AIGLX + Beryl Nightly on Debian Sid HowTo

Debian's "unstable" development branch, Sid, is an excellent platform for bleeding-edge development as well as having all of the latest toys right at your fingertips. Along that line of thought, the Beryl 3D window manager fits in nicely. Here's how to get AIGLX and Beryl running smoothly on Debian Sid.

1. Make sure your 3D is working correctly and to full capacity. If you run the following command:
   Code:

   glxinfo | grep render

   ...you should get back something like the following:
   Code:

   direct rendering: Yes
   OpenGL renderer string: GeForce 6800 GT/AGP/SSE/3DNOW!
       GL_NVX_conditional_render, GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap, GL_SGIS_texture_lod,

   If you get back "direct rendering: No", you will need to get your 3D drivers installed and working correctly before you proceed. After all, a 3D desktop isn't much without working 3D! For NVidia users, this tutorial may help.
2. Get your packages up to date. The easiest way to do this is of course with apt. Something like the following:
   Code:

   apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade

   If all goes as expected, you'll have all the latest packages Sid has to offer.
3. Add the Beryl nightly build repository, then install Beryl. To do so, just follow the directions here: View topic - Beryl-SVN repo here :: sidux.com :: debian based live cd development
4. Start Beryl with the 'beryl-manager' tool.
5. Enjoy your next-gen 3D desktop!

 

What window manager are you using? Emerald or Aquamarine? If Aquamarine, is it any good? Does it fit well with KDE?

 

I am using Aquamarine because it fits well with KDE. Emerald works and looks well too, but like Gnome, doesn't give you the useful options like "Send to desktop...". Also, like Gnome, the Emerald themes are more difficult to tweak to your own specifications, where Aquamarine uses your KDE window decorations.

Also, just FYI, but the nightlies of the Beryl .2.0 SVN are awesome.

 

I know I am running Beryl 0.2.0 SVN on my Ubuntu 6.06 box. I choose not to run it on my Kubuntu machine because Aquamarine is unavailable to me at present. The Dapper SVN repository only has Emerald at the moment.

 

AT,

This is my output from fglrxinfo | grep render:
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect

Do I understand from this that dircet 3D drivers are not properly installed on my system? I have an ATI Radeon 9200SE and I have evry fglrx available package installed....

Cheers...

 

Yes, or you haven't configured DRI in your xorg.conf file. Can you post a copy of it?

 

Thanks mega!

I am assuming the DRI's mode is not correct?

Thanks for having a look and assisting.