desktop wall becomes slow with many windows open

Closing windows does improve the speed a little, although it doesn't restore it to normal.

Other plugins run normally.

any workaround out there besides windows closing?

I don't know of one...
  window closing doesn't seem to work very well either!

On Sat, Jul 2, 2011 at 8:07 PM, meliniak <email address hidden> wrote:
> any workaround out there besides windows closing?
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/799814
>
> Title:
>  desktop wall becomes slow with many windows open
>
> Status in “compiz” package in Ubuntu:
>  New
>
> Bug description:
>  Binary package hint: compiz
>
>  1. log in.
>  2. open a couple windows
>  3. see that the deskop wall switches normally (ctrl-alt arrow)
>  4. open a few more window ~6 total
>  5. notice the the wall switcher becomes very slow
>  6. close the windows.
>  7. notice that the switcher is still slow.
>
>  This is a regression.  It started when I updated to
>  0.9.4+bzr20110406-0ubuntu2.
>
>  ProblemType: Bug
>  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
>  Package: compiz 1:0.9.4+bzr20110606-0ubuntu1~natty1
>  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
>  Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic i686
>  NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
>  .proc.driver.nvidia.gpus.0: Error: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/proc/driver/nvidia/gpus/0'
>  .proc.driver.nvidia.registry: Binary: ""
>  .proc.driver.nvidia.version:
>   NVRM version: NVIDIA UNIX x86 Kernel Module  270.41.06  Mon Apr 18 14:54:25 PDT 2011
>   GCC version:  gcc version 4.5.2 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.5.2-8ubuntu4)
>  Architecture: i386
>  CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,compiztoolbox,decor,grid,vpswitch,gnomecompat,place,imgpng,regex,neg,snap,resize,move,mousepoll,put,session,animation,unitymtgrabhandles,expo,workarounds,wall,fade,group,ezoom,scale,unityshell,scaleaddon,switcher]
>  CompositorRunning: compiz
>  Date: Mon Jun 20 12:23:21 2011
>  DistUpgraded: Log time: 2011-04-21 17:51:33.968863
>  DistroCodename: natty
>  DistroVariant: ubuntu
>  DkmsStatus: nvidia-current, 270.41.06, 2.6.38-8-generic, i686: installed
>  GraphicsCard:
>   nVidia Corporation G86 [GeForce 8400M GS] [10de:0427] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
>     Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0209]
>  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100429)
>  InstallationMedia_: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100429)
>  JockeyStatus:
>   xorg:nvidia_173 - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use)
>   xorg:nvidia_current - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Enabled, Not in use)
>  MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS M1330
>  PackageArchitecture: all
>  ProcEnviron:
>   LANGUAGE=en_US:en
>   PATH=(custom, user)
>   LANG=en_US.UTF-8
>   SHELL=/bin/bash
>  ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=96761261-328d-4418-8fba-6c120eb0e3b9 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
>  ProcVersionSignature_: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
>  Renderer: Unknown
>  SourcePackage: compiz
>  UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to natty on 2011-04-21 (59 days ago)
>  dmi.bios.date: 12/26/2008
>  dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
>  dmi.bios.version: A15
>  dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
>  dmi.chassis.type: 8
>  dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
>  dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA15:bd12/26/2008:svnDellInc....

This bug makes the whole desktop interface barely usable.

What are the alternatives to the wall desktop switcher, besides the cube switcher which does not hold enough workspaces ?

You can have as many workspaces as you want with cube (just ccsm -> core ->
horizontal virtual size) but I have been profiling compiz anyways and
noticed that there is a big slowdown when wall paints windows so I'm going
to be looking into that anyways.

On Sun, Jul 3, 2011 at 4:27 PM, Michel Gutierrez
<email address hidden>wrote:

> This bug makes the whole desktop interface barely usable.
>
> What are the alternatives to the wall desktop switcher, besides the cube
> switcher which does not hold enough workspaces ?
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are a member of compiz
> packagers, which is subscribed to compiz in Ubuntu.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/799814
>
> Title:
> desktop wall becomes slow with many windows open
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/compiz/+bug/799814/+subscriptions
>
> _______________________________________________
> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~compiz
> Post to : <email address hidden>
> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~compiz
> More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
>

--
Sam Spilsbury

Thanks for the tip with cube, but for years, i'm used to work on a 8x3 desktop scheme. Having to scroll over 24 workspaces in 1 dimension (horizontal) instead of 2 (in the case of the wall), is not very convenient.

By the way, i'm not sure what you mean by "big slowdown when wall paints windows", but i noticed that unchecking "Show Live Viewport Previews" and "Show Viewport Switcher Preview" in ccsm did not affect notably that slowness when switching between viewports.

