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Thread: A better application switcher plugin for compiz.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    mumbai
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    20
    Distro
    Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

    A better application switcher plugin for compiz.

    hi all,
    the application switcher plugin used by compiz
    is rather ,I should say, useless.
    It takes a little time to figure out exactly which
    window is being pointed to by the plugin by pressing alt-tab.
    the thumbnails shown are not as good,and the background of the
    switcher menu is too transparent.

    Any suggestions to circumvent this problem?

    ubuntu 9.10
    ccsm 0.8.2

    regards,
    krishna

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    West Yorkshire, UK
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    144
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    Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin

    Re: A better application switcher plugin for compiz.

    Which application switcher plug in are you using? Compiz has quite a few choices. Have you experimented with different settings for the plug-in? changing opacity, enabling icons etc. At least on my system, the relevant window is brought into focus immediately on the desktop, so it's clear just by looking at the desktop which one is in focus. There are other switchers that you might prefer.

  3. #3

    Re: A better application switcher plugin for compiz.

    I second this request. The flashy switchers are fun, but not practical (for me).

    The "Static Application Switcher" seems to be the most basic. I'm even using the no-popup mode. However, it still causes two visual distractions:

    1. Backdrop shading and focus highlight.
    2. Noticeable blip as the screen is returned to "normal"

    I just want the "standard" window manager alt-tab bring-to-front behavior.

    If I disable all compiz application switchers, alt-tab no longer works at all. The only way to overcome this is to turn off compiz entirely (System->Preferences->Appearance->Visual Effects->None).

    a) Can the compiz supplied "Static Application Switcher" be made to not shade/blip?
    b) Can normal window manager alt-tab be made to function without turning off compiz?

    (By the way, I'm familiar with GNOME in Debian, but brand new to Ubuntu.)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    114
    Distro
    Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

    Re: A better application switcher plugin for compiz.

    The goofiest one involves alt-ctl-up I think -- if there are three windows, you usually only get to choose from one of two. I think that is a native gnome shortcut tho.

    Don't use the switch shifter with "all windows", it's too confusing. Use the Expo wall to select a workspace, then use the switch shifter with the windows only in that space.

    Next Window
    Previous Window
    Next Window (All workspaces)
    Previous Window (All workspaces)

    The first two set hotkeys only show windows in the current space. The selected one is clearly outlined black on white.
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  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
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    11

    Re: A better application switcher plugin for compiz.

    If you turn Saturation, Brightness, and Opacity all up to 100, and put Zoom to 0, then your concerns will all be addressed except for the 'blip'.

    I also hate the blip, but found this to be a workable solution for now. It took me forever to discover the 'no pop-up' option, which was my major gripe. Still wish I could just have default alt-tab though
    Last edited by cyclopsface; December 23rd, 2009 at 11:00 AM.

  6. #6

    Re: A better application switcher plugin for compiz.

    Thanks for the info, cyclopsface. Your concerns are identical to mine. First I wanted to get rid of the popup window, then the background shade, then the blip. I'm not sure I can live with that blip, but I'll give it a try again, with the shading disabled.

    Does anyone know if the blip can be avoided? Is this a known bug?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Budapest, Hungary
    Beans
    47
    Distro
    Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

    Re: A better application switcher plugin for compiz.

    I'm not sure if I got it right, but I use Static Application Switcher, and I notice no 'blip' or whatever.
    I checked that 'pop-up' you mention, and the only pop-up parameter I could change is the time Static App Switcher waits before popping up (this is 0 for me of course)
    The only thing that is not configurable is the background opacity of the Static App Switcher, which is set to about 75% opacity.
    So no 'blip', no 'pop-up' in my app switcher, quite usable.

  8. #8

    Re: A better application switcher plugin for compiz.

    karatedog, I agree that Static Application Switcher is the most usable. However, I get a blip when the the applications switch.

    Here are some details, hoping anyone can shed any more light on the situation:

    I have an ATI Radeon HD 4200 512MB (embedded on Gigabyte motherboard) using the ATI/AMD proprietary FGLRX graphics driver in Ubuntu 9.10.

    Here is one way to reproduce the blip: Open two application windows and maximize one (e.g., maximize Firefox and open a non-maximized terminal on top). ALT-TAB rotates which window is up front, which works just fine while ALT is held down. While still holding ALT, bring the larger window up front (on top), then release ALT. For me, this causes a momentary (but very distracting) blip, when I can see both application windows before the front window is redrawn.

    Without any knowledge of Compiz, my guess is that it is performing the ALT-TAB visual manipulation in some kind of graphic buffer. When ALT is released, the "fake" image buffer goes away, briefly revealing the "real" desktop, before the actual application windows can be commanded to restack themselves.

    Please let me know if there is somewhere I could contribute this use case to fix this bug.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Re: A better application switcher plugin for compiz.

    Quote Originally Posted by nyhm View Post
    Please let me know if there is somewhere I could contribute this use case to fix this bug.
    You could try here: Bugs in Compiz or here: http://bugs.opencompositing.org/

  10. #10

    Re: A better application switcher plugin for compiz.

    Thank you for the pointers, I shall check those sources and possibly enter a new bug.

    EDIT: I've added my two cents to this bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...iz/+bug/325108

    Maybe if other concerned parties comment there as well, the issue will get moved up from Low priority.
    Last edited by nyhm; January 14th, 2010 at 02:56 AM.

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