Both are useful

Both are useful

Posted Aug 14, 2005 19:08 UTC (Sun) by ikm (subscriber, #493)
In reply to: Use clipboard, not cut buffer by emk
Parent article: GTK+ 2.8.0 released

> You're getting into trouble because you're using the Unix selection buffer instead of the clipboard. The selection buffer is a legacy X Window feature typically used for working with xterms. :-) It's very handy, but you'll be much happier if just use the clipboard for modern GUI applications.

The current state where there is both a volatile X selection and a more persistent clipboard is really what is best. People who don't know about the X selection live fine only with the clipboard, all others enjoy both of the worlds, where a save to the clipboard typically overwrites an X selection too, but an X selection doesn't overwrite the clipboard.

So please don't call this a "legacy X window feature". It doesn't became legacy just because there is no such thing in Windows(tm). Futhermore, people will get very grumpy in case the feature gets removed. What is more, I recall some Windows programs now actually feature a special "instant selection to the clipboard" mode. Seems some Windows people got addicted to this too :)

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