Mutter (window manager)

Mutter

Developer(s)	GNOME Team
Stable release	3.2.0 / September 28, 2011; 53 days ago (2011-09-28)[1]
Written in	C, using OpenGL
Operating system	Unix-like
Type	Window manager
License	GPL
Website	http://git.gnome.org/browse/mutter/

Free software portal

Mutter is the window manager for which GNOME Shell is a plugin in GNOME 3, replacing Metacity.^[2] (The name "Mutter" is short for "Metacity Clutter"^[3] Mutter uses a graphics library called Clutter, and also supports OpenGL by Clutter.)

The Mutter window manager can function as standalone window manager application for GNOME-like desktops, and serves as the primary window manager for the GNOME Shell desktop,^[4] which is an integral part of the GNOME 3.0 release. Mutter is extensible with plugins and supports numerous visual effects.

Performance

Games run with a performance hit when using a compositing window manager; in June 2010 Phoronix evaluated this as similar for Mutter and Compiz.^[5][6]

References

1. ^ Taylor, Owen (25 May 2011). "Mutter 3.0.2 released". gnome-shell-list mailing list. http://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome-announce-list/2011-May/msg00035.html. Retrieved 6 Jun 2011. 
2. ^ Mutter: a window manager for GNOME 3 LWN.net
3. ^ Mutter project in Ohloh;
4. ^ Mutter: Window Manager in GNOME's Future - Linux Magazine Online
5. ^ "Mutter Can Cause A Gaming/OpenGL Performance Hit Too". Phoronix. http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=mutter_composite_hit. Retrieved 2011-04-24. 
6. ^ "The Cost Of Running Compiz". Phoronix. http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=compiz_speed_test. Retrieved 2011-04-24.