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Go crazy on eye-candy with Compiz Fusion!

July 1, 2007

DISCLAIMER: COMPIZ FUSION IS STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT AND NOT STABLE. I DO NOT RECOMMEND INSTALLING IT, NEITHER AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DATA LOSS.

With that away,

Compiz Fusion, is the new name to the project formed from the merger of compiz and Beryl.

Here’s a YouTube link(11.5MB) of Compiz Fusion Demonstration Video.

Here are the steps to install Compiz Fusion:

First Remove Compiz and Desktop Effects

sudo apt-get remove compiz-core desktop-effects

Add Compiz-git repository

Add the following to your /etc/apt/sources.list

#Treviño’s Ubuntu feisty EyeCandy Repository (GPG key: 81836EBF – DD800CD9)
# Many eyecandy 3D apps like Beryl, Compiz, Fusion and kiba-dock snapshots
# built using latest available (working) sources from git/svn/cvs…
deb http://download.tuxfamily.org/3v1deb feisty eyecandy
deb-src http://download.tuxfamily.org/3v1deb feisty eyecandy

Add Keys:

sudo wget http://download.tuxfamily.org/3v1deb/DD800CD9.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add –

Update your system

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

To Install compiz fusion in Ubuntu: (copy all and paste in a terminal)

sudo apt-get install compiz compiz-gnome compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-extra libcompizconfig-backend-gconf

To Install compiz fusion in Kubuntu: (copy all and paste in a terminal)

sudo apt-get install compiz compiz-kde compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-extra libcompizconfig-backend-kconfig

That completes installation!

Start up Compiz Fusion , Press [Alt]+F2 and type

compiz –replace

Let’s see how Compiz Fusion runs.

First up, Compiz Fusion is not as fast(or smooth) as Beryl was, on the same system. I suspect that the merger of the codebase is reason why, in any case, even on my low end system(Pentium 4 at 2.4GHz, 256 MB RAM and a GeForce FX 5200), Compiz Fusion was not slow that it brought my system to a crawl, but not as swift as Beryl was.

Most of the eye candy plugins are the same, save for some extra ones. Here’s few snapshots:

First up, the Cube is now transparent by default, and yeah it looks awesome!

Another new effect is the “Cube Reflections”

The Expose effect, now with reflections looks better than ever!

Scale plugin functions as ever, tiling up all open Windows neatly, and is one of the best reasons to have Compiz Fusion installed! Sample this desktop, all messed up, and you’ve to get to a particular app which is open:

Just move your mouse pointer to the upper right hand corner, watch!

The ring task-switcher, water effects and zoom plugins work as ever:

Ring Task Switcher

Before Zooming

After Zooming

Newer plugins include the Window blur plugin, which blurs the windows which are currently out of focus

And of course, if you wish to play with fire, there’s the Fire plugin

Also new are the Desktop Wall and Desktop plane plugins, which instead of placing the virtual desktop on different sides of cube, places them as a plane. There are also updated Animations(Rizr, Fade, Domino to name a few) for Window effects such as Minimize, Maximise etc.

Have fun with Compiz Fusion!