Compiz and 3D-Desktop.

glore2002 · 06-24-2008, 04:25 AM

Hello!

Is it possible to install Compiz in Slackware 12.1 (with the cube and some of its effects? If so, please, let me know how to do it. Does it work well?

I've heard that there is another 3d desktop (3d-Desktop). Which one would you recommend or which one works better with Slackware 12.1?

Thank you!

plenty · 06-24-2008, 06:37 AM

Hi! Yes, it is possible to install Compiz in Slackware 12.1 (x/compiz-0.7.4-i486.tgz). But you also need a little bit more packages to play with it. Look at slackbuilds.org: ccsm. You can find other packages in its description.

allend · 06-24-2008, 09:06 AM

Starting compiz from within KDE requires executing two commands in a terminal window:
1. compiz --replace dbus png svg decoration wobbly fade minimize cube switcher move resize place rotate scale &
2. kde-window-decorator --replace &

The above assumes that your graphics supports direct rendering, (check the output from glxinfo) and that your xorg.conf contains the lines to enable the features that compiz requires. (I am lucky in that my nVidia card using the nVidia proprietary driver automatically writes a working xorg.conf). For other cards you could trying searching this forum for further information.

Once you have compiz running, KDE will automatically restart compiz for your next KDE session.

To stop compiz, from within KDE open a terminal window and kill the compiz and kde-window-decorator processes, then immediately logout of KDE. Upon next restart compiz should be gone.

This sounds simple and it should be, but experience shows that there are many pitfalls. Good luck!

SCerovec · 06-24-2008, 04:44 PM

FYI
Slackware is the only distro I tried regarding compiz that offers an painless bailout:

Code:

kwin --replace &

doublechecked

YMMV
but i stil have nightmares of compiz on fedora,debian,pclinuxos,...

glore2002 · 06-24-2008, 05:54 PM

Thanks for the help!

I've installed Compiz from Slackbuilds.org (all the packages except # 4 and 13). #4 I guess is for Gnome and can't install #13 because it says I have no permission (being root?). But, since it is optional, I think it doesn't make any difference.

These packages are:

Code:

1. compiz-bcop
 2. libcompizconfig
 3. compizconfig-backend-kconfig (optional)
 4. compizconfig-backend-gconf (optional)
 5. compizconfig-python
 6. ccsm
 7. simple-ccsm (optional)
 8. compiz-fusion-plugins-main
 9. compiz-fusion-plugins-extra (optional)
10. compiz-fusion-plugins-unsupported (optional)
11. emerald (optional)
12. emerald-themes (optional)
13. fusion-icon (optional)

Then, when running

Code:

1. compiz --replace dbus png svg decoration wobbly fade minimize cube switcher move resize place rotate scale &
2. kde-window-decorator --replace &

All the windows borders disappeared and terminal appears completely white. I have to restart and then everything goes back to normal (without Compiz of course).

So, I uninstalled Compiz (all the packages). Now I see there is another reply that says...

Code:

kwin --replace &

What is kwin --replace & ?

What am I doing wrong? Is it worth installing Compiz or not :-)?

By the way, my xorg.conf looks like:

Code:

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Simple Layout"
    Screen         "Screen 1" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    RgbPath         "/usr/share/X11/rgb"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/local/"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/misc/"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/OTF/"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/TTF/"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/Type1/"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/CID/"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/Speedo/"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi/"
 FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi/"
    FontPath        "/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic/"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "dbe"        # Double buffer extension
    SubSection     "extmod"
        Option         "omit xfree86-dga"   # don't initialise the DGA extension
    EndSubSection
    Load           "type1"
    Load           "freetype"
    Load           "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Option     "XkbLayout"     "es"
    Identifier     "Keyboard1"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier     "Mouse1"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
    Option "Buttons" "5"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/mouse"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "My Monitor"
    HorizSync       31 - 81
    VertRefresh     56 - 75
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "VESA Framebuffer"
    Driver         "nvidia"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen 1"
    Device         "VESA Framebuffer"
    Monitor        "My Monitor"
    DefaultDepth    24
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes      "1280x1024"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Thanks again.
Glore2002.-

slackass · 06-24-2008, 07:17 PM

I had all the same problems that you had and found no solutions to them.
Sometimes it works and sometimes not. Sometimes it locks up the desk top and nuthin will work and the only way I could get out is with the Micky Soft Windows button. (reset switch)
Compiz is ok to play with when it works but I don't put it on a system that I have to depend on.

glore2002 · 06-24-2008, 07:38 PM

Thanks Slackass! You're completely right! I took Compiz away from my system! Nice to play with but not necessary for a system to work. It just makes things more difficult :-)

Thanks again,
Glore2002.-

T3slider · 06-24-2008, 08:48 PM

If you want Compiz to work with as few worries as possible, fusion-icon is a must. It automates most things for you so you don't lose your window decorations (and therefore don't have to manually restart them). However, even with fusion-icon it is WAY to unstable for me, and causes more headaches than it's worth. I gave the compiz thing a serious try and left it by the wayside, never to touch it again. There are some nice things in compiz that aren't just for looks, but they're just not worth the effort an instability in my opinion. However, if you disagree, I would definitely recommend getting fusion-icon to work (as well as CCSM, etc.).

SCerovec · 06-27-2008, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glore2002

Thanks for the help!

Then, when running

Code:

1. compiz --replace dbus png svg decoration wobbly fade minimize cube switcher move resize place rotate scale &
2. kde-window-decorator --replace &

You need 1sec delay in between those commands ;-)

Code:

compiz $args1
sleep 1
kde-window-decorator $args2

IMHO
(I didn't realize it was unstable on slackware - I didn't install one single unofficial package besides NVIDIA's OEM installer. YMMV.)

Quote:

All the windows borders disappeared and terminal appears completely white. I have to restart and then everything goes back to normal (without Compiz of course).

You have compiz, but the window-decorator (the borders) is not running.
What is the output of the second command when You enter it?

Quote:

So, I uninstalled Compiz (all the packages). Now I see there is another reply that says...

Code:

kwin --replace &

What is kwin --replace & ?

kwin is the 'engine' of KDE's own window porders ;-)

Quote:

What am I doing wrong? Is it worth installing Compiz or not :-)?

You don't seem to read enough or with enough understainding. :-) Like I once did. As compiz is part of Slackware now You can only refrain from 3rd party packages. Use XFCE instead of gnome...

Quote:

Thanks again.
Glore2002.-

You are very welcome.

Post te outcome, please?