New things for next FlipOS version!
New libzypp 8.1: (changelog LONG but really interesting, and will improve Zypper & YaST a lot)
Has a new backend for http and ftp package downloads. MultiCurl replaces the old MediaAria backend, and brings support for zsync transfers and better Metalink download support. These will improve both repository refresh and package install and update performance. Metalink allows the multi-channel download of packages by downloading the individual blocks of a package in parallel from multiple servers. ZSync reduces the amount of data to download by only fetching the changed parts of a file instead of the whole file. This speeds up repository refreshes, since due to the way the repository data is structured, it is easy to locate the parts of the metadata that changed since the last update. The new Curl-based zypp backend also gives libzypp and therefore zypper and YaST better support for network proxies, by using the same proxy configuration as the rest of YaST instead of its own, and adds support for HTTP BASIC password-protected repositories. And as an added bonus, MultiCurl should eliminate slow and hanging package installations that occurred due to bugs in the old MediaAria backend.
New XOrg 1.9 and KDE 4.5.
New changes will come soon!
Working in a new main menu for FlipOS
I'm working in a new main menu for FlipOS. It will support themes and is very easy. I will give you more info soon!
Getting Compiz Fusion
Pre-installation checklist
· Propietary drivers installed? Install them. I think Intel will work without any special drivers, but if you've got Nvidia and ATi please install them.
· Composite enabled? Probably yes, if you installed NVidia or ATi drivers. Intel by default. Just to be sure: Run this command in the terminal:
sudo xgl-switch --enable-xgl
then run
sudo rcxdm restart
To test if Composite is enabled run
sudo grep Composite /var/log/Xorg.0.log
The result must be Extension "Composite" is enabled.
Getting the Compiz Software
Adding the repository:
If you have FlipOS 2010.8, add this repo:
http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/X11:/Compiz/openSUSE_11.3/
If you have FlipOS 10.4 or earlier, add this repo:
http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/X11:/Compiz/openSUSE_11.2/
Getting the Compiz Fusion packages
With YaST install this packages:
compiz
compiz-branding-openSUSE
compiz-kde4
compiz-manager
compiz-plugins-extra
compiz-plugins-main
libcompizconfig
compizconfig-settings-manager
python-ccm
python-compizconfig
simple-ccsm-kde
You can use Zypper too!
Enabling Compiz and KDE integration
After installing the packages, run compizconfig-settings-manager and enable this plugins:
KDE Compatibility
Put
Move
Resize
Then, find Window Decoration and tick it. Click into it, then in the Command entry, delete what is there, then copy and paste this:
kde4-window-decorator --replace
Then, enable the plugins you want. Ian from openSUSE forums recommends this ones, plus the ones you want:
Jpeg
Png
Mouse Position Polling
Regex Matching
Window previews
Desktop Cube
Rotate Cube
After doing this, open Configure Desktop from Kickoff. Then, click Default Applications and go to Window Manager. Choose ''Use a different Window Manager'' and select Compiz (not Compiz Custom). Click Apply, and wait for your desktop to refresh. Log out and log in back and you'll have Compiz working!
This post has been adapted from this post from openSUSE Forums
Alternatives to Zypp (I): PackageKit
WARNING: Don't use two package managers at the same time. You can have both installed, but don't use both at the same time!
First, a little explanation:
Zypp isn't Zypper. Zypper is powered by libzypp. PackageKit is like libzypp, so it's not a direct alternative to YaST, the frontend. We'll cover alternatives to YaST (YaST Package Manager is powered by zypp too) in this post too.
What is PackageKit?
PackageKit is a system designed to make installing and updating software on your computer easier. The primary design goal is to unify all the software graphical tools used in different distributions, and use some of the latest technology like PolicyKit to make the process suck less.
Fedora uses PackageKit by default. You'll surprise how much programs and distros use it! Check this page.
How do I install it?
Install the package PackageKit. This will give you a commandline tool. You'll see later how to get a graphical interface.
How do I use it?
Check this.
