Knome Guide: Stealing KDE's Eye Candy

[poofyhairguy]

Now that Xcompmgr has run its course, its time to move on the greener pastures. Those who use KDE full time already can use the compositor built into their favorite desktop environment to enjoy a whole bunch of pretty effects. Gnome, on the other hand, is just starting to get these ducks in line. If you are like me and you prefer the Gnome Environment, you will be happy to know that its possible to "upgrade" its native window manager to one that is more fun so you don't have to wait.

This guide is very similiar to my old Enlightened Gnome guide, except that it does not advocate using a window manager from the turn of the century (which is why I never updated the other guide for Breezy). I hope someone likes this.

Lets get started. First step is to edit your Xorg file. Best way is follow the first part of my older guide here:

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=75527

If you are using an Nvidia card (recommended) I also will suggest getting the newest drivers. The ones in the repos are crashtastic. Use this guide here to do that:

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=75074

Now on to the specific parts of my guide.

Now save everything you are doing and close all other programs cept the ones I talk about.

First put this command into the terminal:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

Copy and paste this line in the bottom of the file that comes up:

deb http://kubuntu.org/packages/kde35 breezy main

Now save and close the file.

Now put this command into terminal:

sudo apt-get update

Now put this command into terminal:

sudo apt-get install kwin kwin-baghira kdeartwork-theme-window

Tell apt-get yes when it asks something.

When its done, put this command into terminal:

sudo cp /usr/share/gnome/default.session ~/.gnome2/session

Write that command on a piece of paper somewhere too.

Now put this command into terminal:

sudo gedit ~/.gnome2/session

Look for this line:

0,RestartCommand=gnome-wm --sm-client-id default0

Delete that line. Yes. Delete it. Now save and close the file.

Now go to your menu.

"System" -> "Preferences" -> "Sessions"

Click on the last tab "Startup Programs"

Click "Add"

In the place for "Startup Command" put

kwin

For the order, make it "10"

Now hit "alt" + "control" + "backspace"

Login and notice the difference!

Ok. Now its time to control this darn thing. Put this in the terminal:

kcontrol

Under "Desktop" and "Window Behavior" click the "Translucency" tab.

Click the checkbox to turn it on. Now play with the other settings as you wish. Apply and close when you are done.

To change the look of the window borders, right click on any title and choose the "Configure Window Behavior" option.

The first thing that pops up is "Window Decoration." Choose the one you want and the option you want and apply and close. I like "Smooth Blend" best.

There you have it- you are using a window manager that was meant to do neat tricks. I hope someone enjoys.

Undoing what you did.

This section is in case you do not like the result or it does not work for you.

Hit "alt" + "control" + "backspace"
Change the "Sessions" to "Failsafe Terminal" and log in.

Now enter into the terminal the command I said to write down:

sudo cp /usr/share/gnome/default.session ~/.gnome2/session

When its done, put in this command:

exit

Now change the "Sessions" to "Failsafe Gnome" and log in.

"System" -> "Preferences" -> "Sessions"

Click on the last tab "Startup Programs"

Choose the one that says "kwin" and delete it.

Reboot and welcome back to normal.

Ok. That is it for now. I hope you all enjoy!

[poofyhairguy]

Any person with more KDE experiance than me know how to turn off "Edge Flipping?" Its driving me nuts and I want to add it to the guide.

[Norm 2782]

wow cool... gonna try this tomorrow on Dapper ^^ thanks

[derrick1985]

Anyone have a screenshot so I can see this before I actually try it?

Thanks

[Bloot]

Originally Posted by derrick1985 Anyone have a screenshot so I can see this before I actually try it? Thanks

Yes I'd like to see some pictures too. But what I'd like most is to know that all those ugly bugs are really gone.

[poofyhairguy]

Originally Posted by derrick1985 Anyone have a screenshot so I can see this before I actually try it? Thanks

Sure. I posted one here:

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/gallery/...original=1&c=2

I made the titlebar a LITTLE more translucent than what I would normally use to show the "Aero" effect. You can set it to what you want.

Really...this this has MANY options. It would take a while to go through them all.

[poofyhairguy]

Originally Posted by Bloot But what I'd like most is to know that all those ugly bugs are really gone.

Bugs still exist. Its not perfect. It won't be for years.

What is gone (for me with the newest Nvidia drivers) are the REALLY bad bugs- aka the ones that crash X and take everything with them. Its usuable now...where before it was "something you turn on to play with and turn right back off afterwards).

Yet I will admit some display artifacts exist. Yet I noticed after using my sister's Powerbook all week that even the mighty OSX still has MANY composite artifacts, so if you hold out until its perfected then you won't get to play with this fun stuff for a Windows release life cycle (aka six or so years).

[Bloot]

Originally Posted by poofyhairguy Bugs still exist. Its not perfect. It won't be for years. What is gone (for me with the newest Nvidia drivers) are the REALLY bad bugs- aka the ones that crash X and take everything with them. Its usuable now...where before it was "something you turn on to play with and turn right back off afterwards). Yet I will admit some display artifacts exist. Yet I noticed after using my sister's Powerbook all week that even the mighty OSX still has MANY composite artifacts, so if you hold out until its perfected then you won't get to play with this fun stuff for a Windows release life cycle (aka six or so years).

Yes I meant the bad bugs such as crashing X. Thanks, I'll take a chance on it surely.

[poofyhairguy]

Originally Posted by Bloot Yes I meant the bad bugs such as crashing X. Thanks, I'll take a chance on it surely.

There is one bug left that I find will crash X.

Don't drag playing video files under the Gnome panel. Even visualizations.

Thats it.

[benplaut]

by edge flipping, do you mean virtual desktops going 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, ... i hate it, too. one of the only reasons i don't use kde...