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

Please login or register to add a comment or rating

C

dralgebra

14 years ago

What would be the difference to Dekorator then, except for the transparency (which a lot of people disable)? Too much flexibility is hard to control.
Btw., crystal creates the configuration file ~/.kde/share/config/kwincrystalrc, save this as your preset. ;)

Report

slick83

14 years ago

First: THX a lot, this is an awesome windeco !!

Second: I have one small problem. Every thing works nice&clean but when I open window on one desktop and transfer it to another window it "remembers" old desktop background. Its bad because it looks ugly.

So thats Y I changed system settinng back to my old plastic windeco. Thats poor 'cause when I have one desktop only ( not able to work fast :) ) theres no problem

Report

C

dralgebra

14 years ago

Did you check "track desktop changes" in the background tab? It should do the requested, but is only recommended if you really need it, if you have different wallpapers on your workspaces.

Report

Yaba

14 years ago

Any change that the inlines could become an engraved (lowered) effect? In that case it would fit much better around beveled menu and toolbars in the window.

Report

C

dralgebra

14 years ago

Okay, it is on my todo list. Thanks.

Report

KzT

14 years ago

Downloaded and tried to install source package on FreeBSD 6, KDE 3.5.1. configure went fine, however, make returned a bunch of errors, the top-most being "crystalconfig.cc:33:26: configdialog.h: No such file or directory" Suggestions?

Report

C

dralgebra

14 years ago

The file should be auto-created by 'uic' (part of Qt) during the make process, it is not part of the source package.

When I run make, the command that creates the file is:
/usr/qt/3/bin/uic -L /usr/kde/3.5/lib/kde3/plugins/designer -nounload ./configdialog.ui | /usr/bin/perl -pi -e "s,public QWizard,public KWizard,g; s,#include ,#include ,g" >> configdialog.h.

Maybe you could try to run make -f Makefile.cvs to rerun the autotools. I had never such a problem on a Linux box, and I don't know FreeBSD enough to help you here. :-S

Report

KzT

14 years ago

redoing the automake didn't work. I instead just did "make configdialog.h" which worked fine until I came across this error:

/usr/local/bin/bash ../../libtool --silent --tag=CXX --mode=link g++ -Wnon-virtual-dtor -Wno-long-long -Wundef -Wall -W -Wpointer-arith -Wwrite-strings -O2 -fno-exceptions -fno-check-new -fno-common -DQT_PLUGIN -o kwin_crystal_config.la -rpath /usr/local/lib/kde3 -module -L/usr/local/lib -L/usr/X11R6/lib -avoid-version -module -no-undefined -R /usr/local/lib -R /usr/local/lib -R /usr/X11R6/lib -R /usr/X11R6/lib -lkio crystalconfig.lo configdialog.lo infodialog.lo -lkdeui
libtool: link: cannot find the library `'
*** Error code 1

Help?

P.S. For future reference of FreeBSD users, autotools is in /usr/local/gnu-autotools/bin

Report

C

dralgebra

14 years ago

I can reproduce the first error on my FreeBSD machine, a make configdialog.h infodialog.h fixes it.
It's odd, but after a make clean && make this error is gone!?
I can't reproduce the linking error, mine compiles, links and runs fine. :-|
I have FreeBSD 6 and KDE 3.4. Which version of KDE do you use?

Report

KzT

14 years ago

I decided to use the ports version, even though it's a version back. It works. I tried to overlay the makefile info onto the 0.9.9 sources, but it didn't work. Oh well. At least I got a version of this to work.

Report

C

dralgebra

14 years ago

Would you mind to try the crystal-0.9.9b sources, and mail me the complete output of `make` as well as the config.log file in the source directory?
It compiles cleanly in my FreeBSD 6 installation.

Report

C

dralgebra

14 years ago

Crystal-0.9.2 is in the FreeBSD Ports, and they have two little patches in their Makefile.

Maybe you can change the /usr/ports/x11-themes/crystal/Makefile file to use 0.9.9 instead of 0.9.2 (and correct the md5sums in the distinfo file too)?

