> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/redox-os/redox/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Orbital
> The display server and window manager for Redox OS
## Overview
**Orbital** is the display server and window manager for Redox OS. It provides the graphical environment and window management system, integrating seamlessly with the microkernel architecture.
View the Orbital source code on GitLab
## Key Features
Minimal resource usage for efficient graphics
Integrated with Redox's scheme system
Memory-safe graphics stack
Clean, modern interface with COSMIC desktop apps
## Architecture
Orbital follows Redox's microkernel philosophy:
* **Userspace server**: Runs as a regular userspace process
* **Scheme interface**: Accessed through the `orbital:` scheme
* **Compositor**: Handles window composition and rendering
* **Event system**: Manages input events and window focus
## Display Scheme Access
Applications access Orbital through the scheme system:
```toml theme={null}
[user_schemes.user]
schemes = [
"orbital", # Orbital window system
"display.vesa", # VESA display driver
"display*", # All display drivers
# ... other schemes
]
```
## Window Management
Orbital provides modern window management features:
```rust theme={null}
// Create a window through the orbital scheme
use std::fs::File;
let window = File::create("orbital:myapp/800/600/title")?;
// Creates a window: app name / width / height / title
```
```rust theme={null}
// Read window events
use std::io::Read;
let mut event_buf = [0u8; 32];
window.read(&mut event_buf)?;
// Handle mouse, keyboard, and window events
```
```rust theme={null}
// Draw to window buffer
use std::io::Write;
let pixel_data = vec![0xFFu8; 800 * 600 * 4];
window.write(&pixel_data)?;
// Update display
window.sync_all()?;
```
## Display Drivers
Orbital works with various display drivers:
* **VESA**: Standard VESA BIOS Extensions support
* **Native drivers**: Hardware-specific accelerated drivers
* **Virtual display**: For virtual machines
```bash theme={null}
# Display drivers are accessed through schemes
ls /scheme/display.vesa
ls /scheme/display*
```
## COSMIC Desktop
Redox OS uses the COSMIC desktop environment with Orbital:
Modern file manager application
Terminal emulator with Ion shell
Text editor for development
Suite of desktop applications
## Configuration
Orbital configuration is managed through the system:
```toml theme={null}
# Font and icon directories
[[files]]
path = "/usr/share/ui/fonts"
data = "/usr/share/fonts"
symlink = true
[[files]]
path = "/usr/share/ui/icons"
data = "/usr/share/icons"
symlink = true
```
## Display Server Initialization
Orbital is typically started by the init system:
```bash theme={null}
# Orbital starts automatically with the GUI configuration
# Managed by the init system
```
## Graphics Stack
The Redox graphics stack consists of:
```text theme={null}
┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ Application (COSMIC) │
├─────────────────────────────┤
│ Orbital (Display Server) │
├─────────────────────────────┤
│ Display Driver (Scheme) │
├─────────────────────────────┤
│ Hardware │
└─────────────────────────────┘
```
## Input Handling
Orbital manages various input devices:
* **Keyboard**: Standard keyboard input
* **Mouse**: Pointer device support
* **Touch**: Touch screen support (where available)
```bash theme={null}
# Input events are routed through the event scheme
cat /scheme/event
```
## Performance
Orbital is designed for efficiency:
* **Fast composition**: Optimized window composition
* **Low latency**: Minimal input-to-display latency
* **Efficient rendering**: Smart redraw strategies
* **Memory efficient**: Careful memory management
Orbital benefits from Rust's zero-cost abstractions, providing high performance without sacrificing safety.
## Screenshots
Redox OS with Orbital provides a modern desktop experience:
See more [screenshots and videos](https://www.redox-os.org/screens/) of Redox OS in action.
## Resources
Source code and development
See Orbital in action
Display system documentation
Run Redox with Orbital
## Maintainer
Primary maintainer of Orbital