Howto: install the latest metacity in Gutsy (and get a built-in composite manager)

[picpak]

What's new in Metacity 2.21.5 is a built-in compositing manager, meaning that you don't have to run xcompmgr or similar programs alongside it. If you use Hardy, you've already got it and can skip to step 7 to turn it on. For Gutsy, however, you can either

a) go to the bottom of this post and install my .debs or
b) compile it yourself.

Method 1: Compiling

The longer method. Use method 2 if you prefer.

1) Open up a terminal (Applications>Accessories>Terminal) and edit the file /etc/apt/sources.list:

gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

place the following on a new line at the bottom:

deb-src http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hardy main restricted universe multiverse

Save it and exit.

2) Update so that it notices the new line:

sudo aptitude update

3) Install the needed programs for compiling metacity:

sudo aptitude install build-essential cdbs devscripts dh-make fakeroot
sudo apt-get build-dep metacity

4) Get the source package:

mkdir -p ~/packages/metacity
cd ~/packages/metacity
apt-get source metacity
cd metacity-*

5) Add a new entry to the changelog indicating that this is being built on Gutsy:

dch -iDgutsy

The first section should look something like this:

metacity (1:2.22.0-0ubuntu1~gutsy1) gutsy; urgency=low

* Adopted for Gutsy

-- Firstname Lastname <youremail@yourhost.com> Sun, 23 Dec 2007 11:52:10 -0600

Press Ctrl-X to save and exit the file.

6) Build and install the new metacity:

dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot -us -uc
sudo dpkg -i ../metacity*.deb ../libmetacity0*.deb

7) You're still not done! Run the following to turn on the compositor:

gconftool-2 -s '/apps/metacity/general/compositing_manager' --type bool true

You may need to log out and in for the changes to take effect.

8) Now re-open the file /etc/apt/sources.list:

gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

and remove the following line:

deb-src http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hardy main restricted universe multiverse

Save it and exit.

9) Update again:

sudo aptitude update

Enjoy your new metacity!

Method 2: Installing debs

The much faster method. Download and install 3 files, enable compositing and you're done.

1) Download the following files:

metacity_2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1_i386.deb (http://www.sendspace.com/file/m604e5)
libmetacity0_2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1_i386.deb (http://www.sendspace.com/file/e7iee6)
metacity-common_2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1_all.deb (http://www.sendspace.com/file/y0wbm9)

2) Install them:

sudo dpkg -i metacity*.deb libmetacity0*.deb

libmetacity-dev is optional, but I've uploaded it just in case:

libmetacity-dev_2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1_i386.deb (http://www.sendspace.com/file/ytnqvs)

3) Remember to run the following to enable the compositor!

gconftool-2 -s '/apps/metacity/general/compositing_manager' --type bool true

You may need to log out and in for the changes to take effect. Enjoy!

[Ttech]

What's new in Metacity 2.21.5 is a built-in compositing manager, meaning that you don't have to run xcompmgr or similar programs alongside it. If you use Hardy, you've already got it and can skip to step 7 to turn it on. For Gutsy, however, you can either

a) go to the bottom of this post and install my .debs or
b) compile it yourself.

Method 1: Compiling

The longer method. Use method 2 if you prefer.

1) Open up a terminal (Applications>Accessories>Terminal) and edit the file /etc/apt/sources.list:

gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

place the following on a new line at the bottom:

deb-src http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hardy main restricted universe multiverse

Save it and exit.

2) Update so that it notices the new line:

sudo aptitude update

3) Install the needed programs for compiling metacity:

sudo aptitude install build-essential cdbs devscripts dh-make fakeroot
sudo apt-get build-dep metacity

4) Get the source package:

mkdir -p ~/packages/metacity
cd ~/packages/metacity
apt-get source metacity
cd metacity-2.21.5

5) Add a new entry to the changelog indicating that this is being built on Gutsy:

dch -iDgutsy

The first section should look something like this:

metacity (1:2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1) gutsy; urgency=low

* Adopted for Gutsy

-- Firstname Lastname <youremail@yourhost.com> Sun, 23 Dec 2007 11:52:10 -0600

Press Ctrl-X to save and exit the file.

