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Compiz on FreeBSD
Compiz on FreeBSD with Gnome Desktop
These instructions are currently for open source Xorg 7.2 AIGLX drivers for i810, r200. Also NVidia using proprietary drivers and XGL, please see the Xorg section specific for Nvidia (thanks to Gabor).
Xorg.conf
All cards
Make sure you have the required modules loaded up
Section "Module"
Load "extmod"
Load "glx"
Load "dri"
Load "dbe"
Load "extmod"
Load "record"
Load "xtrap"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "vbe"
EndSection
AIGLX
For Intel and ATI cards
For the Device section, you need to enable DRI and add the following options.
Intel
Option "DRI" "yes" Option "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps" "true"
ATI
Option "DRI" "true" Option "ColorTiling" "on" Option "EnablePageFlip" "true" Option "AccelMethod" "EXA" Option "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"
Enable AIGLX
Section "ServerLayout"
...
Option "AIGLX" "true"
EndSection
Enable DRI and composite
Section "DRI"
Group "video"
Mode 0660
EndSection
Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Yes"
EndSection
XGL
For Nvidia proprietary drivers only
Section "Device"
Identifier "Card0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "nVidia Corporation"
BoardName "NV43 [GeForce 6600/GeForce 6600 GT]"
Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "True"
Option "RenderAccel" "True"
Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
Option "UseEDID" "FALSE"
EndSection
Section "Extensions" Option "Composite" "Enable" EndSection
Build Compiz from ports
x11-wm/compiz
Enable the following options
- RSVG (Optional)
- GTK
- Metacity
- Gnome
- DBUS
Setting up Compiz
First up for i810 driver users, we need to have this environment variable:
LIBGL_ALWAYS_INDIRECT=1
Then run the command to start compiz. For others you can run the command as is without this environment variable.
compiz gconf --replace
This will load compiz but there will be no window decorations (or title bars). Kill compiz by pressing CTRL-C and restart metacity to get back to default metacity window manager.
metacity &
Configuring Compiz via Gconf
First you will need to add gtk-window-decorator to the command for decorations plugin. This will give you the metacity titlebar and your closed, minimise buttons etc.
Plugins
Next you have to enable the plugins, they have to be added in particular order (info given by plugins). This is a set of common plugins that will give you basic shadows and animations, window placement, expose effect and the rotating prism.
Full size image for plugin configuration
You can add the wobbly windows if you wish, I find them distracting. :)
Ready to go
Compiz is now ready to go with some plugins and default settings. There is no integration right now to start it up automatically, so you will need a small script to start compiz.
i810 driver users
LIBGL_ALWAYS_INDIRECT=1 compiz gconf --replace &
ATI and Nvidia
compiz gconf --replace &
You should now have Compiz running, some common key combinations to try:
- Alt-Tab : Switch Windows with thumbnails
- Ctrl-Alt-Down then Ctrl-Alt Left/Right : Unfold Cube and Switch Desktops
- Ctrl-Alt-Up : Expose/Scale
Enjoy.
Some screenshots
For more information on compiz, go to the official website
