XMSETPROTOCOLHOOKS(3)

💅 XmSetProtocolHooks — the library call that lets your shell do a little something before AND after 💖

ok so bestie, we're deep in X land now, and this one is genuinely a bop once you get it. it's from <Xm/Xm.h> and <Xm/Protocols.h>, it lives in the library call section of the manual, and it's about making your shell the main character when MWM slides into your DMs with a protocol message. 🦋

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

#include <Xm/Xm.h>
#include <Xm/Protocols.h>
void XmSetProtocolHooks(
Widget shell,
Atom property,
Atom protocol,
XtCallbackProc prehook,
XtPointer pre_closure,
XtCallbackProc posthook,
XtPointer post_closure);

🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

so XmSetProtocolHooks is the function you call when your shell wants preactions and postactions to run whenever a protocol message comes in from MWM. literally that's the whole job. 🎀

and here's why it exists, because this part is important: there is no guaranteed ordering in the execution of event handlers or callback lists. like, none. it's chaos out there. so this function hands the shell the aux cord — it gets to control the flow — while still leaving the protocol manager structures opaque. no peeking inside the manager's business, that's the deal. 🙈

also hi, quick bestie note: XmSetWMProtocolHooks is a convenience interface. it calls XmSetProtocolHooks with the property value set to the atom returned by interning WM_PROTOCOLS. so if that's the vibe you want, you got a shortcut. 💫

now the arguments, one by one, no skips:

• shell — specifies the widget with which the protocol property is associated. the whole situation hangs off this widget. 👑
• property — specifies the protocol property.
• protocol — specifies the protocol atom.
• prehook — specifies the procedure to call before calling entries on the client callback list. yes, before. it goes first, it's the opener. ✨
• pre_closure — specifies the client data to be passed to the prehook when it is invoked. it's the lil gift bag that rides along with your prehook. 🎁
• posthook — specifies the procedure to call after calling entries on the client callback list. the closer, the finisher, the "and that's on that." 💅
• post_closure — specifies the client data to be passed to the posthook when it is invoked. same deal, different hook. 🫶

and for a complete definition of VendorShell and its associated resources, go read VendorShell(3). i'm not gonna hold out on you, the real ones know. 😭

ngl, this is the kind of API that sounds scary and is actually just "run this thing before, run that thing after." you're doing great. 🧚

🔗 RELATED 🔗

• VendorShell(3)
• XmInternAtom(3)
• XmSetWMProtocolHooks(3)

and that's the whole page, bestie — it's a library call, it's called XmSetProtocolHooks, and it signs off exactly like that. slay, go hook up your shell. 💖🌈⭐