X-Windows applications
are Unix programs which have been written to work in the graphical environments
which go under the name "X Windows".
There are many X-Windows servers, which provide the full working environment for X Windows.
Most Unix variants, including Linux, make use of X Windows.
X Windows provides a full-fledged alternative to Apple's custom graphical environment, Aqua.
There are solutions to run X Windows programs alongside Aqua applications,
and those that toggle your monitor between the two full-screen environments.
Running X apps along-side Aqua apps is known as running in "rootless" mode.
Apple's own X11 X-Windows server runs rootless.
Others may prefer working in full-screen mode and toggling back and forth
between the environments as desired.
X Windows allow OS X users to now run programs which otherwise might never
be ported to the Mac without it, or perhaps to encourage such porting.
These programs are often open source or entirely free efforts,
but the programs are often of the highest quality and worth checking out.
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