Beryl (window manager), a compositing window manager, running on Fedora Core 6

A compositing window manager is a component of a computer's graphical user interface that draws windows and/or their borders. It also controls how they are displayed and interact with each other, and the rest of the desktop environment. The main difference between compositing window manager and a standard window manager is that instead of outputting to a common screen, programs each output first to a separate and independent buffer, or temporary location inside the computer, when they can be manipulated before they are shown. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 698 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 698 KB) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Beryl is a compositing window manager for the X Window System. ... Fedora Core is an RPM-based Linux distribution, developed by the community-supported Fedora Project and sponsored by Red Hat. ... GUI redirects here. ... A window manager is computer software that controls the placement and appearance of windows within a windowing system in a graphical user interface; they are typically associated with X Window (see X window manager), but alternative shells for Microsoft Windows have also emerged. ...

The output from these separate buffers is then processed and combined by the window manager, or composited onto a common desktop. The result is that the programs now behave as independent 2D or 3D objects. Compositing allows for advanced visual effects, such as transparency, fading, scaling, duplicating, bending & contorting, shuffling, and redirecting such things as application windows, system panels, and the like. The addition of a true third dimension can mean that windows can literally exist closer and farther from you, or can be drawn over geometric shapes, making possible realistic shadows beneath windows, the appearance of distance and depth, and complex animation windows, to name just a few possible features. Some are also capable of supporting scalable icons, which do not become grainy when zooming.

2D Compositing Window Managers

Metacity window manager, part of GNOME.

Most 3D window managers perform mostly 2D compositing, as windows are essentially 2D objects. Mac OS X was one of the first operating systems to include 2D compositing. Under Linux, Metacity 2.7.0, was the first compositing window manager. It was released the in February 2004 included compositing functionality, but the first widely-publicized compositing window manager was Xfwm, which is better-known today as xfce or 'xfce4', and was released in January 2005. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Metacity is the default window manager for the GNOME desktop environment. ... This article is about the mythical creature. ... Mac OS X (pronounced ) is a line of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. ... This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. ... Metacity is the default window manager for the GNOME desktop environment. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Xfce screenshots featuring the use of Xfwm In Unix computing, Xfwm is a window manager for the X Window System. ... Xfce ([1]) is a free software desktop environment for Unix and other Unix-like platforms, such as Linux, Solaris and BSD. Its configuration is entirely mouse-driven and the configuration files are hidden from the casual user. ...

In Metacity windows are drawn separately, and then added to the desktop, so even hidden parts of windows have been actively rendered. While still possessing many of the properties of their 3D counterparts, the output from 2D compositing window managers has no depth, meaning that windows still exist in a plane, and shadows, if supported, will be less realistic. Metacity is the default window manager for the GNOME desktop environment. ...

Also, 2D compositing doesn't usually use hardware acceleration, as is the case with Metacity. This means that things like transparency may cause significant slowdown if used extensively. In computing, hardware acceleration is the use of hardware to perform some function faster than is possible in software running on the normal (general purpose) CPU. Examples of hardware acceleration include blitting acceleration functionality in graphics processing units (GPUs) and instructions for complex operations in CPUs. ... Metacity is the default window manager for the GNOME desktop environment. ...

While not noticeably different to the naked eye, 2D compositing creates a more realistic model of the windowing system then traditional re-parenting window managers, which allows for things like window translucency and eliminates the need for chroma keying or green screening in the X video extension. In the X Window System, every window has a parent window. ... The X video extension, often abbreviated as XVideo or Xv, is a video output mechanism for the X Window System. ...

3D Compositing Window Managers

Compiz is a compositing window manager designed for the X Window System

Very recently several 3D accelerated compositing window managers have become mainstream, including Compiz, Compiz Fusion, and Desktop Window Manager. However the Macintosh has been using compositing windowing functions since at least OS X 10.2 which shipped with the Quartz Compositor. Image File history File links XglCompizCube. ... Image File history File links XglCompizCube. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Compiz fusion. ... “X11” redirects here. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Compiz fusion. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Desktop Window Manager (DWM) is currently the name for the new windowing system that will be available in all versions of Windows Vista, except Starter Edition, to enable the new Aero user interface. ... For other uses, see Macintosh (disambiguation) and Mac. ... Quartz Compositor is the window server in Mac OS X. It is responsible for presenting and maintaining rasterized, rendered graphics from the rest of the Core Graphics framework and other renderers in the Quartz technologies family. ...

OpenGL or DirectX may be used in some compositing window managers to offload the rendering work to the video card. The first published implementation using this technique was the Luminocity prototype. As of 2008, some window managers using OpenGL include Compiz, Beryl, and the Mac OS X window manager, while presently Desktop window manager uses DirectX 9. OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a standard specification defining a cross-language cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. ... Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. ... A video card, also referred to as a graphics accelerator card, display adapter, graphics card, and numerous other terms, is an item of personal computer hardware whose function is to generate and output images to a display. ... Luminocity is a window manager for the X Window System. ... OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a standard specification defining a cross-language cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Compiz fusion. ... Three varieties of beryl: Morganite, Aquamarine, and Heliodor The mineral beryl is a beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate with the chemical formula Be3Al2(SiO3)6. ... Mac OS X (pronounced ) is a line of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. ... A window manager is computer software that controls the placement and appearance of windows within a windowing system in a graphical user interface; they are typically associated with X Window (see X window manager), but alternative shells for Microsoft Windows have also emerged. ... Desktop Window Manager (DWM) is currently the name for the new windowing system that will be available in all versions of Windows Vista, except Starter Edition, to enable the new Aero user interface. ... Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. ...

