From Compiz

First you need to have aiglx or xgl running with composite enabled, instructions for this are not included in this guide.

0.3.6 on Ubuntu Feisty

Compiz 0.3.6 is installed by default in Ubuntu Feisty.

To make sure it is installed, you can run:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade && sudo aptitude install ubuntu-desktop

You may also install the Compiz-Extra package to get a few plugins not included in Compiz by default (This requires the universe repository to be enabled):

sudo apt-get install compiz-extra

Compiz 0.5 on Feisty

Alternatively, you can install some experimental Compiz 0.5 packages from the following repository. Please note these packages ARE experimental, and unless you are an experienced Compiz user, you aren't recommended to use them yet:

deb http://ubuntu.moshen.de feisty eyecandy

Once you've added that repository, run the following command:

sudo apt-get remove compiz-extra

Now, you may either run "gconftool-2 --recursive-unset /apps/compiz" or manually make sure none of the "compiz-extra" plugins are loaded in "/apps/compiz/general/allscreens/options/active_plugins".

Next, run these commands:

wget http://ubuntu.moshen.de/2F306651.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -
sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Log out, and log back in. You should now be able to start Compiz.

Please note that it may (and probably) won't start automatically for the time being as the packages are missing a special "wrapper" script that makes launching Compiz simpler. Similarly, the packages are missing the keybinding plugin.

Installing on Ubuntu Edgy

Edit /etc/apt/sources.list file and add the following line to the bottom:

deb http://gandalfn.club.fr/ubuntu edgy dev

You must also download the gpg key by running the following command:

 gpg --keyserver hkp://wwwkeys.eu.pgp.net --recv-keys 0x483170E9 ; gpg --export -a 0x483170E9 | sudo apt-key add -

After doing the above you must update apt-get:

 sudo apt-get update

Install Compiz and Gnome Compiz Manager:

sudo apt-get install compiz compiz-plugins compiz-extra compiz-extra-plugins compiz-extra-gnome gnome-compiz-manager

The packages include now the new kde-window-decorator, you can install compiz for KDE like this :

sudo apt-get install compiz compiz-plugins compiz-extra compiz-extra-plugins compiz-kde

To start Compiz you can type the following into a terminal:

compiz-tray-icon

You should then see a Compiz icon on your gnome-panel task bar. Right click on it and select "GL Desktop". You may also want to add this command to your session start-up programs list.

Configuring Compiz

Compiz should now be running now. There are three ways to configure it as of now, take a look at each one of them below and chose the one that's best for you.

Install compiz-settings
Download the latest version from this site if your using Ubuntu Edgy. If you are using Ubuntu Feiste you can get the latest version from this site! For more information about his application please refer to this thread.

sudo dpkg -i compiz-settings_0.07-2_i386.deb

To run it type the following into a terminal:

 compiz-settings 

Or alternatively go to System > Preferences > Compiz Settings Manager

Gnome Compiz Manager
To run Gnome Compiz Manager type the following into a terminal:

 gnome-compiz-manager

Gconf-Editor
It should be installed by default, so type the following into a terminal:

gconf-editor