Mutter is the compositor and display server technology underlying GNOME Shell. It manages application windows, rendering, input devices and display configuration, providing the foundation for GNOME’s graphical desktop experience.
The compositor operates directly with the Linux graphics and input subsystems, using kernel mode setting and libinput. It implements the Wayland display protocol and supports X11 applications through Xwayland.
Mutter includes the functionality needed to manage focus, workspaces, keyboard shortcuts and multiple monitors. GNOME Shell builds on this foundation to provide the visible desktop interface, application overview and user interaction.
Its architecture also provides libraries and interfaces used by other desktop components. Although Mutter can be started independently for testing and debugging, it is primarily intended to form part of a complete desktop environment.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Wayland compositor and display server implementation.
- Window placement, resizing, focus tracking and stacking management.
- Workspace management and keyboard shortcut handling.
- Support for X11 applications through Xwayland.
- Multiple monitor handling, display configuration and output scaling.
- Hardware-accelerated rendering using its graphics and scene-management infrastructure.
- Integration with GNOME Shell for desktop effects, animations and window management.
- Support for input devices through libinput.
- HiDPI display support and per-monitor scaling capabilities.
- Support for relevant Wayland protocol extensions and modern display technology.
- Interfaces for configuring monitors and managing display properties.
- Support for accessibility and input-related desktop functionality.
- Developer interfaces for integrating window management and graphical desktop components.
Website: gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/mutter
Support:
Developer: The GNOME Project
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
Mutter is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
1 Wayland is a computer protocol that specifies the communication between a display server and its clients, as well as a reference implementation of the protocol in the C programming language. Wayland’s main goal is replacing the X Window System with a modern, simpler windowing system in Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.
Related Software
| Stacking Window Managers | |
|---|---|
| Openbox | Standards compliant, fast, light-weight, extensible window manager |
| KWin | Window manager for the KDE Plasma Desktop |
| Mutter | Wayland display server and X11 window manager and compositor library |
| FVWM | Powerful ICCCM-compliant multiple virtual desktop window manager |
| berry | Healthy, bite-sized window manager |
| xfwm | Part of the Xfce desktop environment |
| Window Maker | NeXTSTEP-like window manager |
| JWM | Joe’s Window Manager |
| Gala | Designed by elementary for use with Pantheon |
| Fluxbox | Highly configurable and low resource |
| evilwm | Maximises screen real estate and provides good keyboard control |
| Worm | Tiny, dynamic, tag-based window manager |
| Blackbox | Similar to the NeXT interface and Window Maker |
| Enlightenment | Focuses on pushing the limits of existing technologies |
| PekWM | Originally based on the aewm++ window manager |
| Marco | MATE default window manager |
| 2bwm | Offers 2 borders, and written over the XCB library |
| cwm | OpenBSD fork of calmwn, a clean and lightweight window manager |
| IceWM | Win95-OS/2-Motif-like window manager |
| Sawfish | Extensible window manager using an Emacs Lisp-like scripting language |
| Moksha | Modern iteration of the Enlightenment window manager |
| Magpie | X11 window manager and compositor library |
| EMWM | Fork of the Motif Window Manager |
| sowm | Itsy bitsy floating window manager |
| CTWM | X11 window manager derived from twm |
| Compiz | OpenGL window and compositing manager |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| 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 |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| Stacking Wayland Compositors | |
|---|---|
| KWin | Window manager for the KDE Plasma Desktop |
| Mutter | Wayland display server, X11 window manager and compositor library |
| Wayfire | 3D Wayland compositor, inspired by Compiz |
| labwc | Lab Wayland Compositor |
| Waybox | Minimalist Wayland compositor |
| Enlightenment | Window manager and desktop environment |
| wlmaker | Wayland compositor inspired by Window Maker |
| Weston | Lightweight and functional Wayland compositor |
| COSMIC Comp | Wayland compositor for the COSMIC desktop environment |
| Miriway | Mir based Wayland compositor |
| Woodland | wlroots-based window-stacking compositor for Wayland |
| hikari | Actively developed on FreeBSD but also supports Linux |
| croissant | Written in C |
| Otto | Visually focused desktop system and Wayland compositor |
| Hopalong | Simple Wayland compositor with a feature set that’s comparable to XFWM |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
 LinuxLinks helps you discover the best free and open source software for Linux. Explore our extensive collection of recommended applications, including alternatives to popular proprietary software.We also publish software reviews, Linux tutorials, hardware reviews, free programming books and articles covering the wider open source community. Browse our Linux resources to discover more. Know a useful free and open source Linux application we haven't covered? Suggest a program for inclusion. Has your software been featured on LinuxLinks? Display one of our Featured on LinuxLinks badges on your website or GitHub README. |
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.