There’s something cool in store for MATE and Xfce users. It was implemented this week and it’s coming in Linux Mint 17.3.

The “Desktop Settings” tool will now support the following window/compositing managers under MATE and Xfce: Marco, Metacity, Xfwm4, Openbox, Compiz and Compton.

A new help section was added to explain various concepts around window managers and compositing.

Switching window-managers takes effect immediately so you no longer have to log out.

Other than the traditional Marco, Metacity and Xfwm4 window managers, you’ll find the following options:

Openbox: This is a very fast and very light window manager.

Compiz: This is without a doubt the most visually impressive window manager available for Linux.

Compton: This compositing manager can be used in complement of Marco, Metacity, Xfwm4 or Openbox.

Under Xfce, using Xfwm4+Compton is known to reduce screen-tearing.

As for Compiz, it was already integrated in Linux Mint 17.2.. but it got even better:

Wobbly windows are activated by default (the reason we integrated Compiz in the first place was for the “wow” factor, so we may as well ship with the most noticeable plugin of them all).

Compiz profiles were moved to dconf (this solves a weird issue where changes to Compiz settings weren’t recored on your very first session).

Compiz profiles can be reset from the “Desktop Settings” tool. If you made a mistake or broke your Compiz configuration, there was no way of fixing it other than doing so manually… this is done simply by clicking the “Reset Compiz settings” button now.

Virtualbox is now supported with Compiz.

Finally, two new commands will be introduced in Linux Mint 17.3: