FusionCast VI -- New Plugin: Stackswitch

Well, here we are already with another episode. Keep in mind that I plan on making shorter, more specific episodes now for easier searching on Youtube, etc. Because of this, the episode numbers are less important and more emphasis is on the plugin/features outlined.

Watch the original video here for annotations, and/or if you're coming from the planet.

Can you Digg it? >> Thanks everyone for putting this on the front page! And welcome, diggers!



This episode, we show you an all-new plugin: Stackswitch! Added by Onestone to gitweb, this plugin is a neat hybrid of the scale and shift window switchers. Take a look at the video for details!

Thanks a whole lot to Kate Linford for personally offering her track, "Hip Hop Bond" to use on this cast. I think you'll find it quite outstanding! A link to the track may be made available later.

Links:
Stackswitch on Gitweb
Original Announcement (onestone's blog)

Please email me at fusioncast at gmail dot com!
I am on IRC occasionally under the nick of gavintlgold on irc.freenode.net #compiz-fusion.
Also, comment by clicking on the link below.

Tip: did you know that you can sort my posts by the label "episodes" to only see my episodes and cut out the announcements and stuff?

FusionCast Episode V - Ghost + Dodge!

NOTE: I would seriously recommend watching this from the Youtube page. You'll get the annotations that way and they'll clarify a few things. I'm putting the video here anyway for lazy people:



Here's a new episode of FusionCast! This time, we run through a couple of things you can do with the similar plugins Ghost and Dodge (not to be confused with the dodge animation!). These plugins are available only with the developmental version of Compiz Fusion (GIT).

Ghost: This plugin (in its default settings) makes all normal windows set to "Always on Top" transparent and inputless. In other words, you can click underneath the window but still see it. This can be useful for typing in commands, but also (I imagine) for image editing without having to import a photo into the image editor (see the video's example).

I changed the settings to this because I found it worked better (Allowing windows that aren't "normal" to ghost too):


Dodge: This plugin also lets you have windows on top without worrying about using their input. Instead of making the window transparent, it slides it out of the way when your cursor would be over it. Other ways of dodging are making the window go all the way off the screen and physically move (where it will remain until it is moved again). The wobbly effect really makes this plugin great. My custom configuration follows:


Oh, for those who thought this was pointless because the plugins are already pretty old, I am active now and you'll get a more useful, up to date video soon. This video is after all geared towards those who don't have GIT compiz I suppose. :) Horray for summer!

Links:
Ghost on gitweb
Dodge on gitweb


Please email me at fusioncast at gmail dot com!
I am on IRC occasionally (at irc.freenode.net #compiz-fusion) under the nick of gavintlgold.
Also, comment by clicking on the link below.

Fusioncast Episode IV

(if you are seeing this from the planet, without the youtube video, visit the actual blog post to see this episode)

NOTE: I'm experimenting with the new "annotations" feature on Youtube. You'll have to go to the video's page to see them though. Let me know what you think!

Yes, you read that right! It's another episode of Fusioncast, this time reviewing:

• Cube cylinder
• Mag plugin
• Showmouse
• The new expo curve
• Updates to atlantis
• An excerpt about the wii head tracking plugin

Notes:

You will have to compile compiz fusion from source to get the cylinder and other new plugins. Some plugins may already be available in the Hardy beta, however.

I don't have a Wii controller, so I took a segment from Smspillaz's video (see below). Learn more at his blog.

Since everyone always asks about my theme, I'll just let you all know right now: This time, it's the Ubuntu Hardy "Human-Murrine" with customized colors (I like that they finally included this option for the Human theme!). The wallpaper is linked below. Using the "Glossy" metacity theme. Running Hardy Heron beta.

I'm also (as usual) using Kiba-Dock, SVN version. It's extremely alpha software, and quite buggy since it's not a release (I'm not complaining), but I like to run it for fun (and because it looks so cool).

I used Blender to make the little 3d compiz-cube, and I will upload the source files soon. Patience, guys. I intend to upload all the source videos and files as well for your tinkering benefit. It's coming.

EDIT: Sorry for forgetting to mention the video editor! I use kdenlive (as in the other fusioncasts). It's a little improved in the Hardy repos, but still extremely buggy. I'm waiting for all those MLT bugs to get fixed, guys!!

Please comment if I've forgotten to mention something. I'll set it aright.

