Hi, I'm just wondering where in the source files of a linux kernel I would be able to find the code which takes care of copying and pasting? I'm interested in modifying it but don't know where to look to find it.
Thanks
+1
A:
I don't think Linux handles copy paste. The kernel's function is to handle interaction between the hardware and the OS.
Usually that behavior(copy/paste) is part of the applications you may use.
Try looking in the source code for emacs or vi for examples.
Joao Heleno
2010-04-13 12:33:59
how then you can copy from one app and past to another?
Andrey
2010-04-13 12:36:52
@Andrey It's handled by X.
anon
2010-04-13 12:38:06
I think the confusion of Andrey (and indeed this entire question) is a by-product of the poor separation of concerns in MS Windows.
rmeador
2010-04-13 13:01:41
+11
A:
Clipboard functionality is indeed not handled by the kernel but instead by the X window system and the active desktop manager (Gnome, KDE).
Take a look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipboard_%28software%29#X_Window_System
The usage and handling of various selections is not standardized. However most modern toolkits and desktop environments, such as GNOME or KDE, follow a widely accepted convention, outlined in the freedesktop.org specification.
Tiberiu Ana
2010-04-13 12:39:32
you might more properly say that it's handled by X _or_ the desktop manager. AFAIK, the X and KDE clipboards are separate (the former accessible by highlight/middle-click, the latter by ctrl+x/ctrl+v)
rmeador
2010-04-13 12:59:02
+1
A:
This sort of thing is not handled by the kernel, but by the X windowing system and applications.
I suggest you read this wikipedia article on X Window selection
Hasturkun
2010-04-13 12:40:27
+2
A:
All you X addicts forget about the lovely console (and with that I don't mean terminal emulators like xterm and urxvt)! At the console, the copy-paste functionality is provided by gpm.
Marcel Korpel
2010-04-13 12:49:54
It would be useful if the questioner confirmed. Do people still run gpm? I recall it being around in old Red Hat days but notice there is no sign of it on my current systems.
stsquad
2010-04-13 13:31:10
@stsquad: I know several people running Linux who still use the console. In my distribution, installing gpm is as easy as `pacman -S gpm` and I guess it's equally easy on other distro's.
Marcel Korpel
2010-04-13 14:41:55