Compiz Fusion en Ubuntu

Compiz Fusion es una colección de plugins y un sistema de configuración para el gestor de composición de ventanas Compiz, para el sistema de ventanas X. Compiz Fusion es el resultado de la unión entre el paquete "Compiz Extras" de Compiz y las partes del proyecto Beryl, que era independiente del núcleo del gestor de ventanas. El propósito del proyecto es transportar casi todas las características de Beryl a los plugins de Compiz. 

Mediante Compiz Fusion podemos obtener en el escritorio llamativos efectos gráficos.

A continuación vamos a detallar el proceso de instalación de Compiz Fusión en las diferentes distribuciones de Ubuntu y según el escritorio utilizado (kde, gnome, xfe.. etc)

 Requisitos mínimos y recomendados

Este manual está orientado a Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron o una versión superior.

Para hacer funcionar Compiz se deben de cumplir una serie de requisitos, si no se cumplen no es posible hacerlo funcionar.

Básicamente el principal requisito es tener activada la aceleración 3D. Si no sabes como hacerlo lee el articulo Aceleración gráfica en Ubuntu.

Un método rápido para saber si tienes aceleración gráfica es tecleando en un terminal:

$ glxinfo | grep direct

Si el resultado es YES tienes aceleración gráfica.

No hay una lista del todo correcta que informe de las tarjetas compatibles pero se sabe que Compiz Fusion funciona en gráficas del nivel de ATI Radeon 7000 con apenas 32 o 64 mb y Nvidia GeForce2 de apenas 32 MB. Aunque el rendimiento es visiblemente menor a un modelo más actual.

Se recomienda usar siempre la última versión de Ubuntu que trae incorporado la versión más actual de Compiz Fusion y por tanto un mejor soporte para estas tecnologías que cualquiera de sus anteriores versiones.

Compiz Fusion en Ubuntu

Si estabas buscando sobre Beryl deja de buscar, Compiz Fusion es el resultado de la integración de Beryl y Compiz en uno sólo.

Ubuntu trae un sistema incorporado de serie que automáticamente deshabilita los Efectos de escritorio (Compiz Fusion) en aquellas tarjetas gráficas que no lo soportan.

Como todo sistema puede no ser perfecto a la hora de detectar cada tarjeta, pero... si no tienes efectos de escritorio nada más iniciar Ubuntu por primera vez existe un 99% de posibilidades de que tu tarjeta gráfica no sea compatible.

El 1% de posibilidades restantes se debe a que quizás debas instalar de forma manual los controladores propietarios de dicha tarjeta ya que Ubuntu no los trae de serie al ser no-libres.

Configurar los efectos de escritorio

Para conseguir tener Compiz Fusión en esta versión de Ubuntu debemos instalar los drivers de la tarjeta gráfica, para ello hay que seguir los pasos de la sección de Aceleración gráfica en Ubuntu y una vez que estén correctamente instalados tan solo tenemos que activar Compiz Fusion.

Para ello nos dirigiremos a Sistema -> Preferencias -> Apariencia y en la pestaña Efectos visuales podemos configurar entre 3 niveles:

• Ninguno desactiva Compiz Fusion.
• Normal nos ofrece unos efectos moderados, con un bajo consumo de recursos.
• Extra nos ofrece más efectos, pero con un mayor consumo de recursos.

Si queremos tener un mayor control sobre los efectos de Compiz Fusion y poder personalizarlo totalmente tenemos que instalar el paquete compizconfig-settings-manager

(Opcionalmente se puede instalar tambien el paquete emerald como decorador de ventanas, aunque Ubuntu ya trae uno de serie).

Una vez instalados volvemos a la ventana Apariencia y en la pestaña Efectos visuales nos encontramos con una 4 opción, Personalizado que nos permite como bien dice el nombre personalizar nuestros efectos.

Una vez seleccionada la opción podemos hacer clic en "Preferencias de gtk" y nos aparecerá el compizconfig-settings-manager, una herramienta para configurar Compiz.

También podemos acceder a esta herramienta desde Sistema -> Preferencias -> Advanced Desktop Effect Settings. Desde esta herramienta se pueden hacer todas las configuraciones deseadas, añadir plugins, etc.

Lanzador de Compiz (icono)

Existe una versión preliminar del famoso icono de Beryl portado al reciente Compiz Fusión, desde este icono podemos activar o des activar los efecto cómodamente.

Podeis conseguirlo instalando este paquete:

fusion-icon

Nota (GNOME): si no os aparece el icono de Compiz Fusion pero si un espacio, debéis poner la barra de herramientas con un ancho mínimo de 26 píxeles

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Posibles problemas y posibles soluciones

Compiz Fusion es un software sujeto a un fuerte proceso de desarrollo. Esto implica bastante inestabilidad y debido a la constante innovación y cambios que se producen en este software de manera DIARIA es muy recomendable estar al tanto de los cambios, ya que en ocasiones se puede romper completamente la compatibilidad entre una versión y otra.

