Reading Linux

So this is a question for the penguin hearted amongst us:

Who isn't excited about XGL?

I know there is another similar project, but XGL seems to be what will win out, especially when you consider it's backing GNOME, and the GNOME desktop meshes with all the big name apps available on linux (for the most part). For those of you not aware of what XGL is, it is an attempt to render the desktop using OpenGL, which will allow for more positive effects and faster window movement/resizing/opening/closing/whatever. It allows for a lot of effects that are intended to make the desktop a friendlier place...

Have a look for yourself:
1, 2, 3, and 4.

I should be ashamed of myself.

I've already got a unix-based bloat-box. The crapintosh they make me use at work.

Really it seems like something that will take a lot of CPU without much practial purpose. How very anti-linux. I think they're trying to appeal to people who get distracted by shiny objects.

That being said... it is pretty bitchin.

I managed to run it yesterday. The 2d performance is generally much better, however i had big trouble with mplayer to work well in fullscreen. It was choppy no matter what video output i tried :/

And some issues with 3d gaming put me off. Besides wobbly effect made my eyes bleed. (I managed to turn it off in the end).

"Life is a queue. You come in, hang around for a bit, get some service, then depart."

You can configure the wobbly stuff to be off -- compiz (the only Xgl aware WM currently) options can be changed through gconf. Someone made a configuration program that you can find packages for too. It ships with SuSe 10.1.

AIGLX might beat out Xgl in the near term (it allows for GL effects without using GL for all drawing).

I'm doing a Google SoC project to improve the rage128 driver, and one of my mini-projects is trying to implement the texture from pixmap extension so Xgl will run performantly on this card.

It's not just bloat -- some of the effects are genuinely useful or good for usability. I can use compiz to 'peel back' maximized windows for example to see what's underneath. I'm working on some code for compiz so maximized windows will automatically peel back when you're drag and dropping something and you move the mouse near a corner. Windows that aren't responding anymore can fade out grey to indicate this to the user too.

"Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think."