Screen tearing due to no Picom config being loaded on boot

[TimVanDyke]

• I've run a search on the existing bug reports to make sure I'm not filing a duplicate (you can use the search box at the top left corner)
• I've read the Regolith documentation and didn't find any relevant topic
• I tried asking on Slack (especially for configuration related issues) (This slack link isn't working I don't think? I clicked it and didn't get to the right place)

Describe the bug
Screen tearing despite updating the picom config to enable V sync (this fixes it see below)

These config changes only actually load after running

pkill picom
picom --config .config/regolith3/picom/config

I tried updating /etc/regolith/picom/config and also ~/.config/regolith3/picom/config

running picom manually after boot and pointing to my config file is fixing my issue and is my workaround for now.

To Reproduce
use the default picom settings, and try to override them according to the docs here: https://regolith-desktop.com/docs/howtos/customize-compositor/

I test screen tearing with this video. It's immediately apparent if it's broken or fixed while viewing it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfL_JkcEFbE

Expected behavior
regolith loads my custom config (updating the default path /etc/regolith/picom/config doesn't work either as mentioned)

Configuration file(s)
Please attach or mention any customization you've done to configuration files which might have an impact on the bug you are describing. It'll help us determine the root cause of your issue.

I don't think it makes a difference but here's my config that fixes the screen tearing:

hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ cat .config/regolith3/picom/config 
#################################
#
# Adapted for Regolith from https://gist.github.com/vemacs/458d101ad0bfb79ab70792ecb977c40c
# Modified per https://github.com/regolith-linux/regolith-desktop/issues/578
#
#################################

#################################
#
# Backend
#
#################################

# Backend to use: "xrender" or "glx".
# GLX backend is typically much faster but depends on a sane driver.
backend = "glx";

#################################
#
# GLX backend
#
#################################

glx-no-stencil = true;

# GLX backend: Copy unmodified regions from front buffer instead of redrawing them all.
# My tests with nvidia-drivers show a 10% decrease in performance when the whole screen is modified,
# but a 20% increase when only 1/4 is.
# My tests on nouveau show terrible slowdown.
# Useful with --glx-swap-method, as well.
glx-copy-from-front = true;
glx-swap-method = 2;

# GLX backend: Use MESA_copy_sub_buffer to do partial screen update.
# My tests on nouveau shows a 200% performance boost when only 1/4 of the screen is updated.
# May break VSync and is not available on some drivers.
# Overrides --glx-copy-from-front.
# glx-use-copysubbuffermesa = true;

# GLX backend: Avoid rebinding pixmap on window damage.
# Probably could improve performance on rapid window content changes, but is known to break things on some drivers (LLVMpipe).
# Recommended if it works.
glx-no-rebind-pixmap = true;

use-damage = true;

# Additionally use X Sync fence to sync clients' draw calls.
# Needed on nvidia-drivers with GLX backend for some users.
xrender-sync = true;
xrender-sync-fence = true;

#################################
#
# Shadows
#
#################################

# Enabled client-side shadows on windows.
shadow = true;
# The blur radius for shadows. (default 12)
shadow-radius = 7;
# The left offset for shadows. (default -15)
shadow-offset-x = -5;
# The top offset for shadows. (default -15)
shadow-offset-y = -5;
# The translucency for shadows. (default .75)
shadow-opacity = 0.8;

# Set if you want different colour shadows
# shadow-red = 0.0;
# shadow-green = 0.0;
# shadow-blue = 0.0;

# The shadow exclude options are helpful if you have shadows enabled. Due to the way picom draws its shadows, certain applications will have visual glitches
# (most applications are fine, only apps that do weird things with xshapes or argb are affected).
# This list includes all the affected apps I found in my testing. The "! name~=''" part excludes shadows on any "Unknown" windows, this prevents a visual glitch with the XFWM alt tab switcher.
shadow-exclude = [
    "! name~=''",
    "name = 'Notification'",
    "name = 'Plank'",
    "name = 'Docky'",
    "name = 'Kupfer'",
    "name = 'xfce4-notifyd'",
    "name *= 'compton'",
    "name *= 'picom'",
    "name *= 'cpt_frame_window'",
    "name *= 'cpt_frame_xcb_window'",
    "name *= 'wrapper-2.0'",
    "class_g = 'Conky'",
    "class_g = 'Kupfer'",
    "class_g = 'Synapse'",
    "class_g ?= 'Notify-osd'",
    "class_g ?= 'Cairo-dock'",
    "_GTK_FRAME_EXTENTS@:c",
    "_NET_WM_STATE@:32a *= '_NET_WM_STATE_HIDDEN'"
];
# Avoid drawing shadow on all shaped windows (see also: --detect-rounded-corners)
shadow-ignore-shaped = false;

#################################
#
# Opacity
#
#################################

inactive-opacity = 1;
active-opacity = 1;
frame-opacity = 1;
inactive-opacity-override = false;

# Dim inactive windows. (0.0 - 1.0)
inactive-dim = 0.03;
# Do not let dimness adjust based on window opacity.
inactive-dim-fixed = true;
# Blur background of transparent windows. Bad performance with X Render backend. GLX backend is preferred.
# blur-background = true;
# Blur background of opaque windows with transparent frames as well.
# blur-background-frame = true;
# Do not let blur radius adjust based on window opacity.
blur-background-fixed = false;
blur-background-exclude = [
    "window_type = 'dock'",
    "window_type = 'desktop'"
];

#################################
#
# Fading
#
#################################

# Fade windows during opacity changes.
fading = true;
# The time between steps in a fade in milliseconds. (default 10).
fade-delta = 3;
# Opacity change between steps while fading in. (default 0.028).
fade-in-step = 0.03;
# Opacity change between steps while fading out. (default 0.03).
fade-out-step = 0.03;
# Fade windows in/out when opening/closing
# no-fading-openclose = true;

# Specify a list of conditions of windows that should not be faded.
fade-exclude = [
    "name *= 'ilia'"
];

#################################
#
# Other
#
#################################

# Try to detect WM windows and mark them as active.
mark-wmwin-focused = true;
# Mark all non-WM but override-redirect windows active (e.g. menus).
mark-ovredir-focused = true;
# Use EWMH _NET_WM_ACTIVE_WINDOW to determine which window is focused instead of using FocusIn/Out events.
# Usually more reliable but depends on a EWMH-compliant WM.
use-ewmh-active-win = true;
# Detect rounded corners and treat them as rectangular when --shadow-ignore-shaped is on.
detect-rounded-corners = true;

# Detect _NET_WM_OPACITY on client windows, useful for window managers not passing _NET_WM_OPACITY of client windows to frame windows.
# This prevents opacity being ignored for some apps.
# For example without this enabled my xfce4-notifyd is 100% opacity no matter what.
detect-client-opacity = true;

# Set VSync.
vsync = true;

# Enable DBE painting mode, intended to use with VSync to (hopefully) eliminate tearing.
# Reported to have no effect, though.
dbe = true;

# Unredirect all windows if a full-screen opaque window is detected, to maximize performance for full-screen windows, like games.
# Known to cause flickering when redirecting/unredirecting windows.
# paint-on-overlay may make the flickering less obvious.
unredir-if-possible = true;

# Specify a list of conditions of windows that should always be considered focused.
focus-exclude = [ ];

# Use WM_TRANSIENT_FOR to group windows, and consider windows in the same group focused at the same time.
detect-transient = true;
# Use WM_CLIENT_LEADER to group windows, and consider windows in the same group focused at the same time.
# WM_TRANSIENT_FOR has higher priority if --detect-transient is enabled, too.
detect-client-leader = true;

# Prevent shadows from drawing across displays.
xinerama-shadow-crop = true;

#################################
#
# Window type settings
#
#################################

wintypes:
{
    tooltip =
    {
        # fade: Fade the particular type of windows.
        fade = true;
        # shadow: Give those windows shadow
        shadow = false;
        # opacity: Default opacity for the type of windows.
        opacity = 0.85;
        # focus: Whether to always consider windows of this type focused.
        focus = true;
    };
    dock = { shadow = true; }
    dnd = { shadow = false; }
    popup_menu = {
        opacity = 1.0;
        shadow = false;
        fade = false;
    }
    dropdown_menu = {
        opacity = 1.0;
        fade = false;
    }
};
hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ 

Installation Details

• Regolith Install Type: [ISO]
• Regolith Version: [3.1] (Took me a second to find where this is, I would add this to the template for posterity)

hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ cat /etc/regolith/version 
REGOLITH_VERSION=3.1

• PPA url: [default: ppa:regolith-linux/release I think I'm on whatever the default is] please update this template to tell me how to know
• Host OS (for PPA): [Ubuntu 23.10] I used neofetch to find this, I'd add a command to the template so people know how to find it without installing something

[TimVanDyke]

I've never done Linux development before. If someone tells me which project of Regolith this is in I'd be apt to try to fix it myself

[kgilmer]

Hi @TimVanDyke , sorry it's not clear to me if the issue is screen tearing or that your config isn't loading as expected. Here is the code that looks for a user-staged picom config file and loads it, or the default if doesn't exist: https://github.com/regolith-linux/regolith-compositor-picom-glx/blob/master/init#L12 Does that provide any help?

