compiz doesn't work with lxde

English Applications
1

I am trying to get compiz to work but i fail and i always miss the bars
around the windows.
This is for LXDE / 11.4 x64
I think i had everything installed. But if i change in the
systemsettings of lxde it just doesn’t work.
Is there anything i did not see?
Well, maybe someone had the same problem and can share how i can do
that. Thanks.

Here some info.

#  | Alias                            | Name
| Enabled | Refresh | Type
---+----------------------------------+------------------------------------+---------+---------+-------
1  | Packman Repository               | Packman Repository
| Yes     | Yes     | rpm-md
2  | Updates-for-openSUSE-11.4-11.4-0 | Updates for openSUSE 11.4 11.4-0
| Yes     | Yes     | rpm-md
3  | compiz                           | compiz
| Yes     | Yes     | rpm-md
4  | graphics                         | graphics
| Yes     | Yes     | rpm-md
5  | libdvdcss                        | DVD Repository
| Yes     | No      | rpm-md
6  | mozilla                          | mozilla
| Yes     | Yes     | rpm-md
7  | nVidia Graphics Drivers          | nVidia Graphics Drivers
| Yes     | Yes     | rpm-md
8  | openSUSE-11.4-11.4-0             | openSUSE-11.4-11.4-0
| Yes     | No      | yast2
9  | openSUSE:11.4:Contrib            | openSUSE:11.4:Contrib
| Yes     | Yes     | rpm-md
10 | packman                          | Packman repository
(openSUSE_11.4) | Yes     | No      | rpm-md
11 | repo-debug                       | openSUSE-11.4-Debug
| No      | Yes     | NONE
12 | repo-debug-update                | openSUSE-11.4-Update-Debug
| No      | Yes     | NONE
13 | repo-non-oss                     | openSUSE-11.4-Non-Oss
| Yes     | Yes     | yast2
14 | repo-oss                         | openSUSE-11.4-Oss
| Yes     | Yes     | yast2
15 | repo-source                      | openSUSE-11.4-Source
| No      | Yes     | NONE
16 | subpixel                         | subpixel
| Yes     | Yes     | rpm-md



linux-26uw:/home/joerg # rpm -qa compiz*
compiz-branding-openSUSE-0.9.2.1-5.5.x86_64
compiz-manager-0.6.0-18.1.noarch
compiz-plugins-extra-0.9.5-37.1.x86_64
compizconfig-settings-manager-0.9.5-38.1.noarch
compiz-0.9.2.1-5.5.x86_64
compiz-plugins-main-0.9.2.1-8.5.x86_64

–
Euer Komputerfriek Joerg
using LXDE on 11.4 x64 and happy with a cup of really hot coffee…

2

I don’t know if this is of any help but here is a thread about compiz and Xfce:
Compiz and Xfce on OpenSuSE 11.4
Maybe, just maybe, it is the same story.

3

On 08/02/2011 03:16 AM, Lord Emsworth wrote:
>
> I don’t know if this is of any help but here is a thread about compiz
> and -Xfce-:
> ‘Compiz and Xfce on OpenSuSE 11.4’ (http://tinyurl.com/4y5wqna)
> Maybe, just maybe, it is the same story.
>
>

I will try that out and report back. Thanks.

–
Euer Komputerfriek Joerg
using LXDE on 11.4 x64 and happy with a cup of really hot coffee…

4

On 08/02/2011 01:44 PM, JoergJaeger wrote:
> On 08/02/2011 03:16 AM, Lord Emsworth wrote:
>>
>> I don’t know if this is of any help but here is a thread about compiz
>> and -Xfce-:
>> ‘Compiz and Xfce on OpenSuSE 11.4’ (http://tinyurl.com/4y5wqna)
>> Maybe, just maybe, it is the same story.
>>
>>
>
> I will try that out and report back. Thanks.
>

Doesn’t work.
What else can be missing? No one using compiz? Is it dead?

I checked in the console what comes out.
If i have a little more time to play around, maybe i figure it out.