Maybe just adding a -lpthreads to the compiler works? I will try to make it on a FreeBSD machine, soon.

Report

menace1982

14 years ago

Very nice window decoration!
1. Can you make another one using the xorg extensions?
2. Can you make a theme?

Report

C

dralgebra

14 years ago

1) As far as I know, it is not possible at the moment, for a kwin plugin to make excessive use of COMPOSITE. Maybe with Qt 4.
2) I don't want to, I don't think, it would be very useful. And with better composite or XGl support, there would be no need.

Report

revolutionist

14 years ago

thank u very much.. this is really fantastic decoration :)

Report

angrypanda

14 years ago

Hi,

Just tried to compile for SuSE 10 (x86_64) and got a load of errors. I followed the instructions for configure (which worked), but make bombs out. What information do you need to see what's wrong?

Cheers, Jon.

Report

mononoke

14 years ago

hi,
my system is SuSE 10.0, KDE 3.5.1 on an AMD 64bit machine. Here it just compiled fine...

Report

angrypanda

14 years ago

Hi,

dralgebra suggested that I see whether the KDE devel files were installed. In the end I just took a SuSE guru precompiled version - which works a treat.

The SuSE rpm supplied on these pages definitely didn't work for me.

Cheers, Jon

Report

C

dralgebra

14 years ago

Please mail me the complete output of ./configure and make then.
But I have absolutely no experience with 64 bit systems, so I am not sure, if I can help. I just know, there was someone, that compiled it on 64 bit, so it may work.

Report

anotherdike

15 years ago

Any chance for an FC4 rpm? I had this on my box before, but bought a new HDD and did a full reinstall, then updated before installing the windeco... Long story short, I can't get it to compile and none of the other rmp's will work of course. I loved it when I had it! Very nice work.

Report

C

dralgebra

15 years ago

Did you try the Mandriva RPM package? As far as I know they are compatible.

Report

anotherdike

15 years ago

THANK YOU!!!
it did work with the Mandriva rpm, but only after i'd solved a dependency issue with
"yum install lcms"
now we're looking pretty sweet!

Report

gohanz

15 years ago

A SlackWare TGz package with SlackBuild Script is Ready to DownLoad!!!

http://www.slacky.it/

http://www.slacky.it/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=1&func=fileinfo&filecatid=957&parent=category

Report

Bugg

15 years ago

This is easily my fave theme due to its customisation abilities.
This might be a tall order but I was wondering how hard it would be to implement user specified bitmaps for the control buttons instead of just offering the presets?

Report

C

dralgebra

15 years ago

Yep, would be a quite big job and would result in a very heavs loaded dialog.

I think about it. At the moment you can create png images, then convert them to a C-Header file, and include it in the crystal sources, recompile it, and you have your own, modified button set. It's too much trouble, yes. If anyone creates a button theme, I would like to include it in the official release, then.

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!

12345678910
1
product-maker nazir Feb 10 2011 9 excellent

0 comments
Comments

Please login or register to add a comment

Be the first to comment
lisacwright
Feb 24 2020
gregorycervin
Jan 08 2020
cschembari
Nov 02 2010
nazir
Feb 15 2010
pvt14
Aug 11 2009
vinz
May 30 2009
mayhem
Mar 07 2009
mmirec
Jan 24 2009
seraphyn
Dec 23 2008
File (click to download) Version Description Downloads Date Filesize DL OCS-Install MD5SUM
*Needs pling-store or ocs-url to install things
product-maker
dralgebra
Pling
0 Affiliates

Support-Box

Become a Supporter of "Crystal" and similar KDE 3.x Window Decorations via a monthly donation of
  • $0.99
  • $2
  • $5
  • $10
  • $
    Enter a free Amount
Crystal is part of KDE Themes and Extensions, which is supported by the following people:
More KDE 3.x Window Decorations from dralgebra:
product
Other KDE 3.x Window Decorations:
product
product
product
product
product
product
Details
license
version
1.0.7
updated Feb 01 2009
added Jun 30 2004
downloads 24h
0
mediaviews 24h 0
pageviews 24h 5
Report Misuse Report SPAM
System Tags linux unix