[TimVanDyke]

The issue is neither config is loading on boot.

I konw this is the case because when I kill Picom and run it pointing to a config it fixes my screen tearing.

When I changed the default regolith config AND when I tried overriding it in $home/.config/regolith/picom/config it doesn't load the config. I will take a look at that link thank you

Looking closer I see that I have a "residual config" from compton:

hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ sudo apt list | grep "regolith-compositor"

WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in scripts.

regolith-compositor-compton-glx/unknown 1.2.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [residual-config]
regolith-compositor-none/unknown 1.0.3-1-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-compositor-picom-glx/unknown,now 1.3.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-compositor-xcompmgr/unknown 1.3.0-1-1regolith-mantic amd64
hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ sudo apt remove --purge regolith-compositor-compton-glx
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  regolith-compositor-compton-glx*
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 25 not upgraded.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n] 

I'll purge that and reboot real quick

[TimVanDyke]

Post reboot here is what's installed:

hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ sudo apt list | grep "regolith-compositor"
[sudo] password for hippo: 

WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in scripts.

regolith-compositor-compton-glx/unknown 1.2.0-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-compositor-none/unknown 1.0.3-1-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-compositor-picom-glx/unknown,now 1.3.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-compositor-xcompmgr/unknown 1.3.0-1-1regolith-mantic amd64

My screen is currently tearing.

~/.config/regolith3/picom/config exists.

pkill picom had tab autocomplete on picom and caused my screen to flash so picom was clearly running

Now running
picom --config $HOME/.config/regolith3/picom/config

fixes my screen tearing

This leads me to believe that it isn't loading the config correctly.

[TimVanDyke]

Running that script you linked is working, what calls that?

I modified it and added it to my scripts directory (just added print output) and it is working as I'd expect and loading the config:

cat picom-restart 
#!/bin/bash

compositor_PID=$(pidof picom)

while [ ! -z "$compositor_PID" ]; do
  echo "Killing Picom"
  kill $compositor_PID
  sleep .1
  compositor_PID=$(pidof picom)
done

echo "Picom Killed"

if [[ -f "$HOME/.config/regolith3/picom/config" ]]; then
  echo "starting with home directory thing"
  /usr/bin/picom --config "$HOME/.config/regolith3/picom/config" --daemon
else
  echo "starting with else path"
  CONFIG_PATH=$(xrescat regolith.compositor.picom.config /etc/regolith/picom/config)
  /usr/bin/picom --config "$CONFIG_PATH" --daemon
fi

output:

picom-restart 
Killing Picom
Picom Killed
starting with home directory thing

[kgilmer]

It's regolith-i3-compositor, and it doesn't look like your grep would yield if that package is installed. It should have been pulled in as a "soft" dependency when regolith-i3-root-config was installed (itself a hard dependency from the root session package, regolith-session-flashback.)

[TimVanDyke]

I do have both of those installed:

hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ sudo apt list | grep "i3-compositor"

WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in scripts.

regolith-i3-compositor/unknown 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64
hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ sudo apt list | grep "regolith-session"

WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in scripts.

regolith-session-common/unknown,now 1.0.5-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-session-flashback-ext/unknown,now 1.0.5-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-session-flashback/unknown,now 1.0.5-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-session-sway/unknown,now 1.0.5-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ 

For good measure here is everything I have installed with "regolith" in the name:

hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ sudo apt list | grep "regolith"

WARNING: apt does not have a stable CLI interface. Use with caution in scripts.