Links:

Wallpaper
Dock on the bottom of the screen
Link to the website of the amazing cute movie with the rabbit (it's an open source movie!)
The original Wii head tracking video by Johnny Lee
Wii head tracking with compiz fusion by Smspillaz
Where the cool music came from

Kdenlive

Original video file + all source files coming soon!

Please email me at fusioncast at gmail dot com!
I am on IRC occasionally under the nick of gavintlgold.
Also, comment by clicking on the link below.

Video: Practical Uses of Desktop Effects

I hope you enjoy this silly video parodying Compiz Fusion's effects. :) This is all I will do for the next few weeks, since I will be busy on vacation :D

High Quality MPEG file here

Thanks for answering the poll by the way.

Episode III

Original MPEG added.


As a special treat, I present episode III of FusionCast. It's a no-talking episode, but it features Freescale, Shelf, and Freewins, and a few less known features of these three new(ish) plugins.

Hope you enjoy, and don't mind if the quality is a little below my usual standard--I made this in a few hours.

All three plugins are available through the GIT repository.

Notes
=======

Freescale is a simple hack by SmSpillaz that changes Freewins so that it scales windows instead of rotating them. It has a few bugs, and is a hack, so the code is less polished.

Shelf, on the other hand, is based on the miniwin plugin from long ago. The name was suggested by me in the forums, when I had the same sort of idea. Since it's coded by KristianLy (he made many plugins and is a member of the team), and has been made from scratch, it will most likely have less bugs and be under longer development. Also, the point of Shelf is more useful than Freescale is, since Freescale is what its name says--free-scaling. It has about as much use as Freewins. Shelf, however, should be useful as a sort of replacement to minimization.

The bugs at the end are just a little example of silly things you can do. If you make all your windows at the same 3d angle as the desktop, it can look sort of like you are working on a 3d table. Of course, you can't use your windows while using Freewins, but.... it looks cool. :D


Original MPEG here.

Please email me at fusioncast at gmail dot com!
I am on IRC frequently under the nick of gavintlgold.
Also, comment by clicking on the link below.

FusionCast Flash Episode I

This episode gives a quick picture of the latest development versions of Kiba Dock and Avant Window Navigator, the two most popular Linux docks which require Compiz Fusion or Beryl to run.

Links:
Avant Window Navigator
Kiba Dock

There are basic installation instructions on the two websites. However, I am going to make a howto right here for both eventually, probably on Sunday, and post that here. I hope you enjoy this episode!

Find the original MPEG file here.

Please email me at fusioncast at gmail dot com!
I am on IRC frequently under the nick of gavintlgold.
Also, comment by clicking on the link below.

Check out the FusionCast Forums

Episode II

UPDATED!! Some instructions were incorrect, due to Blogger mistaking comments for HTML. Please read again. Also, the get-git script link was fixed. Bear with any broken links, I am transitioning over to another server, thanks!

In this episode...

1. A git howto!
2. A get-git script howto!
3. The first n00bs section, where we talk about compiz running (or not running) on Windows, as well as mention the benefits of using the Terminal!
4. A demo, and instructions on how to install, the Screensaver Plugin!
5. Tips section, including nvidia black window bug problems and Avant Window Navigator!
6. The Plugin Idea of the Week!

I hope you enjoy it.

Notes for this episode...

GIT TUTORIAL NOTES:
=======================

The Compiz Fusion Git Repository
Click on a plugin, and look for the url on the resulting page.

Git commands:

• git clone: create a new folder with the package
• git pull: update an existing package.

Syntax:

• git clone git://anongit.opencompositing.org/....

Sequence to get a new plugin installed:

• cd /home/[username]/compiz (assuming that's the compiz fusion gitweb folder)
  
• git clone git://anongit.opencompositing.org/...
• ls
• If the result of ls contains "autogen.sh", run:
• ./autogen.sh
• make
• sudo make install
• Otherwise, run:
• make
• make install

Sequence to update:

• cd /home/[username]/compiz/[plugin]
• git pull
• (add the rest of the commands above, starting with ls)
  

GET GIT NOTES:
==================

To install via Get-Git:

• Follow the instructions in Step 1 here: Fyda's Forum Post.
• Download either the original version here, or the updated version here (updated just includes fyda's addon and the extra repositories I use).
  
