NOTE: Until the issues with the new X Server, Nvidia, and the kmod-nvidia driver from Livna are worked out, please note that you may not be able to use the full functionality of Compiz Fusion & Emerald. If you try to launch fusion-icon at Startup with the nv driver, you will probably be a world of hurt.
Compiz Fusion is a merge between the Beryl composite window manager and Compiz Extras, which is a community set of improvements to Beryl. Compiz Fusion provides a lot of glitz to your desktop (such as "The Cube"), but I still prefer Enlightenment over Compiz since Enlightenment is lightweight and provides more control over the desktop (and your windows), while Compiz Fusion is resource intensive and still a bit buggy. Still, every now and then I enjoy logging into Gnome to use Compiz Fusion since the effects are pretty cool indeed.
To install the full functionality of Compiz Fusion (opposed to the default nerfed version that comes with Fedora), use yum:
~>
sudo yum install
compiz-fusion compiz-fusion-gnome compiz-fusion-extras
compiz-fusion-extras-gnome compiz-manager gnome-compiz-manager
fusion-icon fusion-icon-gtk emerald emerald-themes
Hit
Enter
and press 'y'
when asked if you wish to install the package, along with any
dependencies.NOTE: Do not perform the remaining task until a new kmod-nvidia driver is provided by Livna (which, in my estimation, will not be available until June/July 2008).
Along with Compiz Fusion, we have also installed Emerald, which provides some additional themes for Compiz. Once finished, the easiest way to launch Compiz is through fusion-icon by adding it our startup programs. Click on System -> Preferences -> Personal -> Sessions. Then click on Add, and add the following:
Name:
Fusion Icon
Command: fusion-icon
Comment: Compiz Fusion Settings Manager
Hit Ok, followed
by Close.
If you do not see a blue cube with a white arrow appear on your Panel,
log out of Gnome and log back in. Once you see it display, right click
on the icon and click on Settings
Manager. To select Compiz Fusion as your default windows
manager, right click on the icon again and click on Select Windows Manager
-> Compiz. With the Settings Manager, you will have
quite a few options that you can use to control the glitz of your
desktop. I particularly like the Expo under Desktop and
the Shift Switcher
(using the Cover
switcher mode) under Window
Management.Command: fusion-icon
Comment: Compiz Fusion Settings Manager
Learning the keyboard shortcuts is a must. I suggest going to the source to learn about them:
http://wiki.compiz-fusion.org/Common_Keyboard_Shortcuts
As fair warning, if you start tweaking the settings for Compiz Fusion, be prepared to waste several hours doing so... :)
As fair warning, if you start tweaking the settings for Compiz Fusion, be prepared to waste several hours doing so... :)