Pantheon Session With Compiz

You can create a different session running Pantheon desktop with compiz as window-manager.

First we need to install compiz :

sudo apt-get install compiz compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-plugins-extra

Navigate to /usr/share/xsessions and create a file pantheon-compiz.desktop  :

sudo nano pantheon-compiz.desktop

Paste into the file the following lines :

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Pantheon compiz
Comment=This session provides elementary-compiz experience
Exec=gnome-session --session=pantheon-compiz
TryExec=wingpanel
Icon=
Type=Application

Use Ctrl+O to File Name to Write, just hit Enter and then Ctrl+X to Exit.


Then navigate to /usr/share/gnome-session/sessions and create a file pantheon-compiz.session :

sudo nano pantheon-compiz.session

[GNOME Session]
Name=Pantheon Compiz
RequiredComponents=gnome-settings-daemon;
RequiredProviders=windowmanager;
DefaultProvider-windowmanager=compiz
FallbackSession=ubuntu
DesktopName=Pantheon

Again use Ctrl+O to File Name to Write, just hit Enter and then Ctrl+X to Exit.

Log out...

Link : http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2124220

If your button-layout got messed up, start dconf-editor ( package dconf-tools ) and check the settings at :
org > gnome > desktop >wm > preferences > button-layout.

To be able to make a screenshot of  the login screen :

sudo apt-get install xserver-xephyr

UPDATE : WARNING : next tool could destroy all your dconf settings !  Do not use....

Run the next command during a normal session :

lightdm --test-mode

enlarge the window and make a screenshot.....to quit type Ctrl+C in the terminal.

Update :
I found out that Plank did not work nicely with compiz. Minimizing windows will not always move the windows out of sight in the direction of the panel ( as wanted  ), but  also to the upper left corner.
I replaced Plank with Docky :
sudo apt-get install docky


System Settings > Tweaks > Cerbere > select Plank and remove (-), then add (+) Docky.
Re-login....

Window decoration theme : https://launchpad.net/~shimmerproject/+archive/ppa/+index?field.series_filter=lucid ( greybird-git )

Some of my settings in ccsm ( compizconfig-settings-manager ) are :

Window Management > Place Windows > Placement Mode > Centered
Window Management > Scale > Bindings > Initiate Window Picker For All Windows > TopLeft
Extras > Screenshot > Initiate > Super Button1
Utility > Enable Scale Addons
Utility > Workarounds > check Keep previews of minimized windows
Effects > check Animations Add-On
Desktop > Expo > Expo edge > BottomRight
General > General Options > Key bindings > Show Desktop > BottomLeft
Desktop > check Show desktop
Accessibility >Opacity, Brightness and Saturation > Opacity > Increase Opacity ( mouse ) > Alt Button4
Accessibility >Opacity, Brightness and Saturation > Opacity > Decrease Opacity ( mouse ) > Alt Button5
Accessibility >Opacity, Brightness and Saturation > Brightness > Increase Brightness ( mouse ) > Super Button4
Accessibility >Opacity, Brightness and Saturation > Brightness > Decrease Brightness ( mouse ) > Super Button5

If you like to use Emerald Window Decorator just follow this guide.