arc-icon-theme/unknown,now 20161122-1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
ayu-theme/unknown,now 0.2.2-1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
childe/unknown 0.1.2-1regolith-mantic amd64
dracula-gtk/unknown,now 1.1.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
dracula-icon-theme/unknown 1.1.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
fonts-materialdesignicons-webfont/unknown 1.6.50-3regolith1-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-3270/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-agave/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-anonymouspro/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-arimo/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-aurulentsansmono/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-bigblueterminal/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-bitstreamverasansmono/unknown,now 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all [installed,automatic]
fonts-nerd-font-cascadiacode/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-codenewroman/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-cousine/unknown,now 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all [installed,automatic]
fonts-nerd-font-daddytimemono/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-dejavusansmono/unknown,now 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all [installed,automatic]
fonts-nerd-font-droidsansmono/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-fantasquesansmono/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-firacode/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-firamono/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-go-mono/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-gohu/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-hack/unknown,now 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all [installed,automatic]
fonts-nerd-font-hasklig/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-heavydata/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-hermit/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-ia-writer/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-ibmplexmono/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-inconsolata/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-inconsolatago/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-inconsolatalgc/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-iosevka/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-jetbrainsmono/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-lekton/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-liberationmono/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-meslo/unknown,now 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all [installed,automatic]
fonts-nerd-font-monofur/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-monoid/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-mononoki/unknown,now 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all [installed,automatic]
fonts-nerd-font-mplus/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-opendyslexic/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-overpass/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-profont/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-proggyclean/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-robotomono/unknown,now 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all [installed,automatic]
fonts-nerd-font-sharetechmono/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-sourcecodepro/unknown,now 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all [installed,automatic]
fonts-nerd-font-spacemono/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-terminus/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-tinos/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-ubuntu/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-ubuntumono/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-nerd-font-victormono/unknown 2.1.0-2-1regolith-mantic all
fonts-source-code-pro-ttf/unknown 1.010-0ubuntu1~ppa2-1regolith-mantic all
gruvbox-gtk/unknown,now 1.0.1-1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
gtklock/unknown,now 2.0.1-1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
i3-gaps-wm/now 4.21-2-1regolith amd64 [installed,local]
i3-next-workspace/unknown,now 1.0.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
i3-session/unknown 4.22-1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3-snapshot/unknown 1.0-1ubuntu1~ppa1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3-swap-focus/unknown,now 0.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
i3-wm-dbg/unknown 4.22-1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3-wm/unknown 4.22-1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3/unknown 4.22-1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3status-rs/unknown,now 0.31.5-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
i3xrocks-app-launcher/unknown 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3xrocks-battery/unknown,now 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
i3xrocks-bluetooth/unknown,now 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
i3xrocks-cpu-usage/unknown,now 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
i3xrocks-disk-capacity/unknown 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3xrocks-focused-window-name/unknown,now 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
i3xrocks-info/unknown,now 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
i3xrocks-key-indicator/unknown 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3xrocks-keyboard-layout/unknown 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3xrocks-media-player/unknown 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3xrocks-memory/unknown,now 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
i3xrocks-microphone/unknown 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3xrocks-net-traffic/unknown 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3xrocks-next-workspace/unknown 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3xrocks-nm-vpn/unknown 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3xrocks-openvpn/unknown 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3xrocks-rofication/unknown,now 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
i3xrocks-tailscale/unknown 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3xrocks-temp/unknown,now 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
i3xrocks-time/unknown,now 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
i3xrocks-updates/unknown 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3xrocks-volume/unknown,now 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
i3xrocks-weather/unknown 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3xrocks-wifi/unknown 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64
i3xrocks/unknown,now 1.3.5-1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
ilia/unknown,now 0.13.1-jammy-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
lago/unknown 0.1.0-1-1regolith-mantic amd64
libtrawldb/unknown,now 0.1-2-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
logind-ignore-lidswitch/unknown,now 0.2.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
logind-ignore-powerkey/unknown,now 0.2.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
nordic-bluish-accent/unknown 2.1.0-1-1regolith-mantic all
nordic-darker/unknown 2.1.0-1-1regolith-mantic all
nordic-polar/unknown 2.1.0-1-1regolith-mantic all
nordic/unknown,now 2.1.0-1-1regolith-mantic all [installed,automatic]
plymouth-theme-regolith-logo/unknown,now 1.2.1-1regolith-mantic all [installed]
regolith-avizo/unknown,now 0.1.3-1regolith-mantic all [installed,automatic]
regolith-compositor-compton-glx/unknown 1.2.0-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-compositor-none/unknown 1.0.3-1-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-compositor-picom-glx/unknown,now 1.3.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-compositor-xcompmgr/unknown 1.3.0-1-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-control-center-dev/unknown 1.43.1-7-1regolith-mantic all
