Forlong's Blog

Great idea!

Some details:

Instead of using "sudo make install", and keep the folder and do "sudo make uninstall", you can use "sudo checkinstall": it'll make a deb package and install it. And to uninstall, just remove the package.
(In this case, to make a valid package, you need to edit the Version settings and set it with a number. This package *must not* be distributed, it doesn't manage dependencies.)

Under my XFCE desktop, your script switch between compiz and... kwin :-( Maybe a problem to detect the current desktop environment ?

thanks man. just the thin iv been looking for:)

Cool, i have recorded a video, it's in youtube; it's not very useful but it's something =).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adktPq5_pFA

Excellent wee app - works wonderfully with Linux Mint KDE edition 4.0 Daryna.
Great work, thanks!

I always searched for something like this ... I only miss one feature ... automatically disable compiz when running a laptop on battery and automatically switch compiz on when running on AC.

Excelent!
I was looking for this.
Thanks.

Thanks a lot for this useful app!

Thx for this script! Exactly what ive been looking for, thx!

That is cool. At first, I thought it was a clone of fusion-icon, but now I realise this closes compiz if it's running, and it opens it if it's not, and that's it. Thanks for this.
Can I find a similar script for turning XGL on and off? I've got an ATI graphics card, and this would make running games a lot easier.

I wrote my own script for this this but this is a much better package.

Excellent application! Try to get this into the compiz package repository!!!

Great little script, thanks for sharing. I noticed that it doesn't seem to work with more than one user running compiz at the same time. To get it to work, I replaced line 36 with this:

COMPIZ_RUNNING=`ps -u $USER | grep $COMPIZ_BIN | awk '{print $1}'`

AFAIK, the $USER environment variable should always be set. I also changed
killall $COMPIZ_RUNNING
to
kill $COMPIZ_RUNNING
in the switch to xfwm4 section, but as I don't have xfce, that is totally untested. I hope this helps anyone that has multiple compiz users on their computer.

thx man for sharing this.
really usefull script!

i installed with the deb. I'm using eeeXubuntu it works really well. Thanks man!

Every time I try to download either the .deb package or the source, I get a 404 error. Am I missing something?

Just what I was looking for and tested in Ubuntu Hardy Heron beta with the stock desktop effects.
Works like a charm :D

I'd second the feature of automatically disabling Compiz when a laptop switches to battery power, but I think that will need to be implemented by Gnome Power Management etc.?

p.s I'll let others know about this on my site soon :)

Is there a way to make an amd64 version of this?

Thanks :)

On my ubuntu hary installation it switches compiz off, but not on.

I have the same trouble as Stefan, right after installing (0.4) it would only work to switch compiz on. And now after a reboot it only works as a restart button for metacity. What I noticed though is that the compiz-switch command is still running in the console after the switch is complete. I kinda thought it was supposed to terminate itself and thus be super memory slim ^-^

Basic state after X starts is: Compiz is activated

1st time:
diddl@ubuntu:~$ compiz-switch -o
/usr/bin/compiz-switch: line 233: [: too many arguments
Checking for Xgl: not present.
Detected PCI ID for VGA: Flags: bus master, VGA palette snoop, stepping, fast Back2Back, 66MHz, user-definable features, ?? devsel, latency 0
Flags: bus master, VGA palette snoop, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 64
01:00.0 0300: 10de:0402 (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Checking for texture_from_pixmap: present.
Checking for non power of two support: present.
Checking for Composite extension: present.
Comparing resolution (1680x1050) to maximum 3D texture size (8192): Passed.
Checking for nVidia: present.
Checking for FBConfig: present.
Checking for Xgl: not present.

