The Ubuntu MATE developers have done a great job

Apr 6, 2015 09:13 GMT  ·  By

The Ubuntu MATE developers are preparing for the launch of the latest 15.04 branch of the operating system. One of the features to be present in Ubuntu MATE 15.04 is Compiz integration, and one of the developers has put together a video showing all the cool stuff to be available.

Proper Compiz support is one of the things requested by the Ubuntu MATE community right from the beginning, and the developers made that happen with a lot of work and patience. In fact, Ubuntu MATE is making Compiz shine, and it's probably becoming one of the main platforms that will carry on the torch for this window manager.

Compiz is the default window manager in Ubuntu and it will remain in that position for a while, but not for long. After Ubuntu transitions to Unity 8 and Mir, Compiz support will be dropped, but that doesn't mean that other projects won't be needing it. Ubuntu MATE is just one of the OSes using Compiz to its full potential, as Martin Wimpress is demonstrating in the video posted at the bottom of the article.

Ubuntu MATE devs are working with upstream Compiz

You might be tempted to think that integrating Compiz into the OS is a simple thing, but it's not. In fact, the Ubuntu MATE devs had to work with Compiz upstream to make sure that all the bits and pieces will be in place.

"I'm going to showing another feature in Ubuntu MATE 15.04, which is first class Compiz integration for the MATE desktop. I've worked with the upstream Compiz team in Ubuntu in order to port some compatibility plugins and integration layers to the MATE desktop and the result is built into Ubuntu MATE 15.04," says the lead developer for Ubuntu MATE.

The operating systems uses Marco as the default window manager, but it's easy to switch to Compiz with the help of the Ubuntu Tweak tool. The Ubuntu MATE 15.04 stable version is expected to arrive on April 23, so stay tuned for more news.