Crystal

KDE 3.x Window Decorations

Source (link to git-repo or to original if based on someone elses unmodified work): Add the source-code for this project on opencode.net

9
5.7
Description:

Crystal is a kwin window decoration theme, which offers you (pseudo) TRANSPARENT titlebar, buttons and borders. Check out my screenshots! It also has some little usuability enhancements.


Main features:
* The style grabs your wallpaper and uses it as the deco background. It has several blending modes, i.e. it can fade the background into the defined title bar color, or it can brighten or darken the wallpaper, as well as blur the source image to simulate glass.
* Choose the blending color of the buttons.
* You can define the title bar height and border size of the windows.
* Right click on minimize button toggles shade mode.
* Middle click on minimize button sends window to below.
* Double click on program symbol closes window.
* Support for button themes. Basic button theme is included, feel free to swamp me with cool themes.
* Can show a tooltip of the caption
* Mouse-wheel on the title bar to 'scroll' to all opened windows of the same desktop.
* If kdocker is installed (http://kdocker.sf.net), right click on close button will send the window to the systemtray.


Disadvantages:
- Crystal needs KDE >=3.2 and QT>=3.2.
- May be very slow and memory consuming
- Don't forget to breathe, while drooling.


-- INSTALL ---------------------
Basic Installation (from the console):
- Step 1
$ ./configure
OR: $ ./configure --prefix=`kde-config --prefix`
- Step 2
$ make
- Step 3 (as root)
# make install

If you installed crystal while it was running, you need to restart kwin to use the updated version: kwin --replace
--------------------------------


Crystal in common distributions:
- Kubuntu: Crystal is the default decoration since 6.06
- Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install kwin-style-crystal
- Gentoo: emerge -a x11-themes/crystal
- Fedora: yum install crystal
- Debian: apt-get install kwin-style-crystal
- openSUSE: install from repository http://software.opensuse.org/download/KDE:/Community/openSUSE_10.2
- FreeBSD: Port x11-themes/kde-windeco-crystal
- Mandriva: urpmi kwin-style-crystal


For KDE 4.x port see:
http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php/crystal?content=75140

Source can also be found on GitHub:
https://github.com/shlusiak/kwin-style-crystal/tree/KDE-3.5


Regards,
Sascha Hlusiak
Last changelog:

12 years ago

1.0.7:
* Added Kubuntu button theme (thanks to Kubuntu team)
* Do not draw shadowed captions of inactive windows so it's easier to read
* Nicer defaults

1.0.6:
* Probably fixed linking of kdecore on some platforms
* Don't hide borders when in half maximized state. Fixes glitch when restoring a half maximized window.

1.0.5:
* Fixed linking of needed libraries like Qt in rare cases
* Fixed crash in "cycle tasks with wheel" in Compiz/Aquamarine. Use KDE setting when running in compiz.
* Set default of "cycle tasks with wheel" to off
* Showing version in preview


1.0.4:
* Fixed bug of not clipping when window is not visible (https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/kwin-style-crystal/+bug/82870)
* Integration of kdocker: Right click on close button to run kdocker for that window to minimize it to the system tray. kdocker needs to be installed (http://kdocker.sf.net)
* Menu button is finally themeable. Added menu button images to button themes, where possible


1.0.3:
* Added option to suppress drawing of caption
* Added the two more overlays "glass" and "steel"
* Merged the beautiful Kubuntu Feisty button theme


1.0.2:
* Added Kubuntu-Edgy button theme
* Doubleclick is recognized on whole window frame
* Possibly slight speedup in rendering overlay


1.0.1:
* Added sweet Kubuntu button theme
* Fixed button misplacement when returning from fullscreen mode


1.0.0:
* Added raised/sunken mode to inline and outline frame
* Minor fix for outline frame with Vista buttons
* Configdialog changes/fixes
* Option to _completely_ disable all transparency code, for more speed
* You can separately define the color of the minimize and maximize button now
* Yeah, I think, it's worth the 1.0.0 now!

541 comments
Comments/Ratings

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C

dralgebra

14 years ago

What distribution are you using? You should use one, that provides kde>=3.2, or it won't work well. You can't even compile the sources.

