Tips for using Compiz fusion on Ubuntu Hardy

This post is a simple how-to for adding extra plugins to Compiz, and for enabling some extra options and repositories. It would be best to read it to the end before trying to implement anything mentioned in it.

A side view of my desktop

Firstly we will need to install the following extra packages:

sudo aptitude install compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-extra compiz-fusion-plugins-main simple-ccsm

If you get an error about package not found download this Hardy repository list.
After this go to System->Preferences->Appearance->Visual Effects and click on Custom.
Optionally you can also install fusion-icon (sudo aptitude install fusion-icon) - it will allow you to control compiz from the taskbar.

The next step is to assign a different background to every side of you desktop cube. One way to do this is to use the wallpaper plugin. But it can be done without using a special plugin - you can do the same usig only the desktop cube plugin. To do this do the following: System->Preferences->Advanced Desktop Effects Settings->Desktop Cube->Appearance. You will see there an option to add background images. Add the images you want displayed (You will need one image for every side of the cube). Now press Alt+F2 and type gconf-editor. Go to apps->Nautilus->preferences and uncheck "show desktop". It is possible that you will need to log out for the changes to be activated.
You can also put any images you want on the top and bottom of the cube using the cubecups plugin.

There are a lot of plugins available in Ubuntu repositories. But the latest plugins are not there. To get them you will need to manually install them. To do this firstly get all the dependencies:

sudo aptitude install compiz-bcop compiz-dev build-essential libtool libglu1-mesa-dev libxss-dev git-core

Now type the following (make sure you are not root):
mkdir compiz
cd ~/compiz
git clone git://anongit.compiz-fusion.org/users/wodor/anaglyph
git clone git://anongit.compiz-fusion.org/fusion/plugins/atlantis
git clone git://anongit.compiz-fusion.org/users/metastability/atlantis2
git clone git://anongit.compiz-fusion.org/users/smspillaz/fireflies
git clone git://anongit.compiz-fusion.org/users/warlock/freewins
git clone git://anongit.compiz-fusion.org/users/b0le/photowheel
git clone git://anongit.compiz-fusion.org/users/pafy/screensaver
git clone git://anongit.compiz-fusion.org/fusion/plugins/snow
git clone git://anongit.compiz-fusion.org/users/metastability/snowglobe
git clone git://anongit.compiz-fusion.org/users/smspillaz/stars
git clone git://anongit.compiz-fusion.org/fusion/plugins/tile
git clone git://anongit.compiz-fusion.org/fusion/plugins/wallpaper

Now you need to compile the plugins. To do this type:
cd compiz/atlantis2
make
make install

You will need to repeat it with all of the plugins. You can also download my script that will do all of the above. Just download it and make it executable. If you will decide to uninstall, cd to the directory and type make uninstall. You can also use checkinstall instead of make install - this will produce a .deb file. Also, note that the latest version of cubeaddon plugin is not on the list - for it to work you need to install the latest Compiz version.

If you want even more plugins, you can use the Compiz SVN repository to get the latest version of all plugins and Compiz. Generally installing anything from a SVN repository is not recommended. Do this on your own risk. To do it add the repository:

deb http://download.tuxfamily.org/shames/debian-sid/desktopfx/unstable/ ./

And the GPG key:

wget http://download.tuxfamily.org/shames/A42A6CF5.gpg -O- | apt-key add -

Type:
sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude install compiz-fusion-all

This should install the latest version of Compiz. If the install fails with a message that your libpango library is too old download and install these: libpango-common libpango libpango-dev
The order in which you install them is important - they can only be installed in correct order. Also, if you will decide to remove them from your system be warned - I nearly broke Ubuntu when I tried to remove them. By using anything in this post you agree that I am in no way responsible for any damage it may cause to your computer.