Use compiz on startup, compiz --replace bad?

Question

I want to run compiz on startup instead of the default window manager in the Gnome Classic Gnome Shell Fallback. My problem is that I can't find the "correct" way to do this. I have tried a bunch of stuff, e.g.

http://www.jejik.com/articles/2008/10/how_to_properly_start_compiz_in_gnome/

which doesn't work. The only way that have worked for me is using compiz --replace at startup but this slows down the startup, right? I mean, if I use the default window manager and i also have the compiz --replace at startup, wont it cause a slower startup when both the default window manager and compiz are launched (even though one is terminated)?

I also have the windowmanager set to compiz in the

"desktop->gnome->session->required_components"

in gconf-editor and it still doesn't work.

Any idea how I can disable the default window manager and use Compiz instead?

BTW: Im using ubuntu 11.10

Solution

Let me start off with telling that compiz is the default for Gnome-Classic in Ubuntu 12.04. So you might just want to upgrade. The Gnome-Classic session received lots of love in Ubuntu 12.04 and really works like the good old Ubuntu desktop.

On session configuration: The sessions are configured in /usr/share/xsessions where gnome.desktop is the default session. The .desktop session files usually run something like gnome-session --session=ubuntu or gnome-session --session=gnome-classic.

These refer to files located in /usr/share/gnome-session/sessions where you can tell the specific session which window-manager to use.

Comments

[Uri Herrera]

Compiz uses Metacity under the Ubuntu session, Mutter uses Metacity under the Gnome Session (Gnome Shell). if you disable Metacity you will not have Window borders.

[richie]

@UriHerrera If I enter compiz in a terminal, without the replace flag I get this message: (compiz:3845): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to parse /home/euhiemf/.config/gtk-3.0/settings.ini: Key file does not start with a group compiz (core) - Error: Screen 0 on display ":0" already has a window manager; try using the --replace option to replace the current window manager. so which window manager is ubuntu using by default?

[Uri Herrera]

In the Ubuntu Session, Compiz is already running, since Unity is a Compiz plug in. You don't have to add anything.

[richie]

@UriHerrera ok, when I log in I use the GNOME classic thing (don't know what you call them, sessions?) so Unity is disabled, or its not a startup app

[Uri Herrera]

Gnome Classic (Gnome Shell Fallback) doesn't use Compiz it Uses Mutter, it's own compositing engine.

[Uri Herrera]

No. askubuntu.com/questions/47474/how-to-enable-compiz-for-gnome‌​3