☰
✕
✕

How to install Metacity on Ubuntu 17.04

How to install Metacity on Ubuntu 17.04

Metacity is a cross-platform default manager used by the GNOME 2 desktop environment. Metacity uses the GTK+ graphical widget toolkit to create its user interface components, which makes it themeable and makes it blend in with other GTK+ applications. This tutorial covers the installation procedure of Metacity on Ubuntu 17.04.

Installation procedure

To start the installation process, add the repo by executing the following command. 

root@linuxhelp1:~# add-apt-repository ppa:eugenesan/ppa
This repository contains collection of customized, updated, ported and backported
packages for two last LTS releases and latest pre-LTS release.
Packages for older releases relocated to ppa:eugenesan/archive or deleted.
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Disclaimer:
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
* Packages in this a nd related PPAs are for personal use only.
  They developed specifically for several custom environments and may not work for you.
* Usage of packages in this PPA, in some forms, might contradict licenses of software
  packaged in this and related PPAs. End users and administrator are responsible for
  runtime licensing and possible legal consequences.
* Some packages provided with their dependencies while some might require additional
  Ubuntu repositories and external PPAs. Below is the list of
.
.
.
Press [ENTER] to continue or ctrl-c to cancel adding it
gpg: keybox ' /tmp/tmp58gcy2yp/pubring.gpg'  created
gpg: /tmp/tmp58gcy2yp/trustdb.gpg: trustdb created
gpg: key E61380B28313A596: public key " Launchpad synergy+"  imported
gpg: Total number processed: 1
gpg:imported: 1
OK

The repositories are added to the target system. Update the repo by executing the apt-get update command. 

root@linuxhelp1:~# apt-get update
Get:1 http://ppa.launchpad.net/eugenesan/ppa/ubuntu zesty InRelease [15.4 kB]
Hit:2 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty InRelease
Hit:3 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty-security InRelease
Hit:4 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty-updates InRelease
Hit:5 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty-backports InRelease
Get:6 http://ppa.launchpad.net/eugenesan/ppa/ubuntu zesty/main amd64 Packages [1,100 B]
Get:7 http://ppa.launchpad.net/eugenesan/ppa/ubuntu zesty/main i386 Packages [1,108 B]
Get:8 http://ppa.launchpad.net/eugenesan/ppa/ubuntu zesty/main Translation-en [1,288 B]
Fetched 18.9 kB in 1s (12.3 kB/s)
Reading package lists... Done

The target system is updated with the required repositories. To install the metacity application, run the following command and press y to continue with the installation procedure. 

root@linuxhelp1:~# apt-get install metacity -y
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
python-cairo python-gi python-gi-cairo
Use ' apt autoremove'  to remove them.
Suggested packages:
gnome-control-center
The following NEW packages will be installed:
metacity
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 92 not upgraded.
Need to get 207 kB of archives.
After this operation, 667 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 http://in.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu zesty/main amd64 metacity amd64 1:3.24.0-2ubuntu1 [207 kB]
Fetched 207 kB in 1s (115 kB/s)
Selecting previously unselected package metacity.
(Reading database ... 168888 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../metacity_1%3a3.24.0-2ubuntu1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking metacity (1:3.24.0-2ubuntu1) ...
Setting up metacity (1:3.24.0-2ubuntu1) ...
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/metacity to provide /usr/bin/x-window-manager (x-window-manager) in auto mode
Processing triggers for mime-support (3.60ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.23-1ubuntu2) ...
Processing triggers for bamfdaemon (0.5.3+17.04.20170406-0ubuntu1) ...
Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf-2.index...
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.13.3-6ubuntu5) ...

The metacity application is installed successfully. To know more about the options used in metacity, execute the following command. 

root@linuxhelp1:~# metacity --help
Usage:
metacity [OPTION&hellip ]
Help Options:
-h, --helpShow help options

Application Options:
--sm-disableDisable connection to session manager
--replaceReplace the running window manager with Metacity
--sm-client-id=IDSpecify session management ID
-d, --display=DISPLAYX Display to use
--sm-save-file=FILEInitialize session from savefile
--versionPrint version
--syncMake X calls synchronous
-c, --compositeTurn compositing on
--no-compositeTurn compositing off
--no-force-fullscreenDon' t make fullscreen windows that are maximized and have no decorations

For removing the package, run the following remove command and press y to continue with the uninstallation process. 

root@linuxhelp1:~# apt-get remove metacity -y
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
python-cairo python-gi python-gi-cairo
Use ' apt autoremove'  to remove them.
The following packages will be REMOVED:
metacity
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 92 not upgraded.
After this operation, 667 kB disk space will be freed.
(Reading database ... 168899 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing metacity (1:3.24.0-2ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for mime-support (3.60ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.23-1ubuntu2) ...
Processing triggers for bamfdaemon (0.5.3+17.04.20170406-0ubuntu1) ...
Rebuilding /usr/share/applications/bamf-2.index...
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.13.3-6ubuntu5) ...

Wasn' t that an easy installation procedure? Metacity support the part of the ICCCM specifications that GNOME requires.

Tag : Ubuntu Window manager
FAQ
Q
how to add the repo for metacity in ubuntu?
A
add the repo of metacity executing the following command.
# add-apt-repository ppa:eugenesan/ppa
Q
What is the configuration file of the Metacity?
A
The user's Metacity configuration settings are stored in .xml files in various subfolders of ~/.gconf/apps/metacity. There are five major components, discussed below.
Q
How to start the Metacity?
A
Open the Appearance Preferences applet:

via the Main Menu - System > Preferences > Appearance, or

via terminal - (Applications > Accessories > Terminal or ALT-F2) and enter:

gnome-appearance-properties
Q
What is Metacity?
A
Metacity was the default GTK2 Window Manager for Ubuntu. Metacity compositing was introduced in Ubuntu
Q
How to configure metacity in ubuntu?
A
use the following link for configuring the metacity
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Metacity