I modified GTK3 source code and recompiled: No effect

Question

In Ubuntu (Gnome) there is absolutely no way the change the mouse wheel scroll rate for GTK applications. It is hard-coded in GTK and determined by a "smart" algorithm which dynamically depends on the window size.

So I downloaded the source and found the function that returns the step value. I changed it to return a very small number first, and then 0 (to see if it has any affect at all).

I did

./configure
make
sudo make install

as instructed by GTK website.

It compiles with no problems (I have the libraries)

Bu then, I restart and it has absolutely no affect. My guess is Ubuntu is still using the original GTK it shipped with. What do you think is wrong here?

Answer 1

You should consider using the debian/ubuntu way of building from source as this ensures that all files goes to the intended directories. Running './configure' without any options usually sets PREFIX to '/usr/local'. Thus all the previous gtk files are still in place as they most likely reside in '/usr' and therefor gets loaded instead of the new ones you have compiled.

Try apt-get source <package> then modify the source to your liking.

Then to build the package do dpkg-build -rfakeroot -uc -b to build a .deb. Then install the .deb with dpkg -i .

This will replace the current install of the package rebuilt.

However the apt tools will try to replace this package at every system update. But it's a good way to try out changes.