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mhygz011085

14 years ago

I'm using Whitebox Linux. I've already upgraded my KDE to version KDE 3.5. Still, the same error occured. Still this message occured while I tried to rpm -i [filename]...

error: Failed dependencies:
libXfixes.so.3 is needed by crystal-0.9.7-1
libXinerama.so.1 is needed by crystal-0.9.7-1
libXxf86vm.so.1 is needed by crystal-0.9.7-1
libintl.so.3 is needed by crystal-0.9.7-1
linux-gate.so.1 is needed by crystal-0.9.7-1


Thanks!

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C

dralgebra

14 years ago

My rpms are not built for Whitebox Linux, so I can only advise you to try to build the decoration from source. Where did you get a 0.9.7 rpm package?

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mhygz011085

14 years ago

I've got the rpm from this site.. Thanks for your reply..One thing more =) Could you tell me the step by step procedure on how to install this window deco from the source? Thanks a lot and it wiuld be higjly appreciated! =)

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CheeseBurgerMan

14 years ago

1. Download the source.
2. Extract the Source
3. Open a console and navigate to where you extracted the source
4. run './configure'
5. run 'make'
6. run 'make install' as root.
7. Enjoy!

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mhygz011085

14 years ago

I've already installed it!!! And it's really COOL!! Thanks!!

Btw, i've installed it using the source.. :))

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mobtek

14 years ago

Congrats, this is much better than the previous versions.
I would still love to see an option for curved corners on the bottom of the windec instead of the current square only arrangement :)

cheers mob

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C

dralgebra

14 years ago

What exactly do you mean? You already can select round borders for the bottom side of the window.

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CheeseBurgerMan

14 years ago

I've created a deb for amd64 users.

If you care to add it, it's located here:

http://www.cheeseburgerman.be/linux/packages/kwin-crystal_1.0-1_amd64.deb

If not, I'll just create a separate entry for it. :P

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C

dralgebra

14 years ago

It is not my duty or that of kde-look.org, to provide packages for every distribution. I have packages for the most important distributions, but of course I cannot care for all. It should be Debian that has it for 64 bit packages.
If you want to add a new entry, feel free to, but I don't like it either, because it's just not what kde-look is meant to be for.

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CheeseBurgerMan

14 years ago

I never said it was your duty to provide them. I'm not asking you to make one at all, I'm asking if you want to add the one that I already made to your list of download options.

I, as an amd64 user, have been very annoyed that there are almost ALWAYS i386 packages, and never amd64 packages. I'm not sure why you don't want to add it here. I'd rather you did so there aren't as many entries for the same decoration. I'm only asking you to edit the post and put my deb in the download list. That probably requires less work than posting your reply. :)

You yourself said " Thank you very much for makeing a package for my crystal decoration.

But:

# I'd rather see it in the download list of my content, instead of having another content on kde-look.org. I can host the packages.
..."

when someone made package for Fedora (which you pointed out as being the same as your Mandriva one - a point which I'm not going to argue)

I'm doing the same thing that he did, and you said yourself that you'd rather put it in the download list than have a separate entry. I personally would too, hence my post.



My offer still stands if you care to reconsider.

P.S. Sorry if I seem a bit harsh, I just don't understand your logic. If you don't accept, there will be no hard feelings. :)

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C

dralgebra

14 years ago

Yes, you are absolutely right about all that. What I don't like:

To list hundrets of packages here, though making myself a bit responsible for keeping them up to date. I don't want to list outdated packages here, nor want to run after more current ones from their packagers.

Except for the Slackware package I create the packages myself, so they are never outdated

There are a hundred of distros out there, most for x86 as well as for amd64, sparc, etc...
Isn't it more suiteable that users compile themself, if they don't use a mainstream distro, than to list thousands of packages here?

I think, I have covered 99% of all distros out there.

The main point is just, that I don't want to list hundreds of packages for non -mainstream-distros, and having to care for them being up-to-date. As I said, this is the job of the distribution itself. Of course I'd rather see the package listet here, instead of a separate entry. But the distributions should be responsible, not me.

I have listet your package in the list, because it really won't hurt. But I may remove it, when it is too obsolete.

Thanks.

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CheeseBurgerMan

14 years ago

Sorry, I mis-interpreted your meaning in the previous comment.

I understand more what you mean now. I agree - you shouldn't be responsible for the upkeep of the package, and if I fall behind in making a package, feel free to remove it from the list. I don't mind at all. If people still want the deb after it's outdated, they can download it straight from my site.

