[compiz] Compiz porting plan, for help

Tue Jun 12 04:58:26 PDT 2007

On Tue, 2007-06-12 at 10:33 +0800, Zhu, Jack wrote:
> David & All,
> 
> As you might have heard, Intel recently introduced a new low-power
> device called a Mobile Internet Device (MID).  We're working in
> Intel's Open source Technology Center on the Linux Desktop UI.  Given
> the small screen we're planning on using a stack-based window manager
> where each application runs full-screen (think Matchbox).  We think it
> would be very cool to get a rotation effect like the compiz wm, but
> with a single applications per screen.  
> 
> Who can give us some suggestion on our Compiz porting plan and give
> help on my block issues?  I am a newer on Compiz, thank you for all
> your help.
> 
> From: Zhu, Jack
> Sent: 2007年6月11日 17:11
> To: Shen, Cathy; Spencer, Bob; Zhang, Danny; Li, Horace; Wei, Donald
> Subject: status of Compiz
> 
> After investing, I tried the following two methods as Bob’s
> suggestions.
> 
> The following is my status:
> 
> Method 1.  Just use Matchbox with Compiz feature added.
> 
> Steps:
> 
> 1. Read source code to understand how to use compiz plugins without
> compiz windows manager.
> 
> 2. Write a simple application on FC6, call compiz plugin API, to show
> effections such as cube, 3D. just link plugin .so file,  without
> compiz window manager.
> 
> 3. Write two applications, switch to each other, just use compiz
> plugins and gnome default window manager: metacity.
> 
> 4. if 3 success,  then most likely  solution : Metacity with compiz
> features added can work 
> 
> 5 . if 4 success,  then most likely,  solution: Matchbox with compiz
> features added also can work
> 
> If possible, we can step over 4. direct from 3 to 5.
> 
> Status:  still blocked on how to use compiz plugin API in GTK
> programs. 
> 
> 1. Without doc, It is difficult to understand how to use compiz
> plugin, API independently, what’s the parameter means, how to use it
> in GTK program.
> 
> 2. Matchbox can add plugins as easily as compiz window manager? Its
> design has not consider extensibility to add different plugins easily.
> 
> Probably need write a adaptor layer to connect matchbox window manager
> and compiz plugin.
> 
> Method 2.  Just try to enable Compiz on MID 
> 
> Steps:
> 
> 1.      Compile Compiz on MID, install some devel libs. 
> 2.      Run Compiz on MID,  install some run time libs 
> 3.      Compiz window manager can manager hildon-applications, port
> Compiz window manager from Gnome to Hildon desktop, need much efforts.
> 
> 4.      Compiz plugins can work, especially on applications switch. 
> 
> Status:  still blocked on step 2.
> 
> Run error: 
> 
> compiz: No GLXFBConfig for default depth, this isn't going to work.
> 
> compiz: Failed to manage screen: 0
> 
> compiz: No manageable screens found on display 0:0
> 
> Root cause: 
> 
>      1. Lack some user libs should been installed? 
>         need yum install more libs: Xorg, dri, drm, glx, xgl? Tried to
>         install all these packages with these key words.
>         
>         I installed all the packages of xorg/dri/drm/xgl/ same as FC6,
>         FC6 can work, but MID can not.
>         
> 
> 2.  Lack some kernel modules?
> 
>         xgl  depends on kernel module drivers: drm.ko and i915.ko,  I
> insmod the two modules in MID by hand,  Compiz still fails.
> 
> 3.      Do not support default depth, default 16 or 24,  how to
> support it? 
> 4.      Need add or modify configure files?
> I add /etc/drirc file as google search’s result.  fail 
>         
>         Modify X11/xorg.conf to add some script to load xgl? fail
>         
> 
> _____________________________________________
> From: Spencer, Bob s
> Sent: 2007年5月25日 10:32
> To: Li, Horace; Zhu, Jack; Wei, Donald
> Subject: Matchbox or Compiz?
> 
> 
> I've been thinking about Compiz vs. Matchbox.  I think using Matchbox
> wm is faster than using Compiz, but I'm not convinced that is the
> right thing to do for the long run.  
> 
> Pros / Cons
> 
> If we use Matchbox (w/Compiz feature added)
> 
>         - We get all matchbox stuff.  No change to Hildon
> 
>         - Theming works as designed
> 
>         - We have to add compiz code
> 
>         - End features:  we can rotate applications 
> 
> If we use Compiz (w/Matchbox feature added)
> 
>         - We have to implement all Matchbox features
> 
>         - We have to modify Hildon
> 
>         - We have to recreate the themes
> 
>         - End features:
> 
>                 - application rotation
> 
>                 - show all running apps on single screen
> 
>                 - magnify screen zoom in/out
>                 - all future compiz features free
> 
> I wonder if Horace can 
> 
>         - try to get Hildon working on compiz window manager
> 
>         - identify all the features that we need to implement in
> Compiz to make it behave like Matchbox. 
> 
>                 - stack-based app
> 
>                 - dialogs behave correctly
> 
>                 - theming
> 
>         - figure out what Hildon code depends on Matchbox
> 
>         - figure out how to make Compiz look like Matchbox
> (configuration files at least)
> 
>         - give this information to Jack/Donald.
> 
> What do you guys think?
> 
> Bob
> 
> 
> 
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> compiz at lists.freedesktop.org
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For your method 2 to work, you shouldn't need Xgl with an Intel graphics
card. You should be able to use AIGLX with Xorg >= 7.1, and it is
usually enabled by default. Also try adding the line:

Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
      * 
to the Screen section of xorg.conf.

Thanks
Matt