Compiz Fusion is a collection of plugins and a configuration system for composting window manager Compiz for the X Window System Compiz Fusion is the result of the union of the package Compiz Extras Compiz and Beryl parts of the project, which was independent of the core window manager. The project aims to carry almost all the features of Beryl to Compiz plugins. Compiz is an 3D desktop. It is an composting window manager for X Window System. It is essentially a software that manages both the aesthetics and the placement of windows, and a series of effects that can be applied to these windows like simple drop shadows, transparencies to an complex three-dimensional effects. It helps those who want to manage more than one application at a time on Linux. Like using a multiple desktop and running many application on it.
By default, compiz fusion is enabled and it shows the appearance and effects, for example, the transition from one desktop to another. But for a person who is unfamiliar with Ubuntu is not obvious. So go to System > Preferences > Appearance tab and choose the Visual Effects.
How to use CompizConfig Settings Manager
CompizConfig Settings Manager enables to manipulate many settings of your operating system. A user confuses with many application on the similar desktop. But that issues is resolved on Ubunut by providing multiple desktop. There are around 4 desktop support provided on Ubuntu. I use some applications on every desktop. I sometimes do not immediately remember which screen has which application running. But with the help of Compiz it becomes easy to switch from one desktop to another. It also become easy to see the applications working on those desktop and switch between them.
By this tool you can modify a number of settings easily. The thing which I think this lacks is the virtual space. The area where the cube rotates. So far I had seen the desktop as something essentially flat. The windows were passing one another, but without any depth.
How to activate Compiz in Ubuntu
By default it works, but still I am providing this settings for more light on activating the settings of Compiz. It is simple to enable Compiz. From Menu > go to System > Preferences > Appearance. You can see three options None, Normal and Extra. Extra offers you multiple options for 3D desktop support.
Modify settings of Compiz in Ubuntu 11.04
You must first understand that Ubuntu replies more on Compiz for desktop support. So it is recommended that the settings should be modified properly without any error or else you can face issues related to your Window Manager. Compiz is one of the best window manage for Linux. Configure Compiz is nice to customize your desktop appearance. There is a tool called Gconfig-Editor which can be used for this purpose.
Installing Gconfig-Editor : Run "gconf-editor" command from terminal.
After running the comamnd you can see the Gnome Configuration editor. In that you can see a folder compiz-1. It is under apps . Click on it to expand the tree and go to plugins and here you can see options to modify compiz. The configuration here is not hard. And remember that whatever changes you make will effect your operating system. There is also an option by which youc an reset compiz in case of any error. You ahve to run "reset" command to fix back the changes you did. Like you did an changes in unity. Then run "unity reset" command from the terminal to get your old settings back. A reboot will give all the affects on the screen. There are some precautions you have to take care. Like modifying the refersh rate can heat up your system more. Leav those settings which are not aware of.
There is one more things which is needed to be configured. There is an option largedesktop which is buggy and you can stop it or modify the settings. For that you have to make changes on Unity plugin directly. This makes it possible to have Unity and Cube in operation without changing the Unity plugin previously had to remove the requirement of plug-in from xml file DesktopWall of unity. You have to disable the plug in, which can not be done without disabling Unity, then Unity is locked desk instead, so you have to do is provide a profile with Compiz cube enabled.
Compiz Distributions
In Ubuntu 10.04 Compiz is already installed. Even if the graphics card is powerful enough to properly handle the settings some of them are activated by default. Below are some Compiz distribution for older version and for those who want to add this separately.
- Have a look on the below packages for more detail :
- compiz - 1:0.8.4-0ubuntu15 ( OpenGL window and compositing manager )
- compiz-core - 1:0.8.4-0ubuntu15 ( OpenGL window and compositing manager )
- compiz-fusion-plugins-extra - 0.8.4-0ubuntu2 ( Collection of extra plugins for Compiz from OpenCompositing )
- compiz-fusion-plugins-main - 0.8.4-0ubuntu3 ( Collection of plugins for Compiz from OpenCompositing )
- compiz-gnome or compiz-kde - 1:0.8.4-0ubuntu15 ( OpenGL window and compositing manager - GNOME window decorator )
- compiz-plugins - 1:0.8.4-0ubuntu15 ( OpenGL window and compositing manager - plugins )
- compizconfig-backend-gconf - 0.8.4-0ubuntu2 ( Settings library for plugins - OpenCompositing Project )
- libcompizconfig0 - 0.8.4-0ubuntu2 ( Settings library for plugins - OpenCompositing Project )
- libdecoration0 - 1:0.8.4-0ubuntu15 ( Compiz window decoration library )
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