Mailinglist Archive: opensuse-bugs (10049 mails)

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https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=233090

           Summary: Compiz  Implementation as it stands is far beyond the
                    scope of an ordinary user - Its activations is too
                    complex and Video Card Database Limitedv
           Product: openSUSE 10.2
           Version: Final
          Platform: i386
        OS/Version: SuSE Other
            Status: NEW
          Severity: Major
          Priority: P5 - None
         Component: Usability
        AssignedTo: siegfried.olschner@xxxxxxxxxx
        ReportedBy: alpha096@xxxxxxxxxx
         QAContact: siegfried.olschner@xxxxxxxxxx


Quote

Compiz is a window manager taking advantage of the amazing capabilities of
OpenGL. This new window manager developed by Novell engineers provides true
transparency (even for playing video media), wobbly windows, an amazing desktop
cube effect (as displayed in picture), and much, much more.

Both Compiz and Xgl come on the 10.2 CDs ready for installation. openSUSE 10.2
also ships with the latest Xorg 7.2, which allows you to run Compiz and other
composite window managers without having to use Xgl, should you wish to. 

For a brand new convert to opensuse they need to follow the following
procedure.

Using Compiz with the KDE desktop
[edit]
default Packages

First, make sure you are logged into KDE just like normal. Go into "Personal
Settings", then "Desktop", then "Taskbar". Make sure "Show windows from all
desktops" is checked. (Currently this is required for proper functioning of the
taskbar under Compiz.)

Now you need to create two files that will let KDE know that you want another
window manager (compiz) instead of the default kwin. Open the kate editor as
root: KDE Launch (green SUSE logo), Run Command: kdesu kate (you will be
prompted for the root password). Copy and paste the following into a new text
document:

/usr/bin/compiz gconf & /usr/bin/gnome-window-decorator &

Note: "gnome-window-decorator" has been replaced by "gtk-window-decorator"
since openSUSE 10.2.

Save it to /usr/local/bin with the name compiz.sh This file needs to be given
execute permissions. That can be done this way: KDE Launch, System, File
Manager, File Manager - Super User Mode (you will be promted for the root
password). Go to /usr/local/bin, right-click on compiz.sh, choose Properties,
Permissions tab, check [x] Is Executable.

One more file is needed: create it following the same procedure as for
compiz.sh , but save this one in /opt/kde3/env with the name kdewm.sh and copy
and paste this line in it:

export KDEWM=/usr/local/bin/compiz.sh

You also need to make this file executable, in the same way as for compiz.sh.
This will instruct KDE to run compiz.sh instead of kwin. Once this is done, log
out of KDE and log back in. You should have functioning Xgl on your shiny new K
Desktop Environment.
[edit]
Compiz-Quinn Packete

Last modified on 16.09.2006

Warning: Compiz-Quinn packages are now no longer maintained, use compiz or
beryl packages instead.

In case you're using the newest Compiz-Quinn packages configuration of compiz
is even easier. Create a text file

/home/username/.kde/Autostart/compiz.desktop

where username is set to the name of your user and insert the following:

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Exec=/usr/bin/compiz-start.py
GenericName[en_US]=
StartupNotify=false
Terminal=false
TerminalOptions=
Type=Application
X-KDE-autostart-after=kdesktop

Note that a themable window decorator is included in the compiz-quinn package,
so there is no need to use gnome-window-decorator on KDE. There is also a very
useful tray icon included. As it is written in python make sure to have the
following packages installed (install via Yast or Smart):

python
python-gtk
python-gnome
python-gnome-extras

Configuration GUIs are available by clicking on the tray icon.

For news on the latest compiz-quinn packages see Suse Thread on compiz.net.
[edit]
Configuring Compiz

The Desktop Effects tool which is used for enabling and disable Xgl can also be
used to configure compiz options. Start it up as before (via the GNOME Control
Center or the command line), and look at the options under the "Window
Effects", "Desktop Cube", and "Other Features" tabs. For example, you can turn
wobbly windows on or off, change the number of virtual desktops available on
the desktop "cube", and control which corner of the screen (if any) activates
the window picker.

As mentioned above, some keybindings and window management settings are
configured via the GNOME "Shortcuts" and "Windows" control panels instead.

Some of the more obscure (or more recently-added) compiz options are not
configurable from the Desktop Effects tool.

Older Compiz releases used Gconf, but Compiz-Quinn CVS packages available from
HERE use 'csm' to configure Compiz itself, and 'gcompizthemer' to theme and
style windows. Some minimal documentation is available there (and in the Compiz
page in this wiki) describing what the different options mean.

Running 'compiz-manager' will give you a nice system tray icon to launch the
various config tools.
[edit]
Troubleshooting
[edit]
Nvidia: Cursor flickers or leaves artifact trails

If you have an Nvidia card (tested with 6600GT), and your mouse cursor is
flickering, you need to set the HWCursor option to "On" in your
/etc/X11/xorg.conf, under the [Screen] header.
[edit]
White screen/cube

If you are only seeing a white screen after logging in, chances are you are
using a Xgl server version that was built with different libraries than the
window manager (see here for more information). An Xgl version that works with
openSUSE 10.2 is cvs_060522-39.
[edit]
KDE Users

If you choose KDE as the default desktop during your installation of SUSE Linux
10.1 you may have some problems. The just before the logon manager is about to
start you get dumped back to the first console. dmesg tells you "X server
startup timeout, terminating". If you have both gnome and kde installed, edit
your /etc/sysconfig/displaymanager and set the DISPLAYMANAGER="gdm".
[edit]
Links

For more information about Xgl and Compiz in general, please read the Xgl and
Compiz overviews. If you are having problems enabling Xgl, see the Xgl
troubleshooting page.

Visit #Xgl at irc.freenode.org for more support.
Retrieved from "http://en.opensuse.org/Using_Xgl_on_SUSE_Linux";

Currently if I show a New Linux user who has never edited a file since 1995
when Microsoft finally realised that the user base was incapable of maintaining
2 files autoexec.bat and config.sys

There must be an automated easier was to actieve the above. Confronting a
convert user and presenting this the above is just mind blowing. I have tested
it with a few collogues and their overwhelming comment is "If I cannot click on
it it does not happen”

We do have a large amount of opensuse customers, however a new user confronted
with above is lost and says forget it.

Sometimes with current development we loose sight on gaining a new user and
version 10.2 would scare most new users.

During my time as a Technical Support Manager for a software company and
largest time spent on corporate help desk time was just talking through editing
of 2 files config.sys and autoexec.bat right before windows 95 was release.
Indeed Mac launched a large advertising campaign which was successful as the
proudly touted there were no files to edit and Windows 95 was born 

I do understand that the package is a vast collection of individual
applications and sometimes we are currently forced to edit files. This is
unavoidable.

It seems just a pity that possible the greatest advance to desktop management
is only for the elite to install, rather than an installation option explaining
to the user the benefits of compiz and allowing them to decide, havering a
quick test of their video cards ability to adopt the new features.

The Video Database is quite small in respect to ATI cards which are widely user
and most support Hardware acceleration - driver dependant.

I feel development is loosing its affinity with the common user and even a new
tech in charge of a Network - Perhaps some market focus testing may uncover
what we even I take for granted as difficult to others, to the point of the
user not accepting opensuse. We seem to be developing a cult following who no
one dare enter by reading all the problems and comments in the self help email
lists

For Discussionv


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