If you'd read both the article and my post, you'd realize it does actually address the article. It's a quote from the chapter about X-Windows I wrote in the Unix Haters handbook in 1994.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_UNIX-HATERS_Handbook

https://web.archive.org/web/20201120053257/http://www.simson...

And a description of the screen spanning ruler app (or rather "Desk Accessory") that the Mac had around 1987 or so (I specifically remember Hugh showing it to me a few months before Black Monday).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desk_accessory

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Monday_(1987)

Just like the article you apparently didn't read mentioned:

>With my new knowledge, I also wrote an onscreen ruler using the shape extension. Somewhat tautological for measuring the two inch circle, but in the event anyone asks, I can now tell them my terminal line height is 1/8”, and yes, I measured.

https://humungus.tedunangst.com/r/xtoys/v/tip/f/ruler.c

Now 38 years later, is there a ruler app for X-Windows that can span multiple screens yet? Or Wayland, even? Why don't you write one!