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Instalé todo, pero desaparecen los bordes de mis ventanas

Si desaparecen los bordes de tus ventanas puede ser por muchos motivos:

• Porque no has instalado un decorador de ventanas compatible con Compiz Fusion. Si es eso te recomiendo que instales el paquete emerald mediante tu gestor de paquetes preferido (Synaptic) o mediante la terminal:

sudo aptitude install emerald

• Porque la configuración de tu xorg.conf no es la correcta, para corregirlo editamos el archivo tecleando en la terminal:

$ sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Si usas Kubuntu (KDE) el editor de textos predeterminado es el kate.

Y añadimos esto al final del archivo:

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

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Problema con el driver de NVIDIA 1.0-9629

Existe un problema con el nuevo driver de NVIDIA 1.0-9629 en el cual no muestra la decoración de ventanas y nos da el siguiente error:

 beryl: No GLXFBConfig for depth 32

Para resolverlo, simplemente añade esta linea a /etc/X11/xorg.conf en la sección Screen:

 Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"

En algunas tarjetas nVidia,lo anterior no funciona. Lo que hay que hacer en esos casos para tener decoración de ventanas es editar xorg.conf y en la Section "Device" agregar estas dos líneas antes de EndSection:

  Option "AddARGBVisuals" "True"
  Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"

Finalmente reiniciar el servidor gráfico (Ctrl+Alt+retroceso)

Compiz Fusion se bloquea aleatoriamente y/o permanentemente al cerrar la sesión (logout)

Si usas una tarjeta gráfica Nvidia prueba con esto:

• Abre el script de inicio de Compiz Fusion con este comando

sudo gedit /usr/bin/compiz

• Busca esto:

# No indirect by default
INDIRECT=1

• Y cámbialo por esto otro:

# No indirect by default
INDIRECT=0

Fuente: http://www.guia-ubuntu.org 

Nuevos juegos para Linux

No hace mucho tiempo salieron a la luz los siguentes nuevos juegos para sistema GNU/ Linux
a continuación los mostramos.

Stunt Rally

Juego de carreras de código abierto que incorpora un editor de pistas. Conduciremos en pistas cerradas de rally con posibles elementos para maniobras (saltos, loops, tuberías…). Entre sus modos de juego podemos competir contra el reloj o en campeonatos, incorporando también un modo multijugador.

CreepTD

Juego de estrategia para 1 a 4 jugadores. En él construiremos torretas para defendernos de oleadas y oleadas de enemigos. Respecto al multijugador, podremos enfrentarnos por equipos, uno contra todos o en modo cooperativo. Un juego muy simple pero que puede tenerte “haciendo el parvo” unas horas, como GetUpCit

Helena the 3rd

Juego de plataformas en 3D en el que guiaremos a nuestro tanque Helena a través de terrenos escabrosos y enemigos hostiles y, ocasionalmente, abandonaremos el tanque para acceder a áreas en busca de mejoras y otras recompensas.

Planet Stronghold

RPG de ciencia ficción con combate por turnos. Cuenta con dos personajes posibles, 8 PNJs, un sistema de combate similar a los clásicos RPGs de los 90, “opciones románticas” y más de 50 horas de juego y caminos alternativos.

The full PC desktop for multi-core Android phones

Now multi-core Android phones can be PCs too. Ubuntu for Android enables high-end Android handsets to run Ubuntu, the world's favourite free PC desktop operating system. So users get the Android they know on the move, but when they connect their phone to a monitor, mouse and keyboard, it becomes a PC.

Benefits for network operators

• Deliver the enterprise next-gen desktop in a single device
• Drive adoption of 4G handsets, as online apps like Google Docs shine with low-latency connections
• Expand your service portfolio from the smart phone to the smart desktop by delivering productivity desktop apps, including managed Windows apps as a service on your network
• Satisfy demand for first PCs to families in emerging economies with no legacy wired connectivity

Benefits for handset makers

• Drive sales of multi-core phones with faster CPUs, more cores, more RAM and high-end graphics
• Target lucrative markets for thin client in the enterprise and first PCs in emerging markets
• Integrate easily with Android phones already in development
• Accessorise with docks, cables, keyboards and displays

The number one free desktop on the number one open phone

With over 20 million users, Ubuntu is the world's favourite free operating system – and Ubuntu for Android is the first complete solution for office productivity on a phone. It lets Android and Ubuntu share the same Linux kernel, so they can run at the same time – Android for the phone experience and Ubuntu when docked. Which means one address book, one set of bookmarks, one place for text messages and one inbox for mail. And thanks to careful integration between the Ubuntu desktop and Android, user's have access to the phone's functions when it's docked – including making and receiving calls.

