I have post a tutorial using Compiz to set a transparent terminal window stick on Ubuntu wallpaper, but I failed setting it up in Ubuntu 12.04 Unity. So here’s an alternative for some want a transparent terminal on Ubuntu 12.04 wallpaper using tilda.

Tilda is a highly customizable Linux terminal window. The author is inspired by classical terminals featured in first person shooter games, Quake, Doom and Half-Life to name a few, where the terminal has no border and is hidden from the desktop till a key or keys are pressed.

First let’s install Tilda using Ubuntu Software Center, or execute this command in terminal:

sudo apt-get install tilda

Now launch tilda from the dash. It auto pops-up Preferences window at first launch (don’t configure on this Preferences window if you want transparent runs at login). Close it and then launch it from right-click menu. Do following configurations:

  • under General tab, disable “Always on top”
  • under Appearance tab, adjust height and width, enable Transparency and set to 100
  • under Colors tab, set to Green on Black (change as you like)
  • under scrolling tab, disable scrollbar.

Now launch Startup Applications, click Add to make this startup at login.