^Cjoerg@linux-26uw:~> compiz-manager
Checking for Xgl: not present.
xset q doesn't reveal the location of the log file. Using fallback
/var/log/Xorg.0.log
No whitelisted driver found
SKIP_CHECKS is yes, so continuing despite problems.
Checking for software rasterizer: not present.
Checking for texture_from_pixmap: present.
Checking for non power of two support: present.
Checking for Composite extension: present.
Comparing resolution (1440x900) to maximum 3D texture size (8192): Passed.
Checking for nVidia: present.
Checking for FBConfig: present.
Checking for Xgl: not present.
/usr/bin/compiz (core) - Warn: Unknown option '--ignore-desktop-hints'

/usr/bin/compiz (core) - Warn: Unknown option '--loose-binding'

Backend     : ini
Integration : true
Profile     : default
Adding plugins
Initializing core options...done
/usr/bin/compiz (core) - Warn: Value type is not yet set
Initializing resize options...done
Initializing move options...done
Initializing decor options...done
Initializing opengl options...done
Initializing composite options...done
Initializing commands options...done
Setting Update "command0"

–
Euer Komputerfriek Joerg
using LXDE on 11.4 x64 and happy with a cup of really hot coffee…

5

Compiz runs with Xfce wonderfully after few tweaks, im running version 0.9.5 now. Even better than it did on Gnome (I haven’t encounter invisible windows yet).

But Xfce is very tightly connected with GNOME desktop (at least in suse). On LXDE things may be more difficult.

First of all, make sure Metacity works fine. Compiz, or at least gtk-window-decorator, uses gconf to store its configuration in the same place (apps/metacity).

try “metacity --replace” and see if it works (at least one metacity theme must be installed too, and selected in gconf : apps/metacity, you will need Gnome Configuration Tool!).

if metacity runs fine, did you set “gtk-window-decorator --replace” in Compiz Decoration plugin options? Or tried to run it manually along with “compiz-manager” (can be in other terminal window).

the problem is with decorator, there used to be separate Emerald decorator for Compiz, now there is jus gtk-window-decorator that uses Metacity themes or kde-window-decorator that uses KWin themes.
I believe LXDE doesn’t install any of them, as it uses OpenBox.

6

(I cannot edit any longer)

Alternatively you can try to go “KDE way” and get kde-window-decorator working.
But since I don’t use KDE I won’t be able to help with that way.

Either way will need some gnome or kde dependiences.
It should not affect your desktop performance, though, as neither KWin nor Metacity is running when Compiz is running. You just need their themes and configuration files.

7
  • First start ccsm
    and enable the plugins Window Decoration, Move Window and Resize Window
  • Then start lxcc
    , click on Session Settings -> Advanced Options and replace openbox-lxde with
compiz ccp --indirect-rendering
  • Log out/relog in
  • You can later enable other plugins in ccsm
    if you wish.

Or use fusion-icon available in X11:Compiz repo (Index of /repositories/X11:/Compiz/openSUSE_11.4) to switch the window manager.

You’ll need gtk-window-decorator from package compiz-gnome.

IMO by using compiz instead of openbox with lxde, you’re pretty much losing the benefit of a lightweight desktop. If all you need is compositing, you should rather use a simple composite manager such as **xcompmgr ** (under openSUSE it is included in the xorg package).

8

Compiz isn’t heavyweight. On my machine it’s MUCH faster than compositing xfwm4 (not to mention metacity or stacking xfwm4). Main memory usage is almost the same.
That said, xcompmgr should be lighter.

9

On 08/03/2011 02:06 AM, sobrus wrote:
>
> Compiz runs with Xfce just fine after few tweaks, im running version
> 0.9.5 now.
>
> But Xfce is very tightly connected with GNOME desktop (at least in
> suse). On LXDE things may be more difficult.
>
> First of all, make sure Metacity works fine. Compiz, or at least
> gtk-window-decorator, uses gconf to store its configuration.
>
> try “metacity --replace” and see if it works (at least one metacity
> theme must be installed too!).
>
> if metacity runs fine, did you set “gtk-window-decorator --replace” in
> Compiz Decoration plugin options? Or tried to run it along with
> “compiz-manager” (can be in other terminal window).
>
>

I actually did. I enabled also some features that you need to have on
like move window, resize, opengl and there like.
Have to check metacity. That wasn’t on my list.
I have a Knobbix CD here where it is installed and i will check on the
cd how they have it running.

–
Euer Komputerfriek Joerg
using LXDE on 11.4 x64 and happy with a cup of really hot coffee…

10

metacity is not involved here. If you still miss something, it won’t be metacity.

11

You need to install metacity to get compiz-gnome and gtk-window-decorator installed.
Also, gtk-window-decorator is using metacity configuration files, so unless you configure metacity properly it won’t work.
Of course after everything is configured you don’t need metacity anymore.
But it’s very easy to check if metacity runs fine. If something is messed with metacity configuration, compiz won’t run either.