Features and specifications

A complete Ubuntu desktop for docked Android phones

Ubuntu for Android provides a full desktop experience, including office software, web browsing, email and media applications, on Android phones docked to a screen and keyboard. Thanks to tight integration with the Android service layer, the transition between the two environments is seamless, making it easy to access the phone's services from the desktop when docked.

Secure full-featured web

Sit back and enjoy a full desktop browser for multi-tab, multi-window web productivity. Ubuntu supports both Chromium and Firefox, the world's fastest browsers, and is naturally resistant to web malware, which is why enterprises and governments are adopting Ubuntu on desktops.

Surf on the move with the Android browser, then dock to continue your session on the desktop. You get the same web pages, the same bookmarks and the same browsing history, with all the real-estate of a desktop. Using web applications with a full keyboard and mouse is so much better than a tablet when you're at a desk, even in a hotel.

Unified contacts

Both Ubuntu and Android access the same mobile address book. So even when the phone is docked, you can view, edit, call, text or email a contact. You can even check their profiles on Facebook or Twitter.

Calendar coordination

As with your contacts, your Android calendar data is shared with Ubuntu. This enables synchronisation with any desktop or web-based calendar application, like Google Calendar.

Messaging and calls

Read and reply to incoming SMS messages from the desktop, using Ubuntu's message indicator. You can also make and receive calls via the desktop - and you'll be alerted to voicemails so you can manage them while you work.

Simple integrated settings

Alarm clock settings on the phone can be synchronised to alert you when working in the Ubuntu environment. You'll have one place to enter wifi passwords and one place to pair your bluetooth headset, then everything just works.

Photos

Manage and view photos stored on your smartphone using the Ubuntu Gallery application. Then edit them on the Ubuntu desktop and save them back to the phone. Create, edit and consume, all on one device.

 

Just cause for more cores

Ubuntu for Android gives mobile workers a compelling reason to upgrade to multi-core handsets with more RAM, more storage, faster GPUs and CPUs. It’s not just a phone they are buying, it’s a desktop too. While mid-range phones can deliver a perfect Android experience, it takes high-end horsepower to drive a phone and a desktop at the same time. Newer multi-core processors are up to the job, and Ubuntu is the killer app for that hot hardware. It’s the must-have feature for late-2012 high-end Android phones.

A built-in desktop is also a driver of LTE, which offers higher bandwidth for productivity apps and lower latency for business users. Cloud apps like Google Docs are best used with a full desktop, and shine with LTE. The phone has traditionally been a slower, less productive tool. When you’re at a desktop, you want to get things done, quickly. So you appreciate the difference between 3G and 4G. Adding a desktop to the phone justifies the extra cost of newer network technologies for business customers.

“Ubuntu is the killer app for multi-core phones in 2012”

New markets, new opportunities

For phone manufacturers eager to expand their audience, Ubuntu for Android gives access to entirely new markets.

Enterprise IT departments currently support a PC and at least one phone for every desk-based worker. Our solution reduces their burden to a single device for every user. So Ubuntu for Android helps you tap into the lucrative corporate PC replacement and thin client markets. Ubuntu is already the most popular replacement for Windows on the corporate desktop, with deployments of tens of thousands of desktops in multiple institutions.

In developing economies, where there is little historical PC penetration, the phone can define personal computing for an audience that has no legacy attachment to the desktop. For the next billion knowledge workers, their first PC could be their first smartphone, but they’ll need a device that can do more than just be a handset, if they really want to shine.

Ubuntu ships pre-installed on millions of PC’s from major manufacturers in China, India and Brazil today. It’s easy, it has an amazing range of software on tap, and it’s totally integrated with our personal cloud service, Ubuntu One. Pure 21st century goodness.

Easy to integrate to your Android phone

Ubuntu for Android drops in cleanly alongside the rest of Android, so it is easy to integrate into current production roadmaps. The hardware requirements are straightforward and, with a broad range of ARM and x86 hardware supported, it can realistically be added to phones already in development.
Of course, your phone needs the docking capability and hardware support for HDMI and USB. But that’s standard for high-end models in the current generation of devices in development.

The world’s favourite free desktop - for business and home

The trusted brand in Linux

More than 55% of all Linux developers use Ubuntu, which is why almost every Linux desktop application is certified to work with it. From VMWare’s workstation virtualization to Citrix’ thin client to Adobe’s creativity portfolio and loads of games, Ubuntu is number one. That’s why it’s being installed in large business and government projects, and why it’s the brand that sells devices. There are hundreds of Linux distributions, but there is only one that is widely certified on the desktop, and one that is growing fastest in the enterprise: Ubuntu.