((at that point I do not get back the console prompt and I do a ctrc-c))

((which then goes on to crash compiz whereupon I go Alt-Tab-1 and kill compiz so that gnome starts metacity as a fallback))

((after switching back I can see this in my console window where i issued ctrl-c))
*** glibc detected *** /usr/bin/compiz.real: double free or corruption (!prev): 0x000000000078f8a0 ***

--------------------------------------
2nd try (after restarting X)
This time I will issue the second compiz-switch -o in a new console window :)

diddl@ubuntu:~$ compiz-switch -o
/usr/bin/compiz-switch: line 233: [: too many arguments
Checking for Xgl: not present.
Detected PCI ID for VGA: Flags: bus master, VGA palette snoop, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 64
01:00.0 0300: 10de:0402 (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Checking for texture_from_pixmap: present.
Checking for non power of two support: present.
Checking for Composite extension: present.
Comparing resolution (1680x1050) to maximum 3D texture size (8192): Passed.
Checking for nVidia: present.
Checking for FBConfig: present.
Checking for Xgl: not present.

((opening 2nd terminal prompt))
diddl@ubuntu:~$ compiz-switch -o
/usr/bin/compiz-switch: line 233: [: too many arguments
Checking for Xgl: not present.
Detected PCI ID for VGA: Flags: bus master, VGA palette snoop, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 64
01:00.0 0300: 10de:0402 (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Checking for texture_from_pixmap: present.
Checking for non power of two support: present.
Checking for Composite extension: present.
Comparing resolution (1680x1050) to maximum 3D texture size (8192): Passed.
Checking for nVidia: present.
Checking for FBConfig: present.
Checking for Xgl: not present.

Just want to confirm the bug by Deeta. When I installed compiz-switch on hardy, the same thing happened. I think this has something to do with Hardy (or gnome) trying to preserve the state it was in (i.e Compiz or No Compiz). So when I using compiz and ran compiz-switch, compiz-switch attempted to change to metacity, but it just lagged a bit (window borders disappeared) and then compiz restarted.

nice easter egg by the way.

((when compiz is running after booting))
diddl@ubuntu:~$ ps -o comm= -C compiz.real
compiz.real

((pretty unspectacular.. hope that is what you were looking for))
((switching to metacity by using 'no desktop effects'))

diddl@ubuntu:~$ ps -o comm= -C compiz.real
compiz.real

((same outsput... strange... but yeah compiz seems off, no desktop zoom, no wobbly windows.... ))

((just switched compiz on again and noticed something weird))

diddl@ubuntu:~$ ps -o comm= -C compiz.real
compiz.real
compiz.real

((despite my lack of gnu/linux knowledge I feel the vibe of wonky hardy configuration of my compiz... this means it does not really terminate when I shut compiz down, aye?))

With the help of the Zorael in the Ubuntu Forums I have created a pretty dirty hack. Not that it will appeal to anyone but me, but at least I can switch compiz off and on now without slowing my system to a crawl :D
Here it is:

#!/bin/bash
while true;
do
if [ "$(pidof compiz.real)" ] && [ "$(pidof metacity)" ];
then
killall --signal=9 compiz.real
echo CompiZombie detected and terminated
sleep 2s
else
sleep 2s
fi
done

Hi,
thanks for this little app, it's very usefull. I have only one problem, if I use only 'compiz-switch', I have to run it 4 times, to change really from compiz to metacity, and to go back to compiz only once is necessary. If I put the '-o' at the end it works perfectly.

Thanks

dell XPS M1330 + Ubuntu 8.04 LTS + compiz-switch 0.4.1

I still have the same problem with 0.4.1 as with 0.4.0.
(of course I stopped my script before trying :)

The output has a variation in a slightly minor way though. (different line and error message in the beginning)

diddl@ubuntu:~$ compiz-switch -o
/usr/bin/compiz-switch: line 239: [: compiz.real: unary operator expected
Checking for Xgl: not present.
Detected PCI ID for VGA: Flags: bus master, VGA palette snoop, stepping, fast Back2Back, 66MHz, user-definable features, ?? devsel, latency 0
Flags: bus master, VGA palette snoop, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 64
01:00.0 0300: 10de:0402 (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Checking for texture_from_pixmap: present.
Checking for non power of two support: present.
Checking for Composite extension: present.
Comparing resolution (1680x1050) to maximum 3D texture size (8192): Passed.
Checking for nVidia: present.
Checking for FBConfig: present.
Checking for Xgl: not present.
((at that point it again does not return to the command prompt))