Configuring Metacity (and gtk-window-decorator) without gnome is a bit tricky.
You need “GNOME System Configuration” istalled.
All settings are in apps/metacity/general. The most important is of course “theme”. Enter theme directory name there (~/.themes/themename).
You can also change titlebar font and buttons there.

Everything you change there will apply to both compiz and metacity (I’ve tested it and configured it this way, so I’m 100% sure).
Xfwm4 settings don’t apply to compiz at all, so I assume OpenBox settings and themes won’t help either ;).

12

So what’s the purpose of having a package management system? This is not Linux from scratch.
The assumption that “compiz-gnome needs gnome ; gnome needs metacity ; therefore compiz-gnome needs metacity” is a kind of syllogism equivalent to “Cats are intelligent ; Socrates is intelligent ; therefore Socrates is a cat”. But - unlike philosophers, we can query a database when we wonder who’s needing what.

zypper info --requires compiz-gnome
zypper info --requires compiz

Btw gtk-window-decorator is included in compiz-gnome.

rpm -qf /usr/bin/gtk-window-decorator

No. It just uses (any) metacity theme (that you can install one way or the other or even write yourself).

May I suggest you test your hypothesis? The Metacity settings you’re talking about (/apps/metacity, etc) are saved in the user ~/.gconf directory. Please remove this entire directory, including all Gnome and Metacity settings (of a test user of course) and log in in LXDE/compiz! Now your user has 0 metacity configuration. Does it matter to compiz … or not?

All you need is:

gtk-window-decorator --metacity-theme Clearlooks --replace &
gtk-window-decorator --metacity-theme Gilouche --replace &
etc

I can be 100% sure that I’ve seen an elephant in my bathroom … But It doesn’t mean that I’m going to come to any conclusion because of it.

13

Well it seems like you don’t really understand what you are reading, and imagine a lot instead.

I didn’t make ANY assumption, just telling the facts I’ve checked on my machine. Compiz-gnome doesn’t need gnome, but zypper will install metacity (and zenity) along with it.
Or mabye just your OpenSuSE is different from mine? Because I cannot uninstall metacity without uninstalling compiz-gnome package too (so Socrates is a cat indeed :O).
Of course you can break the dependency, but “what’s the purpose of having a package management system” then?

The fact you can ommit metacity configuration and use command line, doesn’t mean gtk-windows-decorator doesn’t use metacity configuration in gconf.
It just tells us that decorator uses gconf OR command line.
That means your solution is just as good as mine is (as soon as you show how to change decoration buttons layout or font using command line).

Maybe compiz is using different configuration backends, depending on what desktop have you installed, and can use OpenBox configuration (or even other).
I don’t know, I don’t use all desktops on my machine. If you do, please tell us instead of being so rude. If you can do something better, it doesn’t mean you have to be rude either.

14

Buttons shape and size are defined in the theme.
The command line to change fonts (here titlebar’s) would be:

gconftool-2 --direct --config-source xml:readwrite:$HOME/.gconf --type string --set /apps/metacity/general/titlebar_font "Sans Bold 12"

Which gives you right - because it leads back to ~/.gconf/apps/metacity/… . :wink:

But it doesn’t mean that you have to configure metacity to get compiz running on LXDE. In fact you don’t (and deleting ~/.gonf just proves it). It is neither necessary nor sufficient (but will make it look better for sure).

  • The part in grey is only needed if the gconfd-2 daemon is not running (unlikely in X). But using gconf-editor would be easier, or gnome control center, as you mentioned before.

Doesn’t look like it.

I guess I did already. But I should add to the answered in post #7 that the fusion-icon method is easier (since I had to switch from compiz to openbox and back to compiz to get the title bars displayed).

15

Yes, your method seems OK.

What I meant about button layout is not how they look, but where they are (maybe I used wrong word, my english isn’t perfect).
I found my xfwm4/Metacity theme (Greybird) crashing compiz when I press menu button (far left), so I’ve hidden it (menu is accessible by pressing RMB on bar anyway).
There is a setting in apps/metacity, with value something like “menu:minimize,maximize,close” that defines button position. “:” stands for window title.

But (if you are using gconf to configure compiz) you can also use metacity to test how your theme looks and works without using compiz (which may or may not work due to other problem).
So, if metacity runs fine, the problem is not theme or theme configuration related, and decorator should work, as it can use the same configuration and theme.

That’s why I wanted JoergJaeger to test metacity first, although you don’t actually need it afterwards. Especially because I don’t know if there is any metacity theme available in LXDE by default.