  

The Ubuntu desktop sets the standard for ease of use. That’s one reason why Ubuntu is now the world’s favourite free operating system - on the desktop as well as the server. It’s shipped by more PC brands, used by more people, targeted by more developers and covered by more journalists than any other Linux desktop.

Ubuntu for Android is a complete desktop with a full range of desktop applications including office, web browsing, email, media and messaging. Personal information like contacts, calendars, photo galleries and music can be accessed from both the phone and the desktop interface. SMS texts arrive on your desktop if you are docked when they show up, and calls are handled like VoIP if you want to stay working while you chat. Ubuntu for Android brings the desktop world together with the phone world, seamlessly.
Our reputation and brand have taken seven years to create. Because we care about quality, Ubuntu selects only the very best applications for install by default. And because we care about security, Ubuntu includes free security updates across more applications than any competitor. During the netbook era, every manufacturer created their own Linux, but customers rebelled. Today, they ship Ubuntu.

A whole new peripheral ecosystem

Users will want at least one dock, complete with monitor, keyboard and mouse. Many will want two of each - one for the office and one for the home. And mobile users will opt for clamshell devices that give them a laptop experience whenever they need it - on the train, on the plane or in meetings.

Desktop productivity goes well beyond the keyboard, monitor and mouse. Imagine projectors with a phone dock built in, so you can carry less to your presentations. And imagine TVs that become home PCs when you dock your phone: perfect for the emerging market where LTE will be the normal way for new users to connect to the Internet.

Why add anything to Android?

Android is a mobile solution, designed for a touch interface on a handheld device. On the desktop, where users expect a pointer-driven experience, a PC operating system is essential. Several vendors have tried to bring Android-based desktops or laptops to market, with no success; Android was designed for touch only, and has its hands full winning the tablet wars.

A complete desktop solution needs a full range of desktop applications. While a mobile OS carries no deep desktop software catalogue, Ubuntu offers thousands of applications, all designed for the desktop and most, like Ubuntu, free. And Ubuntu is certified by governments, industry and enterprises, widely deployed on the desktop, and supported by leading management solutions.

Another alternative would be a web-top, or web only desktop. But markets have not responded to web-only environments. The desktop is a high-productivity mode, not a media consumption mode or a browsing mode. That’s why we’ve brought the full power of a native desktop to this solution.

Link: www.ubuntu.com

Installing Ubuntu with the Windows installer

Once the Windows installer has been downloaded, you need to open it to install Ubuntu. You’ll find detailed instructions below. If you need further help, support options are listed at the bottom of this page.

1. 1
   If you are using Internet Explorer, you'll be asked whether you want to run or save the file. Choose 'Run' to launch the installer.
   Most other web browsers (like Firefox, for example) will only ask you to save the file. To start the installation, click 'Save' and then double-click the downloaded file.
   
2. 2
   If a security message like this appears, click 'Continue' to proceed.
   
3. 3
   To install Ubuntu, all you need to do is choose your user name and password. Do note that you need to enter your password twice to make sure you typed it correctly.
   
4. 4
   After choosing your password, click 'Install'. The files will be downloaded and installed automatically.
   
5. 5
   Wait until Ubuntu is downloaded and installed. This can take quite a while – the downloaded file size is around 500MB - but you can keep using your computer throughout.
   
6. 6
   When the installation is complete, you’ll be prompted to restart your computer. Click 'Finish' to restart.
   
7. 7
   After your computer restarts, choose 'Ubuntu' from the boot menu.
    
    
   Link: www.ubuntu.com

How to create a bootable USB stick on Windows

To run Ubuntu from a USB stick, the first thing you need to do is insert a USB stick with at least 2GB of free space into your PC.
The easiest way to put Ubuntu onto your stick is to use the USB installer provided at pendrivelinux.com. You’ll need to download and install and follow the instructions.
Download Pen Drive Linux's USB Installer

1. 1
   Select Ubuntu Desktop Edition from the dropdown list.
   
2. 2
   Click 'Browse' and open the downloaded ISO file.
   
3. 3
   Choose the USB drive and click 'Create'.
    
    
   Link:  www.ubuntu.com

Erik for Linux Ubuntu

Eric is a full featured Python and Ruby editor and IDE, written in python. It is based on the cross platform Qt gui toolkit, integrating the highly flexible Scintilla editor control. It is designed to be usable as everdays' quick and dirty editor as well as being usable as a professional project management tool integrating many advanced features Python offers the professional coder. eric4 includes a plugin system, which allows easy extension of the IDE functionality with plugins downloadable from the net.

Current stable versions are eric4 based on Qt4 and Python 2 and eric5 based on Python 3 and Qt4.

Ubuntu software center opens.

Write Eric and find the logo of the IDE, which resembles a troll.

Give permissions for installation.

The software is installed in a short time.