[Patch] compiz & nvidia-settings

[®om]

To apply nvidia-settings settings (!!), we need to call "nvidia-settings -l" (if we have a nvidia) before launching compiz.
I added it at the very beginning of /usr/bin/compiz, but I think it should be enabled by default.

Without this call, the settings such as antialiasing, etc... are not used by compiz.

I use Ubuntu Hardy beta (but there was the same problem on gutsy)
[lspci]
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Mobile PM965/GM965/GL960 Memory Controller Hub [8086:2a00] (rev 03)
     Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device [1043:14e7]
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: nVidia Corporation GeForce 8600M GS [10de:0425] (rev a1)
     Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device [1043:1514]

[®om (rom1v)]

Problem not resolved in intrepid beta.

I have to add at the very beginning of /usr/bin/compiz :
nvidia-settings -l

[®om (rom1v)]

I think that installing nvidia-setting package should add "nvidia-settings -l" to execute during boot time, but I don't know where.

[®om (rom1v)]

In /usr/bin/gnome-wm lines 49 to 66 (ubuntu intrepid beta):

----
# special case handling for dapper upgrades (this runs only once after the upgrade)
if [ -z "$DEFWM" ] && [ -f /var/lib/gnome-session/dapper-upgrade ]; then
    gconftool-2 -s /desktop/gnome/applications/window_manager/default /usr/bin/metacity --type string
    DEFWM=/usr/bin/metacity
fi

# If not exist, set to compiz (if available)
if [ ! -x "$DEFWM" ]; then
    if [ -x "/usr/bin/compiz" ]; then
 gconftool-2 -s /desktop/gnome/applications/window_manager/default /usr/bin/compiz --type string
 DEFWM=/usr/bin/compiz
    elif [ -x "/usr/bin/metacity" ]; then
 gconftool-2 -s /desktop/gnome/applications/window_manager/default /usr/bin/metacity --type string
 DEFWM=/usr/bin/metacity
    else
 unset DEFWM
    fi
fi
----

To my mind, the special case handling for dapper upgrade should be removed (impossible to upgrade directly from dapper to intrepid). But doesn't matter.

The important thing is to call "nvidia-settings -l" :

----
# If not exist, set to compiz (if available)
if [ ! -x "$DEFWM" ]; then
    if [ -x "/usr/bin/compiz" ]; then
 gconftool-2 -s /desktop/gnome/applications/window_manager/default /usr/bin/compiz --type string
 DEFWM=/usr/bin/compiz
 if [ -x "/usr/bin/nvidia-settings" ]; then
  /usr/bin/nvidia-settings -l
 fi
    elif [ -x "/usr/bin/metacity" ]; then
 gconftool-2 -s /desktop/gnome/applications/window_manager/default /usr/bin/metacity --type string
 DEFWM=/usr/bin/metacity
    else
 unset DEFWM
    fi
fi
----

Maybe nvidia-settings -l should be called in another place, please tell me if you find a better place.

This fix is important, because users don't understand why compiz has a such bad quality, while they configure vsync and/or anisotropic and/or antialiasing in nvidia-settings.

[®om (rom1v)]

A better fix would be to do that at the end of the file. I provide a patch that I tested, it works.

[s0ullight (s0ullight)]

the patch definitly works ;)

[®om (rom1v)]

A better solution may be to add a file : /etc/X11/Xsession.d/56nvidia-settings

----
# This file is sourced by Xsession(5), not executed.

# loads nvidia-settings config
if [ -x /usr/bin/nvidia-settings ]; then
  /usr/bin/nvidia-settings -l
fi
----

(thanks to mvo)

(tested)

[®om (rom1v)]

Another solution is provided on bug 108060.

[®om (rom1v)]

Any chance that a patch will be included in intrepid?

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Hi rom1v,

Thanks for including the attached files. Could you also include your /var/log/Xorg.0.log?

[®om (rom1v)]

I don't understand why, but I attach it.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

[This is an automated message]

Hi rom1v,

Please attach the output of `lspci -vvnn` too.

[®om (rom1v)]

Will the problem be corrected in jaunty?

[Alberto Milone (albertomilone)]

I'm closing this bug report as now, in Ubuntu Lucid, we call nvidia-settings with "--load-config-only" when the session starts