Compiz Reloaded is an OpenGL compositing window manager for the X Window System. It continues the development of the original Compiz project, combining conventional window management with hardware-accelerated desktop effects and extensive customization options.
The software uses OpenGL to render application windows as textures, allowing windows and entire workspaces to be animated, transformed, and manipulated. Its plugin-based architecture separates core window management functionality from optional visual effects and additional desktop features.
Compiz Reloaded is accompanied by several related projects, including CompizConfig Settings Manager (CCSM), the Emerald window decorator, and additional plugin collections. It is designed for X11 desktop sessions and does not function as a Wayland compositor.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- OpenGL-accelerated compositing and window management.
- Modular plugin architecture allows desktop effects and window management capabilities to be enabled independently.
- Desktop Cube displays virtual workspaces on the faces of a rotating three-dimensional cube.
- Rotate plugin provides animated navigation between virtual desktops.
- Desktop Wall offers grid-based workspace navigation.
- Scale plugin displays an overview of open windows for convenient selection.
- Window Switcher provides keyboard-driven navigation between applications.
- Wobbly Windows adds animated deformation effects when windows are moved.
- Configurable fading, transparency, and window minimization effects.
- Blur plugin applies visual effects to transparent window regions.
- Water plugin creates animated ripple effects across the desktop.
- Zoom plugin provides desktop magnification functionality.
- Window placement, movement, resizing, and decoration plugins.
- Screenshot and annotation plugins for capturing and marking desktop content.
- Supports multiple monitors and configurable workspace layouts.
- CompizConfig Settings Manager provides a graphical interface for configuring plugins, keyboard shortcuts, and effects.
- Emerald provides customizable window decorations and themes.
- Additional functionality is available through separate main, extra, and experimental plugin collections.
Website: gitlab.com/compiz/compiz-core
Support:
Developer: Compiz Reloaded Team
License: MIT License, GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1, GNU General Public License v2.0
Compiz Reloaded is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Compositing Window Managers | |
|---|---|
| sway | i3-compatible tiling Wayland compositor and a replacement for i3 |
| KWin | Window manager for the KDE Plasma Desktop |
| Mutter | Wayland display server and X11 window manager and compositor library |
| Moksha | Modern iteration of the Enlightenment window manager |
| xfwm | Part of the Xfce desktop environment |
| Compiz | OpenGL window and compositing manager |
| Gala | Designed by elementary for use with Pantheon |
| Enlightenment | Focuses on pushing the limits of existing technologies |
| Magpie | X11 window manager and compositor library |
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