Gala Window Manager is the Elementary Teams take on a window manager.

A window manager basically takes care of moving windows and switching from one window to another.

Not only does Gala allow you to throw windows anywhere and to switch from one to another, it also displays animations, this is because Gala is also a composting window manager, so no Compiz is needed to get decent effects.

# DANGER

If you are going to go for the "Looks like Luna" Approach, be aware, there are issues while getting it to work.

For example, wingpanel will not launch, and because of that slingshot will not display unless executed through a terminal. And the elementary theme looks rather ugly.

You can try what follows below but be aware your desktop will look somewhat like the screenshot below.

# Prerequisite

> Have Arch Linux installed

> Make sure you have the AUR

# Getting Started ( The Looks like Luna approach )

If you want your arch to look as much as Luna as possible download this package from the AUR: pantheon-session-bzr:


Pantheon-session-bzr will install the following packages:

* gala-bzr
* wingpanel-bzr
* slingshot-launcher-bzr
* plank-bzr

You must also install this package, if not slingshot and wingpanel will not work:


# Edit the your xorg.conf

Now insert the following lines in your xorg.conf. This will bring up gala as your window manager will also present your dock, your panel and your launcher. If you opted to install some more software you would like to launch at boot include it here.


# Extra elementary packages

If you want to change your wallpaper, install this package from AUR:


elementary video player


elementary e-mail client


elementary calender


elementary web browser


elementary audio player


elementary terminal emulator


elementary file manager


elementary text editor


elementary settings manager


# This is the machine after boot up without pantheon-wallpaper
# Desktop with pantheon-wallpaper.

* I have not included a destination for the wallpaper so it is defaulting to a Ubuntu wallpaper, just include a path after the pantheon-wallpaper command and it will display the wallpaper. Example: pantheon-wallpaper /home/dog.jpg
# You're done! ( Possibly )

That's it, you have successfully installed a bit of Luna onto your Arch Linux box. If you have some problems look below.

# Some Problems

If you don't have a correct gtk theme installed, startx will fail. But it is easy to get around this by getting the theme through Pacman.



If you want the Adwaita theme installed instead of the elementary theme:


# Getting Started ( The Make it Yours Technique )

If you want Gala as your window manager but want to make this desktop yours, just get the gala package and start adding what you will like.


I will also want the tint2 panel and plank for my dock on my custom desktop.

To get plank I will execute:


and to get tint2 a:


# Editing your xorg.conf

After that you now have to add gala in your xorg.conf and whatever else you chose. In the below example I have gala as my window manager, tint2 as my panel and plank as my dock. All of which will boot at launch.