my 3d xgl screenshots

Introduction:

Novell is announcing its contribution of the Xgl graphics subsystem and the 'Compiz' compositing manager to the X.org project. These enhancements open up a whole world of hardware acceleration, fancy animation, separating hardware resolution from software resolution, and more. As a result, Linux desktops will become more usable, end-user productivity will increase, and Linux is firmly positioned at the forefront of client computing technology.Under the leadership of Novell's David Reveman, Novell has sponsored and led the development of this powerful new graphics subsystem for Linux since late 2004. Xgl is the X server architecture layered on top of OpenGL and takes advantage of available accelerated 3D rendering hardware. It is designed to integrate well with the composite extension and performs best when a compositing manager is running. 'Compiz' is the new OpenGL compositing manager from Novell and is the framework that enables the development of graphical plug-ins.Xgl is an Xserver that uses OpenGL for its drawing operations. Together with compiz, an opengl compositing and window manager, it allows for some cool desktop effects. Xgl relies on an extension to mesa, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, that is present only in CVS mesa.

XGL Code:

Both projects are being hosted on freedesktop.org and the latest code can be found in the CVS repository.

Sofware Prerequisites:

Installed 3D driver for 3d-enabled video driver, better performance with ATI/NVidia video cards

How do I enable 3D support for my ATI Radeon card in Fedora Core 5?

See how to do that here http://www.fedorafaq.org/#radeon

How do I enable 3D support for my nVidia graphics card in Fedora Core 5?

Link here http://www.fedorafaq.org/#nvidia

Major XGL desktop features:
1. True transparency and shadow
2. Zoom In / Zoom out
3. Desktop Organization
4. 3d Spinning Cube
5. Moving-film like

This rpm-based xgl under FC5 mini-howto work with my ATI Radeon X600 under FC5. Hope it works for you also.

Package list to install:
compiz OR compiz-quinn
xorg-x11-server-Xgl
fedora-xgl-settings
gset-compiz
xgl-hardware-list
glitz
libsvg-cairo libsvg

Let's go install. Show me now please.

First, make sure you have a 3d vga driver working already and the latest kernel.
Now, for this to work under FC5, you need to install Fedora Xgl Repository as root, issue:

# rpm -Uvh http://fedoraxgl.tuxfamily.org/repository/fedora-xgl-repository-1.0-3.noarch.rpm

Then import proper GPG key
# rpm --import /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-AL-CAPCOM

Follwed by installing Xgl and Compiz rpm packages:
# yum --enablerepo=fedora-xgl install compiz xor-x11-server-Xgl

Verify that you have the correct xgl values after the installation:
$ gnome-xgl-info

This command must return results like this:
G nVidia Corporation
1 kmod-nvidia is installed for the kernel release 1.2111_FC5
1 -accel glx:pbuffer -accel xv

Enable Xgl:
gnome-xgl-switch --enable-xgl --auto
When the script ask you for applying the modifications, say (y)es.

To disable Xglgnome-xgl-switch --disable-xgl

Use Gnome, for now, it doesnt work with KDE yet.
Modify your /etc/gdm/custom.conf and append these :

[servers]0=Xgl
[server-Xgl]
name=Xgl
servercommand=/usr/bin/Xgl :0 -fullscreen -ac -accel glxbuffer -accel xv:buffer
chooser=false
handled=true
flexible=true
priority=0

And save.
**Note that /usr/bin is the location, others had /opt/bin.

XGL is not yet fully stable, its still on development process and most users from different distros find hardtimes doing the installation. Once or twice it would work for them, but after reboot, it does not!

Then, create a executable bash scripts named XGL like below. This one would launch XGL under init 3 properly.

#/bin/sh
#start XGL on display :1
export DISPLAY=:1<


br />/usr/bin/Xgl :1 -ac -accel glx:buffer -accel xv:buffer -fullscreen &
sleep 33

#start compiz
DISPLAY=:1 /opt/Xgl/bin/compiz gconf &
DISPLAY=:1 gnome-window-decorator &
DISPLAY=:1 dbus-launch gnome-session &

#avoid backspace to kill Xgl
DISPLAY=:1 /usr/bin/xmodmap -e "keycode 22 = BackSpace"

And save.
Change /usr/bin if necessary. This one comes from my own settings though. You will notice sleep 33 is there, it works for me, if I changed that to sleep 10, it wont do the work, you need to give it some loading time, maybe 60 would do for some slower systems as I have 3.2 GHz processor here, 33 is just fine for me.

Then from Gnome, click Administration, look and click for Compiz configuration, from the left pane of the newly appeared dialog box, make sure the following plugins are checked:

gconf
decoration
wobbly
fade
minimize
cube
rotate
zoom
scale
move
resize
place
switcher

Reboot to init 3, and run the XGL script as root, wonderful, works like a charm!

The above worked with my ATI Mob Radeon X600 with 128 dedicated video mem running under FC5.
If you wish to run it when Gnome is loaded, change the display redirection from :1 to :0, edit /etc/inittab to init 5, and do some tweakings from your xorg.conf, gnome-sessions and startup programs.

Some sweet-candy XGL keyboard shortcuts commands:

Ctrl+Alt+Left - rotates the 3d cube going to the left.
Ctrl+Alt+Right - and right ofcourse.
Alt+Left Button - drags the currently selected window with effects
Ctrl+Alt+Left Button - rotates the cube on mouse directionand more!

Lastly, find an internet cafe, do some show offs. LOL

Future Readings:
http://www.novell.com/linux/xglrelease/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xgl
http://fedoraforum.org
http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/Xgl

All their trademarks and licenses.

in life: desktop linux are getting more and more sweet nowadays