01 september
Linux steps up with OpenGL powered GUI’s
In the recent race to serve users with all mannered GUI wonder Linux has put both Apple and Microsoft in a choke hold. Utilizing the ”XGL” xserver on top of OpenGL and the ”Compiz” composite manager allows the use of hardware accelerated rendering of the desktop and windows. This is not a new thing, if you’re a regular Linux user you have probably heard of it. If you’re not and you still think Linux is just about the console, take another look.
The features as unnecessary, but extremely fun, as they may be that I now sport on my desktop are
- Transparent windowborders
- Shadowed windows and menus
- 3D modeled viewport flipping
- ”Wavy” moving of windows
There are more but since this is a computer intensive add-on I have switched off some of the features. I won’t lie to you, you’ll need some computer power to get this running smoothly.
Check out these resources for additional info and to sneak a peak
I was going to post some neat screenshots here but they didn’t quite come out well since taking snaps of a 3D application doing it’s stuff tends to be kind of jagged. That’s probably why everyone else has posted videos of the stuff instead. And since they have done it why should I? :) Now I’ll get back to being mesmerized by my newfound bling…