive user customization. It incorporates audio signals to indicate the beginning and completion of tasks, employs smart windows that monitor recently accessed directories, and offers multiple virtual desktops categorized by their intended use.
The IRIX Interactive Desktop is composed primarily of two elements: the System Manager, responsible for managing system settings and desktop configuration, and the Toolchest—a menu interface presenting installed applications on Silicon Graphics hardware. Application windows minimize into compact rectangular icons placed directly on the desktop, while its file manager displays icons using distinctive vector graphics in the IconSmith .fti format.
Reception
In March 1994, UNIX Review magazine assigned a "superior" rating to Indigo Magic Desktop, although some critiques were noted.