GL O.B.S. : GL Open Benchmark Suite

Here's a nice HOWTO on installing GL O.B.S. : GL Open Benchmark Suite on Ubuntu. Though it's still in the alpha phase it's quiet stable and runs remarkable well. It's recommended to use the latest version of Nvidia's binary driver both for GL O.B.S. and for 3D stuff in general.



Before Installing

Make sure that the 3D graphic driver is set up properly and your sourcelist is also set up correctly before installing GL O.B.S.

Next thing is to download the compiling tools and the libs to compile, build and install GL O.B.S.
Open the terminal and type;

sudo aptitude update && sudo aptitude upgrade
sudo aptitude install build-essential subversion scons
sudo aptitude install libsdl-image1.2-dev libsqlite0-dev libsqlite3-0 libsqlite3-dev python-gnome2-dev python-gobject-dev python-gtk2-dev python2.4-opengl x11proto-gl-dev libgtk2.0-dev python2.4-pysqlite2 freeglut3-dev python-numeric epydoc-doc

Now you're ready to compile, build and install GL O.B.S.


Installing

Now to the compiling and installing, type the following commands;

cd && cd Desktop
svn co https://svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/globs/globs/trunk globs
svn co https://svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/globs/benchmarks/trunk globs/src/benchmarks
cd globs
scons
sudo scons install prefix=/usr
sudo python patchdir.py prefix=/usr
sudo python setup.py install --prefix=/usr



Last step is making an application launcher;

sudo rm -f /usr/share/applications/globs.desktop
sudo nano /usr/share/applications/globs.desktop



Add the following;

[Desktop Entry]
Name=GL O.B.S.
Comment=OpenGL Benchmark Utility
Exec=globs %F
Icon=/usr/share/globs/pixmaps/globs.png
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Application;System;


Save & Exit

You can now start GLobs in the Application tab ---> System Tools or type globs in the terminal.

More about GL O.B.S.: http://globs.sourceforge.net

gDesklets - FTB look

Here's some tips'n'Tricks on howto setup gdesklets in a proper way and ofcause so it looks nice and handy.



This will show you how to get desklets and look as shown above.

1. You need to install gdesklets from gdesklets.org or if you are using Ubuntu you can do this;

sudo aptitude install gdesklets gdesklets-data

2. Now start the gdesklet daemon by clicking the gdesklets starter in the Applications tab. A menu should pop up. The desklets you're looking for are called FTB-xxxxxx.

List of FTB desklets you need
FTB-info
FTB-cpu-plot
FTB-mem-plot
FTB-net-plot
FTB-disk-gauge (multiply how many disk/cd/DVD you want displayed)

3. Download the extra icons to switch the default FTB icons out. Download here.

4. Now right-click on one of the desklets and pick configure desklets. You'll see alot of tabs with options in everyone of them.

5. Under Appearance change theme color to white and eventual remove a top/buttom border depending where you want the desklet.

6. Icon/launcher tab is here where you can change the icon. You might want to scale the icon (under icon scale) and move the icon around.

7. A good idea is to change color of the plots to something in royal blue color.

8. Under dimension you can change the size of the desklets to fit your needs.

Enjoy

Gnome Eyecandy

Here's how you get a cool and beautiful looking desktop without comprimizing the usability and distracting eyecandy which can be annoying on a working computer. Still enough to impress everyone and not to forget a relaxing environment to work in for your eyes.

1. The first thing you need is to setup the latest Nvidia binary driver and install beryl on your Linux OS. For Ubuntu users check here.

2. Now download a modified milky theme (created by hanzomon4, modified by Artificial Intelligence) here and save it to your Desktop. To install it double click it and select it in the beryl theme manager.

3. You can add/remove or modify all the effects in the Beryl settings Mananger if you want to make some changes.




GTK2 theme

1. The GTK2 I use is a modified GT4 theme by AlexR1 at www.gnome-look.org
Download the modified version of GT4 from here and unpack it in the ~/.themes folder.

2. Make sure that gtk2-engines-pixbuf is installed (a quick search in synaptic if you're in doubt if it's installed).

3. Go to the gnome theme manager and click theme details and select GT4 under controls.


Icon theme

1. The icon theme is a heavy modified D3a icon theme by bvc mixed with alot of icons I have found throughout the web. Download it here and unpack it in your ~/.icons folder.

2. Go to the gnome theme manager and click theme details and select D3a under Icons.




Extra Icons

1. Here's some extra icons which needed to be installed manually. Download them here. It also contains readme files for where you need to copy the icons.


Root Application theme

1. By default root application (applications that need sudo/su to run) is grey an ugly. However there's a fix for that.

2. Here you need to open the terminal and type;

sudo ln -s /home/USERNAME/.themes /root/.themes
sudo ln -s /home/USERNAME/.icons /root/.icons

If you have fonts in your ~/.fonts folder which you want to share with root applications without installing them you can do;

sudo ln -s /home/USERNAME/.fonts /root/.fonts


Wallpaper

1. The Wallpaper is made by josuefrade at www.gnome-look.org
You can download 1280x1024 size here and 1600x1200 size here. Download the size which fits you best.

2. Go to Desktop Background Manager and load it up. While you are in the Desktop Background Manager do change Desktop colours to #E7F1F7 or something more lighter than that.


Login Manager(GDM)

1. The greeter of Gnome also need a change. Download the Simple Elegance made by Fedorateur/DMC Mandrake at www.gnome-look.org from here and save it to your Desktop.

2. Now go to the Login Window manager and add Simple Elegance and afterwards select it. Do also change the background color to #E7F1F7 or something lighter.




X Splash Screen

1. Next is a proper splash which fits nice to the rest of it. Ubuntu Metal Styck Splash by Luck at www.gnome-look.org
Download it here and save it to your Desktop.

2. install Splash Screen Manager

sudo aptitude install gnome-splashscreen-manager

3. Start the Splash Screen Manager, select Ubuntu Metal Styck Splash an activate it.




Audacious Theme

1. I can highly recommend the use of Audacious music/media player. To get it you can download and compile it from here. When it's done download the Aqua X skin by Freddy Leitner at www.winamp.com from here and save it to ~/.audacious/Skins

2. Start Audacious and press ctrl + P. Now select Aqua X skin.




Terminal Appearance

1. Open the terminal and go to Edit and click Profiles. Edit the Default profile.

2. Go to the Effect tab and select Transparent Background

3. Edit the the launcher you start your terminal to

gnome-terminal --hide-menubar




Enjoy your new Desktop Look