Compiz Fusion is a seriously powerful extension to Gnome (basically the GUI for Linux). It’s been possible to create extra desktops in Ubuntu for a long time, but with Compiz you can switch between each desktop via a three dimensional cube, which is actually very usable and seriously cool. Amaze your friends with Compiz fusion by showing them your machine doing tricks like this:
Installing Compiz in Ubuntu Hardy is extremely easy. In fact, you already have it. For earlier versions of Ubuntu, follow these instructions. If you have Hardy, read on…
Compiz is already installed in Hardy, but you need access to the advanced settings manager to activate the cube and cube rotation. You’re going to install a package called: compizconfig-settings-manager. Installing it in Hardy is easy - go to Synaptic Package Manager (System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager) and do a search for compizconfig-settings-manager. Check the install box and click apply.
Now, if you go to System>Preferences you’ll see that a new menu item has appeared - “Advanced desktop effects settings”. Open the menu.
Behold! The compiz settings manager. This is where you activate all of the cool tricks. There are so many fiddly little settings to play with that it would be impossible to write about them all. I’ll leave you to break discover them yourself. There are however some really important ones to switch on that are worthy of note and will provide an important first step:
1) Under “Desktop” check “Desktop Cube”. There are lots of settings inside this module, but for the time being leave it checked
2) Underneath the desktop cube checkbox, check “Rotate Cube”.
If all goes well, then holding down CTRL>ALT and the right hand mouse button should instantly zoom you out and display a three dimensional desktop! Mouse around and it will spin up and down and from left to right. The rest, I leave to you. enjoy 
12 Comments
Thanks very much - am introducing friends to Linux, and the cube and other effects are big ’selling’ points.
Hey, mine is not a cube :(, Rather a pannel with only two desktops??
Brian, a cube doesn’t have only 2 sides. Try adding four more….to make a cube.
What do you mean that Gnome is basically the GUI for linux? what about I dunno kde, xfce, etc, forget about those did you? you elitist bastard.
Gnome is usually the default GUI for the majority of the major Linux operating systems. Nevertheless that does not lessen the fact that kde and kfce (among others) are still out there abd does not invalidate your post.
HELP i cant get the cube to come up all i get is a flat panel that is an inch by about three.
Hmm.. How many desktops do you have? Look in the bottom right hand corner of the desktop - you should have 4 desktops, but in Ubuntu Hardy there are quite often 2 (default install?) add two more and try again?
Right click on the workspace icon in the bottom right corner. increase the number to 4 (or whatever you want) and hit ok. You should have your cube or hexagon or octagon or whathave you.
cheers!
mrshll, gnome is used on relatively few linux distros…i’d say kde is more widespread than gnome for sure. In fact this is what made it seem so odd when Ubuntu chose gnome as its primary desktop manager.
I have six desktops and when i press ctrl+alt+left it brings up a small 3 inch box to use for swhiching desktops.
@twing
sorry sir, this is BS, obviously you have no idea of what are you talking about.
here’s a list of how many linux distro come out with Gnome as default desktop manager.
http://www.gnome.org/~davyd/footware.shtml
..relatively few linux distro..
Always makes me happy to see a fellow SEO using Linux. Great write up!
@twig: I wouldn’t be too sure of that, I used to think the same thing. Gnome still has a larger marketshare over KDE distros because it gained better stability with the more business friendly distros (Red Hat, Fedora, etc.). With KDE4 out now, I think it might drown out gnome for popularity in that environment too.
Awesome !!! Thanks for the fantastic help
Ciao Baas R