regolith-control-center/unknown,now 1.45.5-1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-default-settings/unknown,now 2.0.4-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-desktop/unknown,now 4.7.2-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-displayd/unknown,now 0.2.5-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-distro-ubuntu/unknown 2.0.0-1-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-ftue/unknown,now 2.2.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-i3-compositor/unknown 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-i3-config/now 3.8.1-jammy-1regolith amd64 [residual-config]
regolith-i3-control-center-gnome/unknown 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-i3-control-center-regolith/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-i3-default-style/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-i3-gaps/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-i3-i3xrocks/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-i3-ilia/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-i3-next-workspace/unknown 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-i3-rofi/unknown 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-i3-rofication/unknown 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-i3-root-config/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-i3-session/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-i3-unclutter/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-i3xrocks-config/unknown,now 5.5.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-inputd/unknown,now 0.2.2-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-lightdm-config/unknown,now 1.3.5-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-look-ayu-dark/unknown,now 0.9.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-look-ayu-mirage/unknown,now 0.9.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-look-ayu/unknown,now 0.9.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-look-blackhole/unknown,now 0.9.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-look-default-loader/unknown,now 0.8.2-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-look-default/unknown,now 0.8.2-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-look-dracula/unknown,now 0.9.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-look-gruvbox/unknown,now 0.9.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-look-i3-default/unknown,now 0.9.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-look-lascaille/unknown,now 0.9.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-look-nevil/unknown,now 0.9.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-look-nord/unknown,now 0.9.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-look-solarized-dark/unknown,now 0.9.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-powerd/unknown,now 0.2.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-rofi-config/unknown 1.4.1-1-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-rofication/unknown,now 1.5.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-session-common/unknown,now 1.0.5-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-session-flashback-ext/unknown,now 1.0.5-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-session-flashback/unknown,now 1.0.5-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-session-sway/unknown,now 1.0.5-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-sway-audio-idle-inhibit/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-background/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-clamshell/unknown 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-sway-control-center-regolith/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-dbus-activation/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-default-style/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-gaps/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-gsd/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-gtklock/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-i3status-rs/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-ilia/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-media-keys/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-next-workspace/unknown 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-sway-polkit/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-root-config/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-screensharing/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-session/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-sway-unclutter/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-system-ubuntu/unknown,now 1.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed]
regolith-unclutter-xfixes/unknown,now 1.5-2-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-wm-base-launchers/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-wm-config/unknown 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [upgradable from: 4.1.6-1regolith-lunar]
regolith-wm-ftue/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-wm-navigation/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-wm-networkmanager/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-wm-next-workspace/unknown 4.3.0-1regolith-mantic amd64 [upgradable from: 4.1.6-1regolith-lunar]
regolith-wm-resize/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-wm-rofication-ilia/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-wm-swap-focus/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
regolith-wm-user-programs/unknown 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64
regolith-wm-workspace-config/unknown,now 4.4.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
remontoire/unknown,now 1.4.2-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
solarc-theme/unknown,now 800c997-3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
sway-audio-idle-inhibit/unknown,now 0.1.1-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
sway-regolith/unknown,now 1.8.1-4-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
trawlcat/unknown,now 0.2.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
trawld/unknown,now 0.2.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
trawldb/unknown,now 0.2.3-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
whitesur-gtk-theme/unknown,now 1.0-2202.02.21-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
xdg-desktop-portal-regolith-wayland-config/unknown,now 0.3.4-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
xdg-desktop-portal-regolith-x11-config/unknown,now 0.3.4-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
xdg-desktop-portal-regolith/unknown,now 0.3.4-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
xrescat/unknown,now 1.2.1-2-1regolith-mantic amd64 [installed,automatic]
hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ 

[kgilmer]

Not sure why regolith-i3-compositor partial wouldn't be executing the picom init script. Does this return something for you? xrescat wm.program.compositor

[TimVanDyke]

I get no output from that:

hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ xrescat wm.program.compositor
hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ 

What should the output be?

[TimVanDyke]

For what it's worth I upgraded from Regolith 2 and have had screen tearing for a long time, possibly even during the regolith 2 days.

This doesn't return anything either (and I wouldn't expect it to)

hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ xrescat i3-wm.program.compositor
hippo@hippo-XPS-15-9570:~$ 

[kgilmer]

What should the output be?

Empty means "default" in this case, which is what I would expect. If you had set that to some other path, that would explain why the i3 isn't loading the compositor for you, but since you didn't set it, it's not the cause.