I know this is an incredibly unsatisfying comment, but I suppose someone might find it helpful... I have two workstations at work, one with a GeForce 8600 and one with a GeForce 9600. I found that this problem only occurs with the 8600. As verification, I got irritated and swapped video cards in order to move the problem to the machine I use less often. So maybe it's specific to these GeForce 8 cards? That said, these are perfectly capable graphics cards and should be able to handle this, so I suspect a software problem someplace.

imho such comments may be very helpful when comes to narrowing down the possible causes. i'm also affected by this bug, in my case the video card is nvidia Quadro NVS 160M.

On Mon, Jul 4, 2011 at 3:42 PM, Michel Gutierrez
<email address hidden> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the tip with cube, but for years, i'm used to work on a 8x3
> desktop scheme. Having to scroll over 24 workspaces in 1 dimension
> (horizontal) instead of 2 (in the case of the wall), is not very
> convenient.
>
> By the way, i'm not sure what you mean by "big slowdown when wall paints
> windows", but i noticed that unchecking "Show Live Viewport Previews"
> and "Show Viewport Switcher Preview" in ccsm did not affect notably that
> slowness when switching between viewports.

Right, in compiz every plugin gets a chance to modify the way that
windows are drawn on screen every time a window is redrawn. I've
noticed that the way wall is doing this makes is slow.

>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are a member of compiz
> packagers, which is subscribed to compiz in Ubuntu.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/799814
>
> Title:
>  desktop wall becomes slow with many windows open
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/compiz/+bug/799814/+subscriptions
>
> _______________________________________________
> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~compiz
> Post to     : <email address hidden>
> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~compiz
> More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp

--
Sam Spilsbury

I'm having the problem with a GeForce GTS 360M, running driver 270.41.06 on Linux-x86_64.

excuse me for not being precise enough:
Quadro NVS 160M with 270.41.06 driver, Linux-x86_64.

I am having problems with both a GeForce 8600 and an ATI Radeon Mobility X1600 card, so this issue is probably not tied to a specific kind of hardware.

Istvan

This bug seems to only affect Ubuntu with Unity enabled. Can anybody confirm?

I'm encountering this bug using a Nvidia Quadro FX 3450/4000 on a 2560x1600 monitor over DVI dual link. I though maybe it was my resolution, so I'm glad others are seeing this problem.

Unity need not be enabled. I am using the GNOME Classical desktop, yet the bug occurs.

same here, unity installed but using gnome.

the bug persists when using gnome and not unity for me too.

On Thu, Jul 7, 2011 at 1:16 PM, meliniak <email address hidden> wrote:
> same here, unity installed but using gnome.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/799814
>
> Title:
>  desktop wall becomes slow with many windows open
>
> Status in “compiz” package in Ubuntu:
>  New
>
> Bug description:
>  Binary package hint: compiz
>
>  1. log in.
>  2. open a couple windows
>  3. see that the deskop wall switches normally (ctrl-alt arrow)
>  4. open a few more window ~6 total
>  5. notice the the wall switcher becomes very slow
>  6. close the windows.
>  7. notice that the switcher is still slow.
>
>  This is a regression.  It started when I updated to
>  0.9.4+bzr20110406-0ubuntu2.
>
>  ProblemType: Bug
>  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
>  Package: compiz 1:0.9.4+bzr20110606-0ubuntu1~natty1
>  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
>  Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic i686
>  NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
>  .proc.driver.nvidia.gpus.0: Error: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/proc/driver/nvidia/gpus/0'
>  .proc.driver.nvidia.registry: Binary: ""
>  .proc.driver.nvidia.version:
>   NVRM version: NVIDIA UNIX x86 Kernel Module  270.41.06  Mon Apr 18 14:54:25 PDT 2011
>   GCC version:  gcc version 4.5.2 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.5.2-8ubuntu4)
>  Architecture: i386
>  CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,compiztoolbox,decor,grid,vpswitch,gnomecompat,place,imgpng,regex,neg,snap,resize,move,mousepoll,put,session,animation,unitymtgrabhandles,expo,workarounds,wall,fade,group,ezoom,scale,unityshell,scaleaddon,switcher]
>  CompositorRunning: compiz
>  Date: Mon Jun 20 12:23:21 2011
>  DistUpgraded: Log time: 2011-04-21 17:51:33.968863
>  DistroCodename: natty
>  DistroVariant: ubuntu
>  DkmsStatus: nvidia-current, 270.41.06, 2.6.38-8-generic, i686: installed
>  GraphicsCard:
>   nVidia Corporation G86 [GeForce 8400M GS] [10de:0427] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
>     Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0209]
>  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100429)
>  InstallationMedia_: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100429)
>  JockeyStatus:
>   xorg:nvidia_173 - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use)
>   xorg:nvidia_current - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Enabled, Not in use)
>  MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS M1330
>  PackageArchitecture: all
>  ProcEnviron:
>   LANGUAGE=en_US:en
>   PATH=(custom, user)
>   LANG=en_US.UTF-8
>   SHELL=/bin/bash
>  ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=96761261-328d-4418-8fba-6c120eb0e3b9 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
>  ProcVersionSignature_: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
>  Renderer: Unknown
>  SourcePