Ubuntu – How to make Compiz and Metacity co-exist happily? I only have one or the other

compizmetacity

While experimenting with sending virtual keystrokes, things got seriously hung up! I powered off, When the system restarted all window decoration was missing, and all fancy compiz graphics was missing.

I ran metacity --replace. That brought back the window decoration, but still no compiz. I ran compiz --replace, that brought back compiz functionality, but this time, no window decoration.

How can I get Compiz and Metacity back together again?

Best Answer

Compiz and Metacity are both window managers. You cannot use two different window managers at the same time. However, windows' decoration is done by a window decorator, not a window manager. You can use, e.g., either gtk-window-decorator (which can match your previous MetaCity themes), or Beryl's own emerald window decorator, which was made to work with Compiz, and has lots of nice themes.

Whatever you choose, be sure to check the settings for Compiz's Window Decorator plugin. (Run CompizConfig Settings Manager or ccsm and enable that plugin, and choose either gtk-window-decorator or emerald for the command; perhaps adding --replace if it helps.)

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