6) Build and install the new metacity:

dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot -us -uc
sudo dpkg -i ../metacity_2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1_i386.deb ../metacity-common_2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1_all.deb ../libmetacity0_2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1_i386.deb

7) You're still not done! Run the following to turn on the compositor:

gconftool-2 -s '/apps/metacity/general/compositing_manager' --type bool true

You may need to log out and in for the changes to take effect.

8) Now re-open the file /etc/apt/sources.list:

gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

and remove the following line:

deb-src http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hardy main restricted universe multiverse

Save it and exit.

9) Update again:

sudo aptitude update

Enjoy your new metacity!

Method 2: Installing debs

The much faster method. Download and install 3 files, enable composting and you're done.

1) Download the following files:

metacity_2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1_i386.deb (http://www.sendspace.com/file/m604e5)
libmetacity0_2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1_i386.deb (http://www.sendspace.com/file/e7iee6)
metacity-common_2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1_all.deb (http://www.sendspace.com/file/y0wbm9)

2) Install them:

sudo dpkg -i metacity_2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1_i386.deb metacity-common_2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1_all.deb libmetacity0_2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1_i386.deb

libmetacity-dev is optional, but I've uploaded it just in case:

libmetacity-dev_2.21.5-0ubuntu1~gutsy1_i386.deb (http://www.sendspace.com/file/ytnqvs)

3) Remember to run the following to enable the compositor!

gconftool-2 -s '/apps/metacity/general/compositing_manager' --type bool true

You may need to log out and in for the changes to take effect. Enjoy!


Is there a way I can switch between the Ubuntu default and MetaCity?

[picpak]

Is there a way I can switch between the Ubuntu default and MetaCity?

Well, if you turn off compositing you have a near-Ubuntu default, but I don't think you can switch between this version and the Ubuntu default without reinstalling the packages. Sorry.

[ShodanjoDM]

Thank you very much. It's working just fine :)

Followed the instruction and now I have drop shadows without having to use Compiz :D

Oh btw, the latest metacity version when I compiled this evening is 2.21.21

[yizuman]

Getting this error now from number 6...

cannot access archive: No such file or directory
Errors were encountered while processing:
../metacity_2.21.21-0ubuntu2~gutsy1_i386.deb
../metacity-common_2.21.21-0ubuntu2~gutsy1_all.deb
../libmetacity0_2.21.21-0ubuntu2~gutsy1_i386.deb
anonymous@anonymous:~/packages/metacity/metacity-2.21.21$


Now what?

[yizuman]

bump! sorry! Anyone help?

[yizuman]

None of the deb files exists. They're gone. The newest version is 2.23.2 and there isn't any deb file installer for that version available.

http://ftp.gnome.org/pub/gnome/sources/metacity/2.23/

help?

I was on number 6 and nowhere to go now...

[picpak]

Getting this error now from number 6...



Now what?

Sorry, I edited the guide yesterday to work with metacity 2.21.21 and I may have made a typo. Try running:

sudo dpkg -i ../libmetacity0*.deb ../metacity*.deb

instead.

[ShodanjoDM]

Hmm, I wonder what's changed in the 2.23.2 version...

So far I can only find this:

http://www.linuxcompatible.org/metacity_2.23.2_released_s107699.html

metacity 2.23.2 has been released

"Metacity is a simple window manager that integrates nicely with GNOME 2.

* What's changed ?
=================

Almost nothing, except that a few debug statements were removed.

EDIT:
Now this is what i call funny: http://blogs.gnome.org/metacity/2008/03/07/2232-the-rather-embarrassing-release/

I guess there's no need to download and recompile then :lolflag:

[yizuman]

Thanks it worked, but I noticed a change in the version when I typed in the command,,,

apt-get source metacity

The version it gave me was 2.22.2 (I think, I know it isn't .21 anymore.

[yizuman]

Ok, I got a stupid question, after installing all this, (I'm a newb btw) and I don't see "Metacity" anywhere in "system", so my question is, is Metacity the same as "appearance" in "system" "preferences"?

