How To Edit Compiz Settings in Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal Easily?

OK, first of all, I think everyone is aware of the fact that Ubuntu Linux (especially the Unity desktop) heavily depends on Compiz (one of the best window-manager that uses your GPU - ATI/Nvidia and Intel, etc.. 3D hardware accelerations or 3D Graphics rendering in general). So configuring Compiz in Ubuntu Linux can be pretty handy, only if you know what you're doing, no disrespect intended.

Although you can easily do this by installing a well known front-end but still, even without having to install anything at all, you can change a lot of Compiz related settings in Ubuntu 11.04 using the Gnome configuration manager called "Gconfig-editor".

And I think it's always best to start with the somewhat the "hard-way", which always helps me, when it comes to quickly learning GNU/Linux and its other aspects. Don't you think? :). Okay, let's get started. 

1. Open your Terminal and issue the below command.

gconf-editor

2. This should bring you the Gnome Configuration editor as shown below. From the left side choose:"apps" -> "compiz-1".

Now under "compiz-1", go to "plugins". There you'll see a hell lot of options :P that can be used to configure compiz pretty easily. But as I said before, even the most smallest change can have a significant effect on Ubuntu 11.04 because Unity desktop is actually a plug-in that runs on top of Compiz 3D rendering engine!.

Oh you can change a lot... but be careful!...

So, if you successfully messed up Compiz then you can actually reset all those value to the default ones by issuing the below commands in your Terminal.

gconftool-2 --recursive-unset /apps/compiz-1
unity --reset 

It's advisable to log out of your desktop and to log in or do a reboot. Still this is not a guarantee that this command will fix everything..., so change Compiz at your own risk or try to remember the changes (which is not that easy anyway).

Don't try to change settings like the "refresh rate" values in those options, for instance, if you don't know what you're doing, because it can easily "burn" your GNU/Linux Laptop or PC's monitor!.

And if you change Compiz settings related to Unity only via: "apps" -> "compizconfig-1" -> "profiles" -> "unity",

Then use the below command in your Linux Terminal to reset all the values to default ones.

unity --reset

And remember although there can be small risks involved, yet when it comes learning to use GNU/Linux, we all have to do a little bit of testing :D. Good luck.