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yshui
unexpected behavior for backend parameter
Hi there!
First of all thank you for the amazing tool!
I'm running an Arch Linux OS with AwesomeWM and urxvt as terminal emulator into a VirtualBox virtual machine. Up to this morning I was using picom version 11.2 and everything was working fine.
This was my picom.conf:
# Shadow
shadow = true;
# opacity
inactive-opacity = 0.70;
active-opacity = 1.0; #0.92;
frame-opacity = 1.0; #0.7;
inactive-opacity-override = true;
# fading
fading = true;
fade-in-step = 0.03;
fade-out-step = 0.03;
# fade-delta = 10;
mark-wmwin-focused = true;
mark-ovredir-focused = true;
use-ewmh-active-win = false;
detect-rounded-corners = true;
detect-client-opacity = true;
Today I updated my system and picom won't start. I tried to start via CLI and obtained the following error:
> picom -b --config=$HOME/.config/picom.conf
picom: error while loading shared libraries: libconfig.so.11: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
I updated picom to the latest version and then I realized that the backend parameter is now mandatory.
I added backend = "xrender"; to my picom.conf file and suddenly I ended up into an unexpected behavior.
This was how my terminal was rendered:
This was the starting window:
Trying to understand what I was missing, I added some debug flags, and this was the output:
┌──(pierluigi@ArchLinux)-[~]
└─> picom -b --config=$HOME/.config/picom.conf --diagnostics --log-level debug
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] Compiled script at line 0, total instructions: 53, slots: 8, stack size: 3, memory[4] = total duration, memory[3] = elapsed
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] Output mapping:
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] opacity -> 0
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] shadow-opacity -> 1
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] blur-opacity -> 2
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] Compiled script at line 0, total instructions: 32, slots: 6, stack size: 3, memory[3] = total duration, memory[2] = elapsed
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] Output mapping:
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] opacity -> 0
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] shadow-opacity -> 1
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] Compiled script at line 0, total instructions: 53, slots: 8, stack size: 3, memory[4] = total duration, memory[3] = elapsed
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] Output mapping:
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] opacity -> 0
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] shadow-opacity -> 1
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] blur-opacity -> 2
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] Compiled script at line 0, total instructions: 32, slots: 6, stack size: 3, memory[3] = total duration, memory[2] = elapsed
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] Output mapping:
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] opacity -> 0
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 script_compile DEBUG ] shadow-opacity -> 1
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.464 generate_fading_config DEBUG ] Generated 4 scripts for fading.
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.465 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_OPACITY is 347
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.465 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_FRAME_EXTENTS is 300
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.465 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom WM_STATE is 346
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.465 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_NAME is 301
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.465 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_PID is 323
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.465 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom WM_NAME is 39
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.466 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom WM_CLASS is 67
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.466 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom WM_ICON_NAME is 37
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.466 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom WM_TRANSIENT_FOR is 68
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.466 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom WM_WINDOW_ROLE is 350
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.466 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom WM_CLIENT_LEADER is 351
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.466 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom WM_CLIENT_MACHINE is 36
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW is 297
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _COMPTON_SHADOW is 523
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom COMPTON_VERSION is 524
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE is 307
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _XROOTPMAP_ID is 344
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom ESETROOT_PMAP_ID is 345
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _XSETROOT_ID is 525
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DESKTOP is 308
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DOCK is 309
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_TOOLBAR is 310
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_MENU is 311
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_UTILITY is 312
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_SPLASH is 313
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DIALOG is 314
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_NORMAL is 321
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DROPDOWN_MENU is 315
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_POPUP_MENU is 316
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_TOOLTIP is 317
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_NOTIFICATION is 318
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_COMBO is 319
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_WINDOW_TYPE_DND is 320
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.467 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_STATE is 324
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.468 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_STATE_FULLSCREEN is 327
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.468 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_BYPASS_COMPOSITOR is 483
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.468 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom UTF8_STRING is 335
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.468 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom C_STRING is 526
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.468 atom_getter DEBUG ] Atom _NET_WM_CM_S0 is 405
**Version:** v12.5 (/srcdest/picom revision a456d43)
### Extensions:
* Shape: Yes
* RandR: Yes
* Present: Present
### Misc:
* Use Overlay: No
* Config file specified: /home/pierluigi/.config/picom.conf
* Config file used: /home/pierluigi/.config/picom.conf
### Drivers (inaccurate):
modesetting
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.488 glxext_init INFO ] Extension GLX_SGI_video_sync - absent
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.488 glxext_init INFO ] Extension GLX_SGI_swap_control - absent
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.488 glxext_init INFO ] Extension GLX_OML_sync_control - absent
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.488 glxext_init INFO ] Extension GLX_MESA_swap_control - absent
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.488 glxext_init INFO ] Extension GLX_EXT_swap_control - absent
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.488 glxext_init INFO ] Extension GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap - present
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.488 glxext_init INFO ] Extension GLX_ARB_create_context - present
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.488 glxext_init INFO ] Extension GLX_EXT_buffer_age - absent
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.488 glxext_init INFO ] Extension GLX_ARB_create_context_robustness - absent
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.488 glxext_init INFO ] Extension GLX_MESA_query_renderer - present
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.526 gl_init DEBUG ] GL_VENDOR = Mesa
### Backend: glx
* Driver vendors:
* GLX: Mesa Project and SGI
* GL: Mesa
* GL renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 19.1.7, 256 bits)
* Accelerated: 0
(You are using a software renderer. Unless you are doing this
intentionally, this means you don't have a graphics driver
properly installed. Performance will suffer. Please fix this
before reporting your issue.)
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.553 egl_init WARN ] The egl backend is still experimental, use with care.
libEGL warning: DRI3 error: Could not get DRI3 device
libEGL warning: Activate DRI3 at Xorg or build mesa with DRI2
libEGL warning: DRI3 error: Could not get DRI3 device
libEGL warning: Activate DRI3 at Xorg or build mesa with DRI2
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.554 eglext_init INFO ] Extension EGL_EXT_buffer_age - present
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.554 eglext_init INFO ] Extension EGL_EXT_create_context_robustness - present
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.554 eglext_init INFO ] Extension EGL_KHR_image_pixmap - absent
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.554 eglext_init INFO ] Extension EGL_MESA_query_driver - present
[ 06/03/2025 12:52:04.554 egl_init ERROR ] EGL_KHR_image_pixmap not available.
Cannot initialize backend egl
It seems that somehow both glx and egl backends are used even if I configured xrender.
Can you help me to understand where I'm getting wrong?
I am currently having this issue as well, and it's been going on for a few days now. I hope we find a solution soon.
I was having the same issue. Downgrading package libconfig (1.8.1-1 => 1.8-1) worked for me. It is temp workaround until the issue gets sorted at libconfig. ( I used the "downgrade" tool in the AUR )
Ty so much for the temporary solution. Glad to have my Picom functioning as it should! :D
I believe since version 12 the preferred way of setting opacity is through the window rules.
The following properties from your config are now gone from the sample config in /etc/xdg/picom.conf in version 12.5:
inactive-opacity
active-opacity
inactive-opacity-override
mark-wmwin-focused
mark-ovredir-focused
### Backend: glx * Driver vendors: * GLX: Mesa Project and SGI * GL: Mesa * GL renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 19.1.7, 256 bits) * Accelerated: 0 (You are using a software renderer. Unless you are doing this intentionally, this means you don't have a graphics driver properly installed. Performance will suffer. Please fix this before reporting your issue.)
This