Since some of OpenGL is still not supported in hardware, performance of OpenGL-based compositing should continue to improve as 3D cards improve. The popularity of stream processors in modern graphics cards opens up new possibilities for hardware acceleration. (See CUDA) OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a standard specification defining a cross-language cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. ... OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a standard specification defining a cross-language cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Linux

Under Linux/UNIX, despite the presence of compositing support in X11, the ability to do full 3D accelerated compositing relies on several architectural changes in the implementation to X11. These changes allow parts the graphical environment to be run directly on the graphics card. Originally, a number of alternate X11 implementations designed around OpenGL began to appear, including Xgl, which uses OpenGL to provide a fully 3D environment for window managers. Xgl can be easily installed on Linux distributions such as Ubuntu with a couple of mouse clicks, and may use varying levels of hardware acceleration. The flexibility of Xgl and its strict use of indirect rendering make it more likely to work on cards with limited OpenGL support. In computing, the X Window System (commonly X11 or X) is a windowing system for bitmap displays. ... In computing, the X Window System (commonly X11 or X) is a windowing system for bitmap displays. ... OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a standard specification defining a cross-language cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. ... Cube view on a hardware accelerated Xgl server Xgl is an X server architecture designed to take advantage of modern graphics cards via their OpenGL drivers, layered on top of OpenGL via glitz. ... Cube view on a hardware accelerated Xgl server Xgl is an X server architecture designed to take advantage of modern graphics cards via their OpenGL drivers, layered on top of OpenGL via glitz. ... Cube view on a hardware accelerated Xgl server Xgl is an X server architecture designed to take advantage of modern graphics cards via their OpenGL drivers, layered on top of OpenGL via glitz. ...

Later, AIGLX would eliminate the need to use Xgl, and allow window managers to do 3D accelerated compositing on a standard X server. Currently NVidia, Intel, and some ATI cards support AIGLX. ATI's support for AIGLX is currently limited to those cards which use their open source drivers. Compiz running on Fedora Core 6 with AIGLX. Accelerated Indirect GLX (AIGLX) is an open source project founded by Red Hat and the Fedora Linux community to allow accelerated indirect GLX rendering capabilities to X.Org and DRI drivers. ... Cube view on a hardware accelerated Xgl server Xgl is an X server architecture designed to take advantage of modern graphics cards via their OpenGL drivers, layered on top of OpenGL via glitz. ... The American multinational Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) (pronounced ) specializes in the manufacture of graphics-processor technologies for workstations, desktop computers, and handheld devices. ... Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC, SEHK: 4335), founded in 1968 as Integrated Electronics Corporation, is an American multinational corporation that is best known for designing and manufacturing microprocessors and specialized integrated circuits. ... ATI may stand for: ATI Technologies Inc. ... Compiz running on Fedora Core 6 with AIGLX. Accelerated Indirect GLX (AIGLX) is an open source project founded by Red Hat and the Fedora Linux community to allow accelerated indirect GLX rendering capabilities to X.Org and DRI drivers. ... ATI may stand for: ATI Technologies Inc. ... Compiz running on Fedora Core 6 with AIGLX. Accelerated Indirect GLX (AIGLX) is an open source project founded by Red Hat and the Fedora Linux community to allow accelerated indirect GLX rendering capabilities to X.Org and DRI drivers. ... Open source refers to projects that are open to the public and which draw on other projects that are freely available to the general public. ...

Compiz is probably the most well known on Linux for its cube effect, and has been included in Ubuntu Linux, enabled by default since version 7.10. It includes a wide array of impressive 2D and 3D effects and runs very well even on slightly older video hardware. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Compiz fusion. ... Ubuntu (IPA pronunciation (oo-BOON-too[5])) is a predominantly desktop-oriented Linux distribution, based on Debian GNU/Linux but with a stronger focus on usability, regular releases, and ease of installation at the expense of platform diversity. ...

Windows Vista and Compositing

Windows Flip 3D demonstrates multiple features of desktop window manager.