www=wobbly windows working ^-^
!www= no wobbly windows

((fresh boot: www, so lets try to turn em off))
diddl@ubuntu:~$ compiz-switch
((!www, success... now for trying to turn them on again))
diddl@ubuntu:~$ compiz-switch
/usr/bin/compiz-switch: line 220: kill: compiz.real: arguments must be process or job IDs
((!www, failure :-/, lets confirm it))
diddl@ubuntu:~$ compiz-switch
/usr/bin/compiz-switch: line 220: kill: compiz.real: arguments must be process or job IDs
((!www, failure :-/, yet again ))
diddl@ubuntu:~$ compiz-switch
/usr/bin/compiz-switch: line 220: kill: compiz.real: arguments must be process or job IDs
((!www, failure :-/, yeah I am stupid for trying again ^-^ ))
diddl@ubuntu:~$ pidof compiz.real
6251
diddl@ubuntu:~$ killall -9 compiz.real
diddl@ubuntu:~$ compiz-switch
diddl@ubuntu:~$ Checking for Xgl: not present.
Detected PCI ID for VGA: Flags: bus master, VGA palette snoop, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 64
01:00.0 0300: 10de:0402 (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Checking for texture_from_pixmap: present.
Checking for non power of two support: present.
Checking for Composite extension: present.
Comparing resolution (1680x1050) to maximum 3D texture size (8192): Passed.
Checking for nVidia: present.
Checking for FBConfig: present.
Checking for Xgl: not present.
((www, yay! success... so lets try to turn em off again))
diddl@ubuntu:~$ compiz-switch
diddl@ubuntu:~$ *** glibc detected *** /usr/bin/compiz.real: double free or corruption (!prev): 0x000000000078fd90 ***

diddl@ubuntu:~$ compiz-switch
/usr/bin/compiz-switch: line 220: kill: compiz.real: arguments must be process or job IDs
diddl@ubuntu:~$

@Forlong: I completely understand ^-^ trying to work around some compiz bug which does not even manifest on your machine must be horribly tedious ;-) So a big thanks :D +textual token of appreciation :)

And yeah I trust you that the switch terminated itself :) I just do not know too much about Gnu/Linux and silently assumed until now that 'not returning to prompt'='app still running'

I hope my console output helps to some degree :) (as I do not really know which parts are relevant to you and which are not)

you are certainly getting somewhere :D while the reliability of switching on/off is still somewhat fickle it is at least succeeding to switch it on and off now if one keeps pressing the compiz-switch-icon :D

With me It seems that everytime compiz crashes in this way when turned off: "*** glibc detected *** /usr/bin/compiz.real: double free or corruption (!prev): 0x000000000078fd30 ***" one of the Compiz-Zombies is raised.
So what Compiz-Switch 0.4.3 does with my box seems to be the following:

1. if CompizZombie=false and Compiz=ON then activate metacity
no-brainer as this is the normal behavior ^-^

2. if CompizZombie=false and Compiz=OFF then activate compiz
again normal behavior ^-^

3. if CompizZombie=true and Compiz=OFF then kill zombie (but does not activate compiz)
This is what has improved in 0.4.3 for me, while not doing what it is expected to do this prevents undue accumulation of dead Zombies.. err Compiz ;-) and after all when pressing the button again it works. Yay! right direction :D

4. if CompizZombie=true and Compiz=ON then fail to deactivate compiz and tell me
"/usr/bin/compiz-switch: line 224: [: compiz.real: binary operator expected" (when two compiz.real processes present)
or
"/usr/bin/compiz-switch: line 224: [: too many arguments" (when six compiz.real processes were present)

Case four only happens if I use the Appearance Preferences panel in between to toggle compiz instead of using compiz switch.

Hello, I don't understand if the effect is 'permanent': does this application allow to switch compiz off and prevent it to be reloaded on next boot? If not, how can I disable compiz being automatically activated on boot?
Many thx

Ok, sorry. The answer was much simpler than I thought.
Just delete the file ~/.kde/share/config/compizasWM and compiz won't be loaded at kde start.

very good work! Exactly what i am looking for. I just added functions to kill & restart kiba-dock alongside with compiz, no it's perfect for my needs.

