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

[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!
See the attachments below

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!
See the attachments below

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!