In 2007, the long awaited release of Windows Vista introduced compositing capability to the windows platform. Of the three most popular mainstream desktop operating systems, (Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux), Microsoft Windows was the last to demonstrate a working compositing window manager, Desktop window manager, which was released on January 30, 2007. Image File history File links Vista_Flip_3d. ... Image File history File links Vista_Flip_3d. ... Desktop Window Manager (DWM) is currently the name for the new windowing system that will be available in all versions of Windows Vista, except Starter Edition, to enable the new Aero user interface. ... Windows Vista is a line of graphical operating systems used on personal computers, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, Tablet PCs, and media centers. ... An operating system (OS) is the software that manages the sharing of the resources of a computer and provides programmers with an interface used to access those resources. ... Windows redirects here. ... Mac OS X (pronounced ) is a line of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. ... This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. ... Windows redirects here. ... Desktop Window Manager (DWM) is currently the name for the new windowing system that will be available in all versions of Windows Vista, except Starter Edition, to enable the new Aero user interface. ... is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

The delay was probably due to the fact that user interface in Windows 95 through Windows XP was so tightly integrated, and so strictly two dimensional that any expansion would have been impossible. Microsoft has long held a philosophy of keeping backward compatibility with older applications, and many older applications have somewhat unorthodox methods of dealing with graphics, and graphics hardware. Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. ... Windows XP is a line of operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on general-purpose computer systems, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers. ...

Another possible reason for the long delay in compositing coming to Windows probably stems for the tenuous balance it creates between responsiveness and appearance. Despite making good use of video hardware to speed up this interface, as little as five years ago most systems would not have met the requirements to run even a basic 3D compositor at an acceptable speed. To be certain of a few problems as possible, Microsoft was forced to wait for graphics cards to improve to a level where a certain minimal level of 3D support was widely available and relatively inexpensive. DirectX 9 cards have now become commonplace in even inexpensive personal computers. Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. ...

Windows Aero user experience relies heavily on hardware support from directX 9 capable graphics cards.

Also hindering development would have been the large number of Windows gamers who demand the maximum 3D performance possible from their video hardware. Only offering games exclusive access hardware accelerated functionality can make certain of this. Since compositing window managers force games to operate through another layer of indirection, it becomes one more thing that can go wrong. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 774 KB) Summary Windows Vista in Windows Aero mode, build 5728. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 774 KB) Summary Windows Vista in Windows Aero mode, build 5728. ... Windows Aero is the graphical user interface for Windows Vista, an operating system released by Microsoft in November 2006. ...

Many believe that Microsoft's choice to include compositing in Windows Vista was a direct result of competition from Mac OS X and Linux whose more flexible graphical architectures allowed them to migrate easily to new technologies like compositing window managers without the need for extensive redesign work. It makes sense that Microsoft would be scrambling to catch up with competition in some areas. However their product sales have never been driven by flashy graphics or technological superiority, but rather by providing only that technology which will not interfere with the smooth function of the product. In many ways that makes this move by Microsoft both risky and unorthodox, showing that they may be starting to feel the pressure of competition. Windows Vista is a line of graphical operating systems used on personal computers, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, Tablet PCs, and media centers. ... Mac OS X (pronounced ) is a line of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. ... This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. ...

List of compositing window managers

• Compiz
• KWin (since version 4)
• Metacity (since version 2.14)
• Xfwm (since version 4.2); AKA 'xfce4', currently at version 4.4.2.
• Desktop Window Manager and the Windows Aero user interface.

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Compiz fusion. ... In Unix computing, Kwin is a window manager for the X Window System. ... Metacity is the default window manager for the GNOME desktop environment. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Xfce screenshots featuring the use of Xfwm In Unix computing, Xfwm is a window manager for the X Window System. ... Desktop Window Manager (DWM) is currently the name for the new windowing system that will be available in all versions of Windows Vista, except Starter Edition, to enable the new Aero user interface. ... Windows Aero is the graphical user interface for Windows Vista, an operating system released by Microsoft in November 2006. ...

Operating Systems With Composite Window Managers, in Order of Development

• Mac OS - Mac OS X 10.2 and later.
• Linux - under XOrg/AIGLX or Xgl. Enabled by default on supporting hardware in Ubuntu 7.10.
• Windows Vista

This article relates to both the original Classic Mac OS as well as Mac OS X, Apples more recent operating system. ... Mac OS X (pronounced ) is a line of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. ... This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. ... The XOrg Foundation Open Source Public Implementation of X11 (the XOrg Server) is the official reference implementation of the X Window System. ... Compiz running on Fedora Core 6 with AIGLX. Accelerated Indirect GLX (AIGLX) is an open source project founded by Red Hat and the Fedora Linux community to allow accelerated indirect GLX rendering capabilities to X.Org and DRI drivers. ... Cube view on a hardware accelerated Xgl server Xgl is an X server architecture designed to take advantage of modern graphics cards via their OpenGL drivers, layered on top of OpenGL via glitz. ... Ubuntu (IPA pronunciation (oo-BOON-too[5])) is a predominantly desktop-oriented Linux distribution, based on Debian GNU/Linux but with a stronger focus on usability, regular releases, and ease of installation at the expense of platform diversity. ... Windows Vista is a line of graphical operating systems used on personal computers, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, Tablet PCs, and media centers. ...

Links: Compositing in Action

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Fbk52Mk1w - Compiz Demo
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC5uEe5OzNQ - Comparison to Windows Aero of Ubuntu 7.10's Compiz
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12-RqR1Vuo0 - Mac OS X and the Quartz Compositor