Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 2, 2026

MEX (windowing system)

mex is a windowing system created by Silicon Graphics, used on 68k-based IRIS systems and early IRIS 4D systems. Mex was originally loaded over a network through the use of GL1 routines kept on a remote host machine, usually a VAX. When the IRIS 1400 workstation and GL2-W (IRIX) were introduced, mex was allowed to run locally. Mex was used in IRIX from the GL2-W2.1.0 release to the 4D1-2.3 release.

Last revised
Jun 2, 2026
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Mex
DeveloperSilicon Graphics
Initial release1985 (1985)
Operating systemIRIX
TypeWindowing system

mex (multiple exposure) is a windowing system created by Silicon Graphics, used on 68k-based IRIS systems and early IRIS 4D systems.12 Mex was originally loaded over a network through the use of GL1 routines kept on a remote host machine, usually a VAX. When the IRIS 1400 workstation and GL2-W (IRIX) were introduced, mex was allowed to run locally. Mex was used in IRIX from the GL2-W2.1.0 release to the 4D1-2.3 release.

With the introduction of 4D1-3.0 (IRIX 3.0), and the complete migration to MIPS processors, support for the GL / GL2 powered mex ended in the late 1980s, replaced by Sun Microsystems' NeWS and the 4Sight window manager.

References

References

  1. Rocky Rhodes, Paul Haeberli, Kipp Hickman, "Mex — A Window Manager for the IRIS", USENIX Conference Proceedings, Summer 1985, pages 381–392.
  2. Florentine, Robin; Locke, Steven; Szente, Celia; Williams, Glen; Diane, Wilford (1985). "IRIS Users guide" (PDF). bitsavers.org (IRIS System Manual). Silicon Graphics, Inc. pp. 247–262.