Installing and using Compiz-Fusion on Ubuntu

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What is Compiz-Fusion?

Compiz Fusion is a collection of plugins and a configuration system for the Compiz compositing window manager for the X Window System. Compiz Fusion is the result of a merge between the old Compiz community plugin set "Compiz Extras" and the parts of the Beryl project that are independent of the window manager core.

The aim of the project is to port almost all of the features of Beryl to Compiz plugins, and continue to write further Compiz plugins. At the same time, Beryl has been discontinued and Compiz will add some of the core changes made by Beryl to the Compiz core.

Compiz : Compiz is one of the first compositing window managers for the X Window System that uses 3D graphics hardware to create fast compositing desktop effects for window management. The effects, such as a minimization effect and a cube workspace are implemented as loadable plugins. Because it conforms to the Inter-Client Communication Conventions Manual standard, Compiz can substitute for the default Metacity in GNOME or KWin in KDE.

Have a look at this video : http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...+fusion+ubuntu

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Install Compiz & Compiz Fusion plugins

Press Alt + F2. This will bring up terminal window.

Ubuntu :

Now type the following code :

sudo apt-get install compiz compizconfig-settings-manager

Kubuntu:
If you want to install Compiz-Fusion on Kubuntu you will require some common packages.

Now type the following code :

sudo apt-get install  compiz compizconfig-settings-manager  compiz-kde compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-fusion-plugins-extra  emerald librsvg2-common

This is a single code so don't split it.

If you want to install the window decorations, then you most likely need the compiz-kde, or emerald packages.

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Running Compiz[/B]

To run Compiz for the current session, Press Alt + F2 to bring up terminal. Now type :

compiz --replace

Configuring Compiz

To configure Compiz and associated plugins, type the following code in terminal :

ccsm

If ccsm is not installed, you can install it from the compizconfig-settings-manager package.

Ubuntu: System -> Preferences -> CompizConfig Settings Manager

Kubuntu: KMenu -> Settings -> CompizConfig Settings Manager or KMenu -> Settings -> Advanced Desktop Effects Settings

You can select different themes with the emerald-theme-manager tool. To download the themes for emerald You must first install subversion, then activate the theme repositories.

sudo apt-get install subversion

svn ls https://svn.generation.no/emerald-themes

You can then use the "Fetch GPL'd themes" button of The "emerald-theme-manager" tool.

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Window Decorators

Currently there are 3 choices in what window decorator to use. They work with compiz to give your windows the various borders, and widgets.

GTK Window Decorator

The GTK Window Decorator is the default window decorator provided with the Compiz package. It provides basic window borders and shadow support. It consists of two themes, Cairo decorations and Metacity decorations. GTK Window Decorator requires GNOME as it uses GConf to store it's settings.

command :

gtk-window-decorator --replace

KDE Window Decorator

The KDE Window Decorator is an alternate decorator provided by the Compiz Core package. It provides the utility of using your current KWin theme with Compiz. KDE Window Decorator requires KWin and other KDE components. KDE Window Decorator queries Compiz via DBUS for its settings.

command :

kde-window-decorator --replace

Emerald Window Decorator

The Emerald Window Decorator is a custom window decorator shipped with Compiz Fusion that allows for theming and full composite window decorations with the use of engines. Emerald allows for all sorts of different configurations and layouts of buttons, look, title bars and frames. Emerald Window Decorator is completely independent of any desktop, and you specify your own themes to use for it. The Decoration plugin must be enabled in order for Emerald Window Decorator to function.

command :

emerald --replace

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Add Compiz to Startup

This is an optinal feature.

Ubuntu

Go to System -> Preferences -> Desktop Effects and click 'Enable Desktop Effects'

Kubuntu

Type in these commands in terminal :

echo "compiz --replace" > ~/.kde/Autostart/startcompiz.sh

chmod +x ~/.kde/Autostart/startcompiz.sh