Plank with compositor?

[Nifty542Member]

Hi all
I’ve installed Plank, but when I try to enable the compositor, it results in a garbled screen.
Would it be better to use another compositor, e.g. compton? Is it possible to enable it at startup?
If so, could someone point me to a link as to how to do that?
I’ve tried searching, and it says I can use compton, but not how to enable it.
If I try to uninstall xcompmgr, it also wants to uninstall some important Antix stuff as well.
My system:
david@antix1:~ $ inxi -Fxzrd System: Kernel: 6.6.119-antix.1-amd64-smp arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.0 Desktop: IceWM v: 4.0.0 Distro: antiX-26_x64-full Stephen Kapos 21 March 2026 base: Debian GNU/Linux 13 (trixie) Machine: Type: Laptop System: Dell product: Latitude 5580 v: N/A serial:  Mobo: Dell model: 0DTP1F v: A00 serial: UEFI: Dell v: 1.38.0 date: 09/05/2024 Battery: ID-1: BAT0 charge: 68 Wh (100%) condition: 68/68 Wh (100%) temp: 24.7 C volts: 8.22 min: 7.6 model: SMP DELL GD1P653 status: full CPU: Info: quad core model: Intel Core i5-6440HQ bits: 64 type: MCP arch: Skylake-S rev: 3 cache: L1: 256 KiB L2: 1024 KiB L3: 6 MiB Speed (MHz): avg: 800 min/max: 800/3500 cores: 1: 800 2: 800 3: 800 4: 800 bogomips: 20799 Flags-basic: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx Graphics: Device-1: Intel HD Graphics 530 vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-9 bus-ID: 00:02.0 Device-2: Realtek Integrated Webcam HD driver: uvcvideo type: USB bus-ID: 1-11:4 Display: server: X.Org v: 21.1.16 driver: X: loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: iris gpu: i915 resolution: 1366×768~60Hz API: EGL v: 1.5 drivers: iris,swrast platforms: active: gbm,x11,surfaceless,device inactive: wayland API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: intel mesa v: 25.0.7-2 glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 530 (SKL GT2) Info: Tools: api: eglinfo,glxinfo x11: xdriinfo, xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr Audio: Device-1: Intel CM238 HD Audio vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1f.3 API: ALSA v: k6.6.119-antix.1-amd64-smp status: kernel-api Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.4.2 status: active Network: Device-1: Intel Ethernet I219-LM vendor: Dell driver: e1000e v: kernel port: N/A bus-ID: 00:1f.6 IF: eth0 state: down mac:  Device-2: Intel Wireless 8265 / 8275 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel bus-ID: 01:00.0 IF: wlan0 state: up mac:  Bluetooth: Device-1: TP-Link UB500 Adapter driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB bus-ID: 1-2:2 Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 3 state: down bt-service: stopped rfk-block: hardware: no software: yes address:  Drives: Local Storage: total: 354.54 GiB used: 64.57 GiB (18.2%) ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: SK Hynix model: BC511 HFM256GDJTNI-82A0A size: 238.47 GiB temp: 28.9 C ID-2: /dev/sda model: General USB Flash Disk size: 116.06 GiB type: USB Message: No optical or floppy data found. Partition: ID-1: / size: 233.43 GiB used: 35.43 GiB (15.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 ID-2: /boot/efi size: 252 MiB used: 8.7 MiB (3.5%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 Swap: ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 3 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) file: /swap/swap Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 0.0 C pch: 31.5 C mobo: 30.0 C Fan Speeds (rpm): cpu: 0 Repos: Packages: 2119 Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/antix.list 1: deb [signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/antix-archive-keyring.gpg] http://mxlinux.mirrors.uk2.net/packages/antix/trixie trixie main nonfree nosystemd Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list 1: deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ trixie-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list 1: deb http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/ trixie main contrib non-free non-free-firmware 2: deb http://security.debian.org/ trixie-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/librewolf.list No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/liquorix.list Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/trixie-backports.list 1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie-backports main contrib non-free non-free-firmware Info: Memory: total: 8 GiB available: 7.65 GiB used: 674.1 MiB (8.6%) Processes: 212 Uptime: 31m Init: runit runlevel: 2 Compilers: gcc: 14.2.0 Shell: Bash v: 5.2.37 inxi: 3.3.39

Please be patient. I registered 8 years ago, but I’ve been on different distros and I still don’t know much about Antix.
I’m on Antix 26 full with icewm.
Regards
D

[sybokMember]

I know that @PPC wrote some script to enable compositing (together with tint2?).
The most relevant topics I found:
https://www.antixforum.com/forums/topic/antix-transformation-pack-min-fluxbox-with-tint2-toolbar-antix-ft-10/
https://www.antixforum.com/forums/topic/split-preparing-for-ft10-migration-to-ft11/

The ‘ft10-transformation’ package is in the Trixie-based antiX repositories.