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stonewolf

14 years ago

Hi, I've got a problem which could not be brought to solution: I can't compile anything!!! Doesn't work with several different reports error happend...So: Are you able to create a 64-rpm of this lovely windec??? Or does anyone have one?

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C

dralgebra

14 years ago

I can't because I lack of such a system. You can mail me, what you did, and what error messages came up, maybe I can help you.

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stonewolf

14 years ago

Thanks, but the whole power of a Fedora-Forum wasn't able to cope with this compiler problem...I'm done with that.

I'll look for another way to use it!

So long.

Report

anotherdike

14 years ago

I'm an idiot, sorry for the dumb questions. Thanks for your patience though, as well as your timely replies. I just reinstalled after hosing my system and all is fine with Crystal. Beautiful work man.

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AGNXadmin

14 years ago

been looking for a theme like this thanks and great job!

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anotherdike

14 years ago

hey there, anybody know if FC4 has any known issues with disabling the trasnparency? seems that when I try, it merely pays me lip service. all the config options concerning trans are greyed out, but my titlebar doesn't change at all. also, some way to define a titlebar color would be pretty bad ass. all in all, this is still my favorite windeco for the simple fact that it offers up the option to easily change the size of the titlebar and borders. thanks fella.

~btw, does transparency really affect system performance when the window is still, or is it mostly when moving the window? I ask because when using crystal I don't seem to notice any change in performance, save when I move the window and leave the trans refresh on. I disabled the "Show Contents While Moving" option in the "Configure Window Behavior" menu and now my system is always ready to go...

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C

dralgebra

14 years ago

If you update the deco while kde is running, you need to restart at least kwin to make the changes take effect, otherwise kwin would use the old installed version.

Crystal uses only cpu when the windows are moving.

Crystal uses the default title bar color, which can be set up in the colors section of kcontrol.

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anotherdike

14 years ago

damned typos...

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davidklose

14 years ago

hi, great decoration but i would like to know how to get transparent taskbar applets/buttons. Thanks, great work.

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RavenClaw

14 years ago

can I use any of the rpms available here for my fedora core4 ?

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C

dralgebra

14 years ago

Yes, the Mandriva package should work.

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Yaba

14 years ago

Great! Yes, the 1.0 release is definitely worse. And I really appreciate that it's possible to disable the transparency features (I never used them ;-) ).

There's just one thing missing: Since crystal offers so much possibilities, it would be great to have some kind of confguration profile management (e.g. like QtCurve offers). This would enable theme creators to distribute different configurations for crystal.

Report

12 years ago

1.0.7:
* Added Kubuntu button theme (thanks to Kubuntu team)
* Do not draw shadowed captions of inactive windows so it's easier to read
* Nicer defaults

1.0.6:
* Probably fixed linking of kdecore on some platforms
* Don't hide borders when in half maximized state. Fixes glitch when restoring a half maximized window.

1.0.5:
* Fixed linking of needed libraries like Qt in rare cases
* Fixed crash in "cycle tasks with wheel" in Compiz/Aquamarine. Use KDE setting when running in compiz.
* Set default of "cycle tasks with wheel" to off
* Showing version in preview


1.0.4:
* Fixed bug of not clipping when window is not visible (https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/kwin-style-crystal/+bug/82870)
* Integration of kdocker: Right click on close button to run kdocker for that window to minimize it to the system tray. kdocker needs to be installed (http://kdocker.sf.net)
* Menu button is finally themeable. Added menu button images to button themes, where possible


1.0.3:
* Added option to suppress drawing of caption
* Added the two more overlays "glass" and "steel"
* Merged the beautiful Kubuntu Feisty button theme


1.0.2:
* Added Kubuntu-Edgy button theme
* Doubleclick is recognized on whole window frame
* Possibly slight speedup in rendering overlay


1.0.1:
* Added sweet Kubuntu button theme
* Fixed button misplacement when returning from fullscreen mode


1.0.0:
* Added raised/sunken mode to inline and outline frame
* Minor fix for outline frame with Vista buttons
* Configdialog changes/fixes
* Option to _completely_ disable all transparency code, for more speed
* You can separately define the color of the minimize and maximize button now
* Yeah, I think, it's worth the 1.0.0 now!

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1.0.7
updated Feb 01 2009
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