Compiz Gets Thumbs-Up for Gutsy Gibbon

Da Chronic writes "After a vigorous debate at the last Ubuntu Technical Board meeting, the board decided to ship Ubuntu 7.10 with Compiz enabled by default. The decision was made despite the fact that Compiz still has some significant issues relating to drivers and Xorg. 'For instance, there are some problems — like accelerated video playback issues with Intel drivers — that can only be resolved by using the EXA accelerated rendering framework which is still not ready yet. When asked why Intel isn't addressing the driver issue, technical board member Mathew Garrett explained that "Intel are working on the basis that composited desktops won't be ready for rolling out until EXA is stable enough anyway, so it's not a concern [for them].' In the end, all but one member voted to include Compiz in Gutsy."

and Compiz is what again?

[ickypoo (568859)]

Here's your wikipedia. Thanks, submitter.

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.

Re:and Compiz is what again?

[pebs (654334)]

Look at how long the submission is. Why would you make it even longer by including a definition of what a relatively popular software component is? You might as well include definition for Ubuntu, Gutsy, and Xorg while you're at it.

Keep up with the times or use Google/Wikipedia when you don't know what something is (like you just did).

Re:and Compiz is what again?

[xenocide2 (231786)]

Actually, I'd say the technology is being tried by nearly every desktop user. And subsequently disabled. My roommate turned it off because it was too distracting. I keep it off because it tends to freeze X on me on feisty.

It's neat, but I suspect that it's not very well engineered. [ohloh.net]

Bloat++

[zblach (977591)]

guh. Why not make a package w/ auto-configurable scripts available for install? Put a box in adept, or something "Click here for flashy graphics!!11". I run Kubuntu because I like having a *nix compatible desktop, not because I want another toy. I understand that some people are turned to linux for stability, and some for flashy graphics, but why include by default? Aero competition? Hope it's easily (and completely) removable. -z

s/compiz/kwin/

[DreadSpoon (653424)]

You realize that Kwin is including all of the 3D graphical foofah in new versions, right? Compiz is a WM that you can swap out with Metacity (or anything else) whenever you want, but your desktop is coming with the special effects built-in to the default window manager.

Thankfully, you're using KDE, so you'll have at least 8 checkboxes to disable it. ;)

PureEyeSugar

[Nosklo (815041)]

OOOOOHHH!!! My Eyes! They have Diabetis now! Too much candy!!

Re:Bloat++

[notthe9 (800486)]

No one is hiding a root password from anyone. Ubuntu by default install with no root account. The idea is that you will do all your administrative stuff using sudo. You can easily enable the root account with the password of your choice.

As to removability, I would assume a single apt-get call or a couple clicks in a graphical window manager will remove Compiz completely. (You'd sudo the tasks if you are not root.)

Re:Bloat++

[MMC Monster (602931)]

It's not that there is no root account. There is a root account that cannot be logged into without first setting a password (using sudo from a user account that is allowed to run sudo).

The idea is that no one needs to be root except to run particular commands (using sudo or gksudo). If you do need to run root you will create the root password and log in as root and be able to shoot yourself in the foot if you point the run in the wrong direction (ie: rm -R /. instead of rm -R ./).

well...

[by Anonymous Coward]

as long as that "fallback configuration tool" that was linked here a few weeks ago works properly, i guess it shouldnt cause too many problems. lets hope that the installer will intelligently choose the correct manager.

View from the bottom

[fishthegeek (943099)]

I teach at a technical high school, and I use Ubuntu, Vista, XP, and OS X in the course for integration lessons. The kids Ooooh at Vista and OS X but when they discover that Ubuntu can do compositing in a flashier way (with Compiz Fusion) than either of the other two platforms and that it is free they immediately ask for one of the Ship it CDs that I happen to keep around.

I'm not saying that I evangelize Linux but since it is free, and I do teach it I find it very convenient to be able to just furnish them a copy on the spot. Flashy sells. It sells cars, bombers and hookers why not use it to sell an OS? Before anyone posts a response about bloat please remember that these are primarily 15 year old kids and the concepts of bloat are just academic to them. They won't care about bloat until they are running their own network.

Re:View from the bottom

[sharkey (16670)]

They won't care about bloat until they are running their own network.

Or until they find it in one of the hookers you mentioned.

Yikes

[massysett (910130)]

If there has to be "vigorous debate" about something like this, then it is not ready to be turned on by default, plain and simple. The article says the developers don't know how stable Compiz-Fusion is, because they don't have data, etc. But they have doubts, which is all that matters. It would be fine to go forward with turning it on by default if all the devs ran it and none experienced any problems. Instead, there are known problems (such as this Intel problem) and some of the devs acknowledge that the thing can crash once a DAY, which is consistent with other experiences I have read as well.