Example: sudo pkcon install k3b
I want to get a graphical interface:
For FlipOS, install kpackagekit. You can install kpackagekit-lang for translation files.
You can run it from the KDE Control Center (Configure Desktop). Screenshots:
What I hate of PackageKit?
You can't add or remove repos, just enable/disable. So here's how to add/remove them.
EDIT: I found a easy way to add repos. Just Add them in YaST Software Sources.
I added the repo in YaST:
Then, the repo appeared in KPackageKit:
Getting desktop effects up ‘n’ running!
Today's tutorial is for getting desktop effects up and running!
KWin has integrated desktop effects. We'll cover Compiz install too if you wanna get more!
OK, let's get started:
Go to Configure Desktop (not YaST, just KDE config), then Desktop, then Desktop Effects.
Click in the checkbox ''Enable desktop effects'' then click Apply. If all worked, you're done! Your probably have an Intel chip!
I suggest before doing this workarounds you make a backup of /etc/X11/xorg.conf
If there was any error here's a workaround for NVidia and ATi cards:
ATi: (YaST Metapackage)
http://opensuse-community.org/ati.ymp : This will work with ATi HD-2000 series AND NEWER
http://opensuse-community.org/ati-legacy.ymp : Radeon 9500 to X1900. (DON'T INSTALL THIS PACKAGE IN 2010.8! THIS IS ONLY FOR 10.4 OR EARLIER, because the driver is not availaible yet)
NVidia: (YaST Metapackage)
http://opensuse-community.org/nvidia.ymp : (Geforce 6 and newer)
http://opensuse-community.org/nvidia-fx5xxx.ymp : Geforce FX cards (5xxx)
http://opensuse-community.org/nvidia-legacy.ymp : For all NVIDIA legacy cards (Geforce 4 and older, TNT) (DRIVER NOT AVAILAIBLE YET FOR 2010.8, ONLY FOR 1O.4 OR EARLIER)
Restart after installing any of this drivers.
After doing this, you can now enable desktop effects.
If you want more, you wanna get Compiz Fusion. There'll be a tutorial soon!
Get Google Chrome in FlipOS
Google Chrome is an advanced web browser, but it's not in the repositories. Follow this steps and you'll have Google Chrome up 'n' running!
1. Click here (direct link to Google Chrome download page)
2. Select the RPM file (for Fedora/openSUSE) option. Read the license then click in Accept and install.
3. When the RPM download has been finished, open the RPM file. Insert your root password in the KDE su prompt then click OK.
4. Wait to YaST to resolve all dependencies and install Google Chrome.
5. Done!
THIS METHOD WILL ADD A GOOGLE REPOSITORY FOR KEEPING GOOGLE CHROME UP-TO-DATE.
To don't get the repository, execute a sudo touch /etc/default/google-chrome before installing in a Konsole.
Getting your multimedia codecs
DISCLAIMER: The codecs or some of them may not be legal in your country! (especially libdvdcsss)
You've been warned! I'm not responsible of the software you install!
With the new release 2010.8, the codec will be installed if they aren't found. You might want to get the codecs without a window prompting for install!
Just click here.
Here's a step-by-step tutorial:
Open the file in the link. A YaST Metapackage Installer will appear:
Click Next.
Then a summary of the software that is going to be installed will appear:
I clicked in Customise (I deselected some software I didn't want. Don't take my software as a model of the software must be installed!)
There'll be a list of repositories. I deselected Libdvdcss repo. Then I clicked Next.
Then the software selection. I only selected:
· flash-player
· k3b-codecs: this is very useful! For burning MP3 Files.
·libxine1 + libxine1-codecs
· w32codec-all
Click Next. The customised selection will appear. Click in Next another time.
Insert your root password, then click OK.
The software will be installed!
Sorry!
The blog was unavailabe, then available but without previous post.
Now it was fixed! I'm really sorry for the inconveniences.
FlipOS 2010.8 has been released!
I'm really proud to announce it! FlipOS 2010.8 is avaible for public download
You can get it from FlipOS website!
Full changelog is avaible here.