How to install Compiz in MATE in Linux Mint 13

It bugged my quite a lot that i could not blur the background in my transparent terminal in Linux Mint 13 Mate. Not only that, i missed many of the other Compiz features, like zoom, grid and other nice things. So i decided i had to install compiz :)

I googled around and found a couple of good guides, so i thought "Hey, there can always be one more guide!". So here we go:


TL;DR: the short version

$ sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
$ compiz --replace
(Keep the terminal open until you are done. You will want Compiz to start automatically,  Control Center -> Startup Applications, and add a new post "Compiz" with the command "compiz --replace", without the "".

$ mateconf-editor
# Go to /desktop/mate/session/required_components/windowmanager and
replace "marco" with "compiz".

# Download and import this compiz profile in CompizConfig Settings Manager - Preferences - Profile & Backend - Import: http://pastebin.com/7d5h5vyq

$ sudo apt-get install gconf-editor
$ gconf-editor
# Enter themes name in /apps/metacity/general/theme (I settled for Mint-X)
# List of available themes in /usr/share/themes/ (no way to preview? :/ )

Log out and then back in again, and everything should be finished.

From this guide to start using compiz: http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/919

Copy of the content:

There is some things you have to do to get Compiz work.

Install the packet "compizconfig-settings-manager".

 In a terminal window write "compiz --replace"     (When you want
Compiz start automatic you can open Control Center -> Startup
Applications, and add a new post "Compiz" keeping the same command
"compiz --replace".

The CPU usage now raises a lot.  That is because there is two
competing window-managers running.
To stop that high CPU usage in MATE when running Compiz:

In a terminal type “mateconf-editor”

When the editor opens:
Go to /desktop/mate/session/required_components/windowmanager and
replace "marco" with "compiz".
Not much happens now,

Thats because nothing is checked in "Compiz Configuration Settings Manager".

Open the Compiz Configuration Settings Manager.

Check what compiz-functions you want to activate.

One you sure need, the "Window Decoration".

Then you can choose "Move Window" and things you find good for you.

I took a copy of my compiz config-file and put it on pastebin: http://pastebin.com/7d5h5vyq

Save the config as a file and import it in Compiz Configuration Settings Manager (Preferences - Profile & Backend - Import)


Now, the window decorations will look like crap (imho), so that has to change.

To change window decoration theme, install gconf-editor and follow the
2nd answer in this thread:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/98243/how-to-customise-window-decoration-whilst-using-compiz-on-xubuntu

installing gnome-tweak-tool would pull almost the entire Gnome as
dependencies. I had the same problem today and I didn't want to
install such a lot of unneeded stuff only to change one little setting
and spent some time researching how these things are related and it
seems it is indeed possible with gconf-editor (or gconftool-2) alone.

The key in gconf-editor is /apps/metacity/general/theme.

Type the name of an existing metacity theme into the text field (such
as greybird and note that greybird is starting with a LOWERcase letter
while most other themes are not!), hit enter and it should immediately
change.

You can also change the arrangement of window buttons in
/apps/metacity/general/button_layout (for example to move the window
buttons to the right side where they traditionally belong use this:
menu:minimize,maximize,close). Most other options in this section
describe window behavior rather than style and don't have any effect
on compiz, they would only be used by metacity.

I.e.  install gconf-editor and run it, and type the name of the theme you want in /apps/metacity/general/theme

I used Mint-X and was happy with it. The list of available themes:
$ ls -l /usr/share/themes/ 

(no way to preview? :/ )



And that should do it. I now have Linux Mint 13 Mate with Compiz :)