Compton on CentOS: Configuration and Resource Optimization Guide
Compton is a lightweight window compositor for X11 that enhances desktop visuals with effects like shadows, transparency, and blur. On CentOS, optimizing its configuration is key to balancing visual appeal with system performance—especially on low-resource systems. Below are actionable recommendations for configuring Compton’s resources effectively.
Before configuring, ensure Compton is installed. For CentOS 7 and earlier, use:
sudo yum install compton
For CentOS 8 and later (using DNF):
sudo dnf install compton
Optional: Install compton-conf
for a graphical configuration tool (CentOS 7+):
sudo yum install compton-conf
The default configuration file is located at ~/.config/compton.conf
. If it doesn’t exist, create it:
mkdir -p ~/.config
touch ~/.config/compton.conf
Edit the file using a text editor (e.g., nano
):
nano ~/.config/compton.conf
Adjust these key options to reduce resource usage:
glx
(OpenGL) instead of xrender
for better performance. Add to the config:backend = "glx";
shadow = false
) to eliminate the CPU/GPU load of rendering window edges.opacity = false
) to avoid compositing overhead.vsync = true
) to prevent screen tearing and reduce GPU strain.ignore_glx_glitz = true
.cache-size = 4096
).0.1
seconds (update-interval = 0.1
) to minimize CPU usage.Example optimized config:
backend = "glx";
vsync = true;
shadow = false;
opacity = false;
ignore_glx_glitz = true;
cache-size = 4096;
update-interval = 0.1;
Many effects increase resource consumption. Disable these in the config:
bg_blur = false
(if enabled).screen_edge_blur = false
.GPU acceleration offloads compositing tasks from the CPU to the GPU, improving performance. Ensure your GPU drivers (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel) are up to date. For NVIDIA, install proprietary drivers via:
sudo yum install akmod-nvidia
Then, confirm OpenGL support in Compton with glxinfo | grep "OpenGL renderer"
(should show your GPU model).
Use tools to cap CPU/memory usage and prevent system lag:
cpulimit
:cpulimit -l 50 -p $(pgrep compton)
systemctl
to manage limits (edit /etc/systemd/system/compton.service
to add CPUQuota=50%
).Track Compton’s resource usage to identify bottlenecks:
top
or htop
to view CPU/memory usage by the compton
process.systemctl status compton
.glances
for detailed system monitoring:sudo yum install glances
glances
killall compton && compton &
sudo systemctl enable compton
sudo systemctl start compton
By following these steps, you can configure Compton to deliver a visually appealing desktop experience while minimizing its impact on CentOS system resources. Adjust settings based on your hardware (e.g., integrated vs. dedicated GPU) and performance needs.