Please bare with me here... I'm pretty new to Ubuntu, and Linux. I had the Compiz Switch on my old laptop, and it worked fine... I was running Gutsy. I have Hardy now on my new laptop (Hardy Wubi, if that makes a difference.) The switch will turn off Compiz, but does not turn it back on. I have to go to system/preferences/appearance, and hit normal and all is fine. I like the one button approach though. Any ideas as to why it won't just turn compiz back on?

Thanks,
Sam

this is great! vielen dank!

deactivate compiz.. and can't reactivate.. -.-

I have spent a few days writing a script myself... gah i feel so stupid, but anyway, I think mine has its uses as well. for instance, mine can be used better for single applications, and it can be contained in shortcuts for game launchers etc etc

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1207203

knock yourselves out, there it is

Thank YOU!!! This has resolved in 2 minutes something that has been bugging me for weeks.....Txs ;-))

I know the Original Post is quite old, but this still works great on Jaunty. Thank you, Forlong!

Great! Thanks for this!

I have an old comp with not much RAM and I really need to sometimes turn Compiz on and off in order for certain applications to run smoothly. This is a great help.

The 'compiz-switch -s -c' on the panel works great (Ubuntu/Gnome user here). Thanks again!

Hi guys.. I have posted this in Compiz forum, xfce forum, openSuse Forum, on #IRC and elsewhere... No responses any where :(

If I run compix-switch or fusion-icon, and then select xfwm4 from its menu, it refuses to load, terminal gives me these errors:

Code:

* Setting window manager to Xfwm4

** (xfwm4:6218): CRITICAL **: Xfconf could not be initialized

** (xfwm4:6218): WARNING **: Missing data from default files
 * Setting window manager to Xfwm4

** (xfwm4:6230): CRITICAL **: Xfconf could not be initialized

** (xfwm4:6230): WARNING **: Missing data from default files

But If I now run "xfwm4 --replace &" from the terminal, it loads xfwm4 no problem.

(icewm seems to work ok from the fusion-icon menu)

Where do I look for these problems? What exactly is the call that fusion-icon makes when I click a WM in the fusion-icon menu? And where is it?

 

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I have now uninstalled both fusion-icon and compiz-switch, in case they were out of date or conflicting. If I reinstalll, which first? both or just one?

 

 

This is great!!

I tought of doing a script... but then I found this one :D

Thank you very much!

Hi,

Thanks for that useful script. Anyhow some strange behavior I experienced. I am working on Debian Lenny and I compiled compiz from source (0.8.4). If I executed compiz-switch -o in the terminal, everything went fine. Executing compiz-switch by clicking on the icon did not work properly (no window decoration compared to the execution in the terminal). The reason was the missing environment variable LD_LIBRARY_PATH=":/usr/local/lib", when compiz-switch was executed from the menu/panel. All other variables were present. Strange!
Maybe that helps somebody.

Alex

Confirmed, Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx LTS Released today

Compiz Switch installs fine but nothing happens when pressed.

Confirming the Lucid Lynx issue.

It  works, thanks!

Confirming that the fix works on Lucid Lynx

Thanks for that fix for Ubuntu Lucid.

I was getting very frustrated with it not working to switch off compiz (it worked to switch it on) as I sometimes need to get rid of compiz when playing foobillard (snooker game).  I could do it with terminal, but the desktop icon for compiz-switch was so incredibly useful!!

Thanks again.

Hi,

This is very interesting application, and as a previous comment, I'm interested in such tool for use on laptop to save energy in battery-mode.

I'm thinking to use your code and integrate it in a more complete applet (allowing to unactivate compiz, cam and put cpu to powersave mode when on battery)

works great with ubuntu 10.04 after i applied the script patch...excellent tool...thanks!

yeah after running this script it works fine,thanks

fuckin' awesome. this has got to be the best program on all the panels on my screen. Very utalitarian.