New users (Ubuntu's target, I believe) will try Ubuntu, see this thing crashing all the time, and think "why did my geek friend tell me this Linux is more stable than Windows? My XP doesn't crash once a day."

One dev said "if we don't get it out there at some point it'll never get good enough." I don't see how foisting it on new users will help get it into shape. Are the Compiz-Fusion devs not busy enough already? There are apparently already KNOWN ISSUES that aren't being fixed, so how is turning it on by default going to improve anything? It surely will not generate better bug reports--new users will not know Compiz-Fusion is the problem; how are they going to bugreport it?

I hope Compiz-Fusion shapes up soon or that Ubuntu reverses itself; if not, this release will be a slide backward for many users--it will resemble Vista: a release with lots of paint, but with no improvements under the surface.

Re:What's worrying me...

[everphilski (877346)]

What name will they use for the release that comes after the "zesty zebra" release?!?

anonymous anorexic anacondas

Re:Compiz is...?

[mrchaotica (681592)]

It's like Beryl. Hope that helps! ; )

Re:Compiz is...?

[Adult film producer (866485)]

here, watch it.. better than any wordy description.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Fbk52Mk1w [youtube.com]

Re:Compiz is...?

[El Lobo (994537)]

Compiz is the thing that MS gets criticized to death when they dare to use it in their OS (called sometimes bloat, or stupid effects, shit, etc), and that is critically aclaimed when Apple, some Linuzzz distro or use it in their distributions.

Re:Compiz is...?

[eln (21727)]

This is simply unacceptable behavior for a Slashdot reader. You never admit that you were wrong, and you certainly never apologize. Next time, reply with something like "The article was Slashdotted, you insensitive clod!"

I'll forgive you this time, though.

Re:i for one

[by Anonymous Coward]

> welcome our gusty gisbo overlords.

We set AC up with the perfect opportunity for a Goatse Gibbon, or a Gutsy Goatse, or a Goatse's Guts, and he swings and misses.

*sigh*

Re:I don't get it

[SlashdotOgre (739181)]

I've been running Compiz in its various forms (compiz-quinnstorm, beryl, now compiz-fusion) on Gentoo since around March of 2006, and while I can see where you're coming from I have found some of its features actually useful. The ones I particularly like are: the expose clone (google 'expose mac to see what I'm referring to), the live alt-tabs (you see what's running in the alt-tab windows), it allows for extensive key bindings (I know you can use other programs like xbindkeys, but it at least beats Metacity's binding capability), and transparency (compiz isn't required to do this, but it makes it a lot easier than other WM's -- basically it's designed with that in mind).

Most of the eye candy doesn't eat too much CPU, and it all easily be enabled and disabled from it's control panel (compiz-fusion uses ccsm which works great, beryl-settings-manager was also pretty good). I was also impressed by beryl-manager (now fusion-icon) which made switching windows and decoration managers easier than ever.

Re:I don't get it

[kerohazel (913211)]

For me it's a convenient way to answer someone who asks me "Linux? Why do you use _Linux_?"

Not much of a meaningful answer, but then again when posed like this it's not really a meaningful question.

Re:I don't get it

[Nutty_Irishman (729030)]

I originally thought the same thing with Beryl (the breakoff from Compiz, which is now remerging into compiz-fusion), and thought, "hey it looks nice, but that's about it". I left it installed on my machine as it was pretty stable and didn't see a need to remove it. After a while I started rearranging and managing my desktop-- all development work in one window, terminal windows in another, email/web browser in another, and the last for visualization apps (imageJ, matlab, etc.). It wasn't until I had all four desktops being active used that I realized how much easier it was to multitask with a more sophisticated windows manager. I could actively switch between desktops fast, drag and drop items from one desktop to the other, separate global and local task switchers-- all much faster and with less downtime than before. Now I find it rather limiting to use a linux box that doesn't have it installed.

The only thing really holding it back is the stability issues (my desktop has no problems, but my laptop crashes at least once a day with it enabled). It doesn't hurt to install it and give it a try-- if you don't find it useful at first but it runs stable, then leave it installed-- you might come back and find it useful someday.

Re:I don't get it

[Constantine XVI (880691)]

They did quit arguing. Beryl is merging back into compiz as compiz-fusion.

General public

[general_public (1156431)]

general public is not going to buy into this.

Actually I love Ubuntu and am looking forward to upgrading to Gutsy when it comes out.

Re:Does Beryl = Compiz now?

[Nimey (114278)]

The old Compiz team is concentrating on the Compiz-Fusion core, while the old Beryl team is concentrating on the plugins (eye candy goodness).

So, Compiz + Beryl == Compiz Fusion.

Re:This is just typical stupid Canonical thinking

[diegocgteleline.es (653730)]

Compiz disables automatically in computers that doesn't have enought horsepower to run it.