Installing Compiz

In order to run compiz, you will likely want to set up Xgl or AIGLX first. Please make sure you have already installed Xgl or AIGLX. For more, consult the CompositeManager page.

Setting up repositories

Make sure that you have the proper repositories configured. You need the Universe and Multiverse repositories as well as either one of the following two non-Ubuntu repositories:

deb http://www.beerorkid.com/compiz dapper main
deb http://xgl.compiz.info/ dapper main

If you need help with adding repositories, please see AddingRepositoriesHowto.

The packages in Quinn's [http://beerorkid.com/compiz/ compiz repositories] can be gpg authenticated. If you want to be able to check the packages against QuinnStorm's [http://www.beerorkid.com/compiz/quinn.key.asc gpg signature], import her key by typing the following command in a terminal: {{{gpg --keyserver subkeys.pgp.net --recv-keys 0x31a5f97fed8a569e gpg --export --armor 0x31a5f97fed8a569e | sudo apt-key add -}}}

If you do not import the pgp key, you will receive an error message "The integrity of the packages cannot be verified".

For more on secure apt, see [http://wiki.debian.org/SecureApt Secure Apt] on the Debian wiki.

Now update the package list and do a dist-upgrade to make sure we get the latest mesa packages and such:

{{{$ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get dist-upgrade}}}

Update-Manager will now inform you about updates to the compiz repositories.

Optionally: CVS repository

QuinnStorm provides access to the CVS repository for those who wish to have the absolute latest code.

cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@metascape.afraid.org:/cvsroot login
password: ''leave blank''
cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@metascape.afraid.org:/cvsroot co compiz

A web-view of the CVS can be found [http://metascape.afraid.org:13666/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/compiz/ here].

Selecting the packages

The packages we need are compiz and compiz-gnome or compiz-kde (actually there are more packages but these two take care of all the dependencies). gset-compiz is a nifty front-end for setting general compiz preferencs as well as the numerous parameters of the compiz plugins.

A suggested install of compiz would include the following packages:

compiz
compiz-gnome
gset-compiz

There is no package gset-compiz (for dapper amd64)

Are the KDE packages ready? KDE users, let others know about your preferred packages.

Getting Compiz to Run

How you get compiz to run depends upon your Xgl or AIGLX setup. Methods A and C are Gnome-specific; method B is not. KDE users may note that some parts do say gnome, do not fret, it still works. Currently the compiz-kde package is trash and doesn't work, but compiz-gnome works with KDE. gnome-window-decorator also works with KDE.

Method A: Session (GNOME)

This procedure assumes that you have logged into your Xgl server session and that you have installed the compiz-gnome package and its dependencies as discussed above.

First, we'll start up gnome-window-decorator, which compiz needs for drawing the title bars of windows etc. Open a terminal and type

gnome-window-decorator &

When you run compiz for the first time, type the following into a terminal:

compiz --replace gconf decoration wobbly fade minimize cube rotate zoom scale move resize place switcher water &

You can then start compiz at the beginning of each Xgl server session by placing two commands in your session file. Navigate to "System > Preference > Sessions". Click on the right-most tab, "Startup Programs".

• attachment:gnome-session.png

Create a new entry for the window-decorator:

gnome-window-decorator

Now create a new entry for compiz:

compiz --replace gconf

Close the Session Preference Panel. Now compiz should start every time you log into your Xgl-Gnome session.

Method B: Script

This procedure assumes that you have logged into your Xgl server session and that you have installed the compiz-gnome package and its dependencies as discussed above.

Create a new script on your desktop:

$ sudo gedit ~/Desktop/compiz

And paste this into it:

gnome-window-decorator &
compiz --replace gconf &
xmodmap /usr/share/xmodmap/xmodmap.us

If your keyboard layout isn't English US, then change the last two letters in the line 'xmodmap /usr/share/xmodmap/xmodmap.??'. If you need US with deadkeys, then use '.us_intl'.)

Make sure xmodmap is installed. If not you will need to install it. Some users have noted /usr/share/xmodmap does not exist on their system, if so you must install gnome-applets-data.

Make your new script executable:

sudo chmod +x ~/Desktop/compiz 

Now type

$ sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart

to restart the gnome display manager. Now you can double-click "compiz" on the desktop to launch compiz.

Method C: Toggle

This procedure assumes that you have logged into your Xgl server session and that you have installed the compiz-gnome package and its dependencies as discussed above.

The following script allows you to toggle between metacity (Gnome's default window manager) and compiz from within your Xgl session:

sudo gedit /usr/local/bin/toggle-compiz.sh

if ps -A | grep -e "compiz.real$" > /dev/null; then
        killall gnome-window-decorator
        metacity --replace &
else
        gnome-window-decorator &
        compiz --replace gconf &
fi

Make the script executable:

sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/toggle-compiz.sh 

Now you can create a desktop shortcut or a gnome panel launcher to easily toggle between compiz and metacity.

Done! - Now what?

Let's find out about [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/CompositeManager/ConfiguringCompiz configuring and using compiz!]

Note: troubleshooting section will follow

CategoryDocumentation