Installing Compton
To integrate Compton with KDE Plasma, start by installing Compton on your system. Use your distribution’s package manager (e.g., apt for Debian/Ubuntu) to install the package:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install compton
This ensures you have the latest version of Compton available for configuration.
Configuring Compton for Compatibility
Compton’s behavior is controlled by a configuration file (typically ~/.config/compton.conf). Create or edit this file to optimize performance and compatibility with KDE Plasma. A basic configuration example includes:
# Disable desktop background to reduce resource usage
background none
# Enable window shadows for a polished look
shadow true
# Set shadow opacity (0.0-1.0) and radius (pixels)
shadow-opacity 0.5
shadow-radius 4
# Enable fading effects for window open/close/minimize
fade true
fade-delta 30
# Use OpenGL backend for better performance (if supported)
backend glx
# Exclude certain windows from shadows (e.g., docks, panels)
shadow-exclude = [".*Dock", ".*Panel"]
Adjust these settings based on your hardware (e.g., disable glx if you experience glitches) and preferences.
Setting Compton as the Window Compositor in KDE Plasma
KDE Plasma allows you to manually select a window compositor. To use Compton:
Enabling Compton at Startup
To ensure Compton runs automatically when you log in to KDE Plasma, add it to your startup applications:
compton --config ~/.config/compton.conf
Troubleshooting Common Issues
frame-rate 30 to your config) or switch to the xrender backend (set backend xrender)—these changes can improve performance on older hardware.