{{short description|GNOME window manager and display server}} {{Infobox software | title = Mutter | developer = GNOME Project | released = {{Start date and age|2011|04}} | discontinued = | latest release version = {{wikidata|property|reference|edit|P348|P548=Q2804309}} | latest release date = {{start date and age | {{wikidata|qualifier|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}} }} | latest preview version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|reference|edit|P348|P548=Q51930650}} | latest preview date = {{start date and age | {{wikidata|qualifier|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}} }} | programming language = C | operating system = Unix-like | platform = | size = 40.2 kB (amd64 .deb package)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://packages.debian.org/sid/mutter |title=Debian Mutter Package in sid |website=Debian Packages }}</ref> | language = | genre = {{unbulleted list|Wayland compositor|X window manager}} | license = GPL-2.0-or-later<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/mutter/blob/master/COPYING|title=COPYING · master · GNOME / mutter|website=GNOME GitLab|access-date=2019-03-16|archive-date=2018-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920045529/https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/mutter/blob/master/COPYING|url-status=dead}}</ref> | website = {{URL|https://mutter.gnome.org/}}
| repo = {{URL|https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/mutter}}
}}
'''Mutter''' is a display server and window manager for the Wayland protocol ("compositor"). It is the default window manager for GNOME.
Mutter was initially a compositing window manager designed and implemented for the X Window System, but then evolved to be a Wayland compositor. It became the default window manager in GNOME 3, replacing Metacity<ref>{{cite web |url = https://lwn.net/Articles/344734/ |title = Mutter: a window manager for GNOME 3 |first = Koen |last = Vervloesem |work = LWN.net |date = 2009-08-04 |access-date = 2011-12-27 }}</ref> which used GTK for rendering. The name "Mutter" is a combination of "Metacity" and "Clutter".
== Window management == Mutter can function as a standalone window manager for GNOME-like desktops, and serves as the primary window manager for the GNOME Shell,<ref>{{cite web |last=Kissling |first=Kristian |title=Mutter: Window Manager in GNOME's Future |work=Linux Magazine |date=2009-07-08 |url= http://www.linuxpromagazine.com/Online/News/Mutter-Window-Manager-in-GNOME-s-Future |access-date=2011-12-27}}</ref> which is an integral part of GNOME since version 3. Mutter is extensible with plug-ins, and supports numerous visual effects. GNOME Shell is written as a plug-in to Mutter.
== Release history ==
* Support for HiDPI was added to version 3.13 of Mutter by Adel Gadllah.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/mutter/commit/31c925c60293c3d72da533db0780e796e170 |title=wayland: Add basic hidpi support |author=Adel Gadllah |date=2014-05-03 |access-date=2014-05-03}}</ref>
* In version 3.13.2 logind integration replaced mutter-launch.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mail.gnome.org/archives/ftp-release-list/2014-May/msg00123.html |title=mutter 3.13.2 |author=Florian Müllner |date=2014-05-27 |website=mail.gnome.org}}</ref>
* In version 3.13.3 (June 24, 2014) the server side bits of <code>wl_touch_interface</code> were implemented by Carlos Garnacho.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/mutter/commit/2250865eb61f3110914e09cd50010f8e695c1aeb |title=wayland: Implement the server side bits of wl_touch_interface |author=Carlos Garnacho |date=2014-06-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite mailing list |url=https://mail.gnome.org/archives/ftp-release-list/2014-June/msg00082.html |title=mutter 3.13.3 |author=Florian Müllner |date=2014-06-24 |mailing-list=ftp-release-list@gnome.org }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=724442|title=Bug 724442 – Touchscreen does not work|website=bugzilla.gnome.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite mailing list |url=https://mail.gnome.org/archives/ftp-release-list/2014-July/msg00088.html |title=mutter 3.13.4 |author=Florian Müllner |date=2014-07-23 |mailing-list=ftp-release-list@gnome.org }}</ref> * Support for X11 was disabled at compile-time in GNOME 49 and officially dropped with the X11 session code removed GNOME 50, rendering Mutter exclusively a Wayland compositor. GNOME 49 and later can still run most X11 apps on the Wayland session via XWayland.
== Forks == === Muffin === Muffin is a fork of Mutter by the Linux Mint team for their Cinnamon desktop environment. Cinnamon's shell, a fork of GNOME Shell, is written as a plugin for Muffin.<ref name="cinnamon 1.2">{{cite web|url=http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/?p=119|title=Cinnamon 1.2 released|last=Lefebvre|first=Clement|date=23 January 2012|work=cinnamon.linuxmint.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101211537/http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/?p=119|archive-date=1 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * {{cite web|url=https://medium.com/@deadsuperhero/the-price-of-freedom-a-review-of-the-librem-15-v3-901035cec575|title=The Price of Freedom — A Review of the Librem 15 v3|first=Sean|last=Tilley|date=6 August 2017|website=Medium}} * {{cite web|url=https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/gnome-based-desktop-environments-explained-mate-vs-gnome-shell-vs-unity-vs-cinnamon/|title=Gnome-Based Desktop Environments Explained: MATE vs. Gnome Shell vs. Unity vs. Cinnamon|first=Danny|last=Stieben|date=22 July 2013|website=makeuseof.com}}
==External links== * [https://download.gnome.org/sources/mutter/ Mutter tarballs] * [https://download.gnome.org/sources/mutter-wayland/ mutter-wayland tarballs] * [https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/mutter/ GNOME git: Mutter] * [https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Mutter/Gestures GNOME Wiki: Mutter Gestures]
{{GNOME}} {{Desktop environments and window managers for X11 and Wayland}}
Category:Compositing window managers Category:Free software programmed in C Category:Free X window managers Category:GNOME Category:Linux windowing system-related software Category:Software that uses Clutter (software) Category:Software using the GNU General Public License Category:Wayland compositors Category:Window managers that use GTK