metacity-window-demo

metacity-window-demo [OPTIONS] [THEME_DIR]

--name=NAME
    Set the window title.

--geometry=GEOMETRY
    Set the initial window geometry (e.g., 640x480+100+100).

THEME_DIR
    Path to the Metacity theme directory to preview. If omitted, uses the default theme.

The `metacity-window-demo` command is a simple tool included with the Metacity window manager (used by GNOME, primarily GNOME 2 era). It allows you to preview different window themes. It creates a sample window, rendering it using the currently selected or a specified Metacity theme. This is useful for developers creating Metacity themes to see how their theme will look, and for users who want to quickly preview different themes without changing their system settings.

The command displays a basic window with decorations (titlebar, borders, buttons) according to the theme. By providing the path to a specific Metacity theme directory, you can test themes that are not yet installed system-wide. The window is interactive; you can move it, resize it, and close it using the window manager's controls.

Note that Metacity is largely superseded by Mutter in newer GNOME environments. Therefore, while `metacity-window-demo` might still be present on some systems for compatibility, it's primarily relevant for older GNOME 2 configurations or when specifically working with Metacity themes.

This tool is primarily useful for Metacity themes and has limited relevance in modern GNOME environments using Mutter. It may not be available on all systems.

The command typically returns 0 on success and a non-zero value on failure (e.g., if it cannot find the specified theme).

The `metacity-window-demo` command was developed as part of the Metacity window manager project, which was the default window manager for GNOME 2. It was designed to facilitate theme development and testing. As GNOME evolved and transitioned to Mutter, Metacity and related tools like `metacity-window-demo` became less central. It is still around in some systems for compatibility but is mainly used in environments which still use metacity.

mutter(1), gnome-themes(1)