Disclaimer: I have not used it as I am OK with simple desktop on my lower end HW.

[Nifty542Member]

Hi
Many thanks for the reply.
I really don’t want to be ungrateful, but I don’t understand the post. Sorry.
When I click on the image, it says image not available in your region-in my case, the UK.
Sorry to be unhelpful.
Regards
D

[anti-apXosMember]

You can definitely use Compton or Picom. Just add the commandline to the $HOME/.desktop-session/startup script, includng the –daemon option.

For example, here’s mine as a basic config on the first line and a few fancy effects on second and third lines:

picom --daemon --vsync --backend xr_glx_hybrid --glx-no-stencil --glx-no-rebind-pixmap \
       --fading -D3 --corner-radius 6 --shadow -r6 -o0.3 -l0 -t0 --shadow-exclude 'class_g = "TaskBar"' \
       --opacity-rule '75:class_i = "galculator"' --opacity-rule '75:class_i = "leafpad"' --opacity-rule '75:class_i *= "urxvt"'

Picom can be configured on the commandline like this or in a separate config file. The particular configuration to suit your setup is a bit complicated for these compositors, though.

And there’s no need to uninstall xcompmgr, just don’t start it.

• This reply was modified 3 months, 1 week ago by anti-apXos. Reason: add example

"--"

[anticapitalistaForum Admin]

I’m wondering why you want to install plank and a compositor?

Philosophers have interpreted the world in many ways; the point is to change it.

antiX with runit - leaner and meaner.

[enigma9o7Member]

Without a compositor you can’t have rounded corners on the plank dock, for one thing.

I’d reccommend picom and picom-conf for a settings gui.

• This reply was modified 3 months, 1 week ago by enigma9o7.

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[madibiMember]

please read: https://www.antixforum.com/forums/topic/plank-on-fluxbox-or-icewm-doesnt-work-properly/
it is still valid
m

[Nifty542Member]

Hi all.
Many many thanks for the replies. I’m going to try this today. Have a visit to the doctor first.
As an alternative, would wbar work? It’s only in the repos as an i386 app, but I’ve read (somewhere, sorry I don’t know) that it’s a very light weight dock and should work well.
Is there a repo I should add if I want to try this?
If, not, I’ll persevere with Plank.
Kind regards
D

[Nifty542Member]

Hi all
So, I’ve tried the above suggestions and I’m no further forward.
Evidently, I’m completely ignorant about how Antix and Plank work.
I still have the black bar around Plank, no matter what I try with settings.
I’ve looked online but the suggested solutions don’t match what I see in front of me- perhaps from years ago?
I’ve always used Cairo Dock on my main computer (which is more powerful) so have got used to having a dock. It would be nice to have one with Antix.
Sorry to try everyone’s patience.
I’m happy to try a reinstall, if that might help.
Would trying wbar help?
Kind regards
D

• This reply was modified 3 months, 1 week ago by Nifty542.

[Nifty542Member]

Hi all
Please forgive my frustration (at myself and my incompetence) and exasperation, again at myself. At 70, I still want to learn.
What I want to achieve is a basic setup with a dock and perhaps xscreensaver. I know screensavers aren’t necessary nowadays, but I like to have one.
So, my misunderstanding is about how to make a compositor and dock load at the start.
I have found online a deb file of wbar and an app image of sim dock. Would it be advisable to try installing either of these?
I tried the recommended setting above. Thanks, Antix-apxos. I pasted it into the startup tab on icwm startup add item.
I guess this was the wrong thing to do.
So, if I can, I’d like to solve this.
I would really appreciate your help before I do anything else.
By the way, I’ve just done a clean install, in the hope it will make it easier to make changes and undo anything I’ve done wrong.

Kind regards
D

• This reply was modified 3 months, 1 week ago by Nifty542.

[anti-apXosMember]

Nifty542 wrote:

I have found online a deb file of wbar and an app image of sim dock. Would it be advisable to try installing either of these?

I don’t know about sim dock, but wbar is in the Debian repos, so you can install it with ‘apt install wbar’. No need to scrounge around for random deb files.

"--"

[Nifty542Member]

Hi all
anti-apXos, many thanks for the reply. The only wbar I could find describes it as i386.
Would this work? Or do I need to enable another repo?
Thanks again
D

[RobinMember]

$ apt-cache policy wbar
wbar:
  Installiert:           (keine)
  Installationskandidat: 2.3.4-13
  Versionstabelle:
     2.3.4-13 500
        500 http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian trixie/main amd64 Packages

Windows is like a submarine. Open a window and serious problems will start.

[Author]

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