libsm ☆

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Description:
X.Org: X Session Management Library

Type: Formula | Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: System utilities

Tags: x11 session-management xorg library graphics

Install: brew install libsm

About:
The X Session Management Library (libsm) provides the core API for the X Session Management (XSM) protocol, enabling X11 applications to participate in session management. It allows the state of applications (such as window positions and open files) to be saved and subsequently restored after a system restart or login. This library is a fundamental component of the X Window System, facilitating consistent state persistence across the desktop environment.

Key Features:

Implements the X Session Management (XSM) protocol
Provides APIs for saving and restoring client state
Handles communication with the session manager
Enables seamless application state persistence

Use Cases:

Developing X11 applications that need to save their state between sessions
Building or maintaining desktop environments that support session restoration
Managing application lifecycle within an XSM-compliant session

Alternatives:

systemd-logind – A modern Linux system-level service that manages user sessions and seats, often replacing the need for a dedicated XSM implementation in contemporary desktop environments.
xdg-desktop-portal – A cross-desktop service for sandboxed applications, handling various desktop integration tasks, though it does not directly replace the low-level XSM protocol.

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Sep 11, 2025 3:40am		0	VERSION_BUMP	2a202209
Dec 14, 2024 9:26pm		0	VERSION_BUMP	ebd67140