• If you are using the updated version, run the command:
• sudo apt-get install x11proto-scrnsaver-dev libxss-dev (to get screensaver to work)
  
• Create a new folder called compiz. Then place the downloaded get-git file inside.
• Open up the get-git file with Text Editor.
• Read the top lines, and follow the instructions on the comments. If you use the updated one, you shouldn't have to do anything, if you are running Ubuntu Feisty Fawn, or another gnome-based install.
• To add another plugin package, use this syntax:
• ITEMS="$ITEMS users/crdlb/...."
• Save the file, and close it.
• run:
• cd compiz
• ./get-git
• Wait for all packages to download and install. Enter your password when prompted.
• Start compiz with the command fusion-icon, or open it from Applications>System Tools>Compiz Fusion Icon.

INSTALLING SCREENSAVER PLUGIN:
==================================

If you used the script above, then do nothing. You have it already!

Otherwise, run the commands:

• sudo apt-get install x11proto-scrnsaver-dev libxss-dev
• cd compiz
• git clone git://anongit.opencompositing.org/users/pafy/screensaver
• cd screensaver
• make
• sudo make install

AVANT WINDOW NAVIGATOR
=============================

To install, run these commands:

• sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
• Add this to the end of the file:
• ## Avant Window Navigator
• deb http://download.tuxfamily.org/syzygy42/ feisty avant-window-navigator
• deb-src http://download.tuxfamily.org/syzygy42/ feisty avant-window-navigator
• save, close.
• wget http://download.tuxfamily.org/syzygy42/8434D43A.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -
• sudo apt-get update
• sudo apt-get install avant-window-navigator-svn
  

To get reflections and 3d effect, run the command gconf-editor and navigate to the />avant-window-navigator>bar folder. Then change bar_angle to 45, and icon_offset to 15. Restart AWN.

EDIT: Thanks to a comment, we've found a better way to add launchers.
To add launchers, don't use the dialogue with the "add" button, since the add button is broken. Instead, drag stuff directly from your Applications folder into AWN.

Enjoy!

PLUGIN IDEA OF THE WEEK
==========================
Click here.

Find the original AVI file here.

Please email me at fusioncast at gmail dot com!
I am on IRC frequently under the nick of gavintlgold.
Also, comment by clicking on the link below.
Search the forums first if you have a problem!

If you enjoy this, please digg it (see the digg button in the sidebar).

Episode I

First off, I want to apologize for the bad audio. It's very hard to record audio under linux, and I'm using the best free software available to users to do it. It will continue to improve over time. :)

In this first episode, I review a few plugins, new and old:

• Enhanced Zoom
• Negative
• Color Filter

Then, I let you know how to install compiz fusion, via either Trevinho's repository or gitweb.

Here are the instructions I talk about in the video. They are generally for Feisty Fawn users, but can be adjusted to fit others' needs:

INSTALLING VIA TREVINHO'S REPOSITORY:

• Paste the following two lines into your /etc/apt/sources.list file. Open the file by running the command sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
• deb http://download.tuxfamily.org/3v1deb feisty eyecandy
• deb-src http://download.tuxfamily.org/3v1deb feisty eyecandy
• Save the file, then close. Type:
• wget http://download.tuxfamily.org/3v1deb/DD800CD9.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -
• run sudo apt-get update
• run sudo apt-get upgrade
• Open up Synaptic Package Manager (System>Administration) and search for compiz fusion.
• select for installation:
• compiz-fusion-plugins-extra, compiz-fusion-plugins-main, compiz-fusion-plugins-unsupported, compizconfig-settings-manager, emerald, emerald-themes
• Install them. If you get an error, click apply again. It should resolve itself. If not, head to IRC.
• Go this page and locate the fusion-icon .deb package that ends with i386. Download and install it. This will give you fusion-icon, the starter panel applet.
• Install it.
• Run fusion-icon (applications>system tools>Compiz Fusion Icon)

INSTALLING VIA GITWEB:

• Follow the directions on this forum post by Fyda.

NOW...

• Compiz Fusion should be up and running now!
• Check out Getting Started with Compiz Fusion, a video I made which helps you get configured correctly once you install and launch compiz fusion.
• Any problems, please go on IRC (as explained in the video).
• Have fun!

After that how to, I show you how to log in to #compiz-fusion on IRC if you're having problems. IRC is a form of instant messaging.

Finally, I show you how the Colorfilter plugin works!

I hope you enjoy this episode. I look forward to continuing with these video casts.

Links:
kdenlive
jokosher
xvidcap
ubuntu
compiz fusion

Find the original MPEG file here.

Please email me at fusioncast at gmail dot com!
I am on IRC frequently under the nick of gavintlgold.
Also, comment by clicking on the link below.