Color me a confused newb.

(I feel like an idiot, so sorry for asking)

[ShodanjoDM]

It's in the System>>Appearance>>Customize>>Window Border

[picpak]

I've edited the guide to work with any current and upcoming metacity versions.

Compiling metacity 2.22 right now... :)

[captive]

Hi!
I read today about metacity compositing capabilities; I was just wondering how it compares to compiz. Which kind of effects can it handle? How do you configure it? Is it as smooth as compiz, on the same hardware?
Thanks in advance!

[ShodanjoDM]

Hi!
I read today about metacity compositing capabilities; I was just wondering how it compares to compiz. Which kind of effects can it handle? How do you configure it? Is it as smooth as compiz, on the same hardware?
Thanks in advance!

It just gives a basic (unconfigurable) drop shadows under menus and open windows. But since it means using metacity as your composite manager, you can also run screenlets without rendering problem.

Personally I prefer this basic capabilities over compiz. And it takes less hardware resources too.

[frodon]

According to gnome release notes it has also transparency capabilities and live preview in Alt+Tab swicher.

BTW, anyone can post a screenshot showing the shadow and live preview just for the pleasure ?

I myself also prefer metacity over compiz as it is rock solid and lighter.

[captive]

I myself also prefer metacity over compiz as it is rock solid and lighter.

And maybe it won't take 2 weeks to login to your desktop as compiz does...:(

[ShodanjoDM]

According to gnome release notes it has also transparency capabilities and live preview in Alt+Tab swicher.

BTW, anyone can post a screenshot showing the shadow and live preview just for the pleasure ?

I myself also prefer metacity over compiz as it is rock solid and lighter.

Ah, how can no one remember to put a screenshot? It's a must! :D
See the attachments below :guitar:

Gimp'd, resized from 1280x960 to 1024x768 & sharpened a little.

Anyway, if you want to enable compiz, you must turn off the metacity drop shadow in the gconf-editor first. Otherwise, the compiz won't run.

[skrribble]

i can't get screenlets to run just using the new metacity with the compositing enabled... i know the compositing is working because AWN works, but screenlets wont show up... any suggestions??

[xfile087]

Ah, how can no one remember to put a screenshot? It's a must! :D
See the attachments below :guitar:

Gimp'd, resized from 1280x960 to 1024x768 & sharpened a little.

Anyway, if you want to enable compiz, you must turn off the metacity drop shadow in the gconf-editor first. Otherwise, the compiz won't run.

May I ask what theme your running? I know I've seen it before but I can't quite remember the name - it looks pretty slick!

[Nythain]

According to gnome release notes it has also transparency capabilities and live preview in Alt+Tab swicher.
that is exactly what i was hoping for... only reason i even consider running compiz is the true transparency on things like gnome-terminal... and the live previews it provides... definately gonna have to look into the new metacity

[ShodanjoDM]

May I ask what theme your running? I know I've seen it before but I can't quite remember the name - it looks pretty slick!

Because it is Slickness (http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/SlicknesS?content=71993). :D

[ShodanjoDM]

i can't get screenlets to run just using the new metacity with the compositing enabled... i know the compositing is working because AWN works, but screenlets wont show up... any suggestions??

Hmm... try to restart all running screenlets perhaps? Do you have the newest version?

[skrribble]

Hmm... try to restart all running screenlets perhaps? Do you have the newest version?I have the newest version, and I've restarted, reinstalled (both numerous times), and done everything else I can think of. I've basically given up for now and just decided to try it again when I get Hardy installed. It'll only be a couple of weeks anyway.

[JorgeMIlla08]

What's new in Metacity 2.21.5 is a built-in compositing manager, meaning that you don't have to run xcompmgr or similar programs alongside it. If you use Hardy, you've already got it and can skip to step 7 to turn it on. For Gutsy, however, you can either

a) go to the bottom of this post and install my .debs or
b) compile it yourself.

You may need to log out and in for the changes to take effect. Enjoy!

The deb files are gone is there an easier way to install? throug synaptic maybe?...