16 
gconftool-2 --direct --config-source xml:readwrite:$HOME/.gconf  --type=string  --set /apps/metacity/general/button_layout "menu:minimize,maximize,close"

This is one of the first things I do on Ubuntu (Maverick), because they decided to place the buttons on the left and I found that rather confusing (although it doesn’t bother me on the Mac).

You can use the command line gconftool-2 or the GUI gconf-editor (not installed by default) and the changes will happen immediately since gconf is running as a daemon. For example if you type the following in a terminal window while using metacity, the buttons of that window as well as of any other will be moved to the titlebar’s left:

gconftool-2  --type=string  --set /apps/metacity/general/button_layout "close,maximize,minimize:menu"

If you set a theme with gnome-appearance-properties ( “Appearance” in Gnome Control Center), it will change both, metacity and GTK2 themes, meaning it will modify the look and feel of all GTK2 applications under Gnome (only!). You could do it similarly on the command line:

gconftool-2  --type=string  --set /apps/metacity/theme "Crux"
gconftool-2  --type=string  --set /desktop/gnome/interface/theme "Crux"

Of course you could also choose 2 different themes, which comes to the same as customizing the theme in Control Center (like selecting a different theme for the Window Border).

However setting the GTK theme in Gnome will apply only to GTK2 applications in Gnome. To change the theme in Xfce, you’ll use xfce4-settings-manager and click on Appearance or directly xfce4-appearance-settings. But you knew that already. It sets the value of the property “ThemeName” in the file ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xsettings.xml. And thus, you could also edit this file. The command line equivalent is:

xfconf-query -c xsettings -p /Net/ThemeName -t string -s "Crux"

On LXDE, you’ll use lxapperance to change the colors but it won’t change the appearance (titlebar, etc) of windows because LXDE is not a window manager. So you have to use obconf, the Openbox Configuration Manager as well - provided you’re using openbox as your wm. The former writes ~/.config/lxsession/LXDE/desktop.conf, the latter ~/.config/openbox/rc.xml.

To set a GTK theme for all GTK2 applications under all desktops, you’ll just include it in ~/.gtkrc-2.0 (~/.gtkrc-2.0-kde4 for KDE):

include "/usr/share/themes/Crux/gtk-2.0/gtkrc

All right, it’s way out of topic here. And I don’t think that the theme has ever been the problem.
Back to the original topic, I think fusion-icon would be the easiest way to start compiz by switching the window manager.

17

On 08/04/2011 10:36 PM, sobrus wrote:
>
> Yes, your method seems OK.
>
> What I meant about button layout is not how they look, but whey they
> are (maybe I used wrong word, my english isn’t perfect).
> I found my xfwm4/Metacity theme (Greybird) crashing compiz when I press
> menu button (far left), so I’ve hidden it (menu is accessible by
> pressing RMB on bar anyway).
> There is a setting in apps/metacity, with value something like
> “menu:minimize,maximize,close” that defines button position. “:” stands
> for window title.
>
> But (if you are using gconf to configure compiz) you can also use
> metacity to test how your theme looks and works without using compiz
> (which may or may not work due to other problem).
> So, if metacity runs fine, the problem is not with theme or theme
> configuration related, and decorator should work, as it can use the same
> configuration and theme.
>
> That’s why I wanted JoergJaeger to test metacity first, although you
> don’t actually need it…
>
>

Hey, here i am again.
Well, i did all that, but i can say that Compiz still doesn’t work. But
was does work is metacity.
I think i will start from scratch again and reinstall everything needed.
There are two repos for compiz. Is there any difference?

–
Euer Komputerfriek Joerg
using LXDE on 11.4 x64 and happy with a cup of really hot coffee…

18

Simple question: did you install fusion-icon?


su -l
zypper in fusion-icon
19

On 08/05/2011 01:26 PM, please try again wrote:
>
> Simple question: did you install fusion-icon?
>
> Code:
> --------------------
>
> su -l
> zypper in fusion-icon
> --------------------
>
>

Yes, i did…
I think i made a print out in my first message from what is installed.
If it doesn’t work, well thats ok. Its not a priority really.
Compiz is somehow not my friend. Even with Ubuntu i encountered problems.

–
Euer Komputerfriek Joerg
using LXDE on 11.4 x64 and happy with a cup of really hot coffee…

20

It’s not my friend either. I happened to have to configure it lately and I started it under LXDE to answer your question (it worked), but I would never use it myself.
Btw I don’t see fusion-icon in your list. It doesn’t get installed with compiz. It has to be installed separately. When you run it, it puts an icon in the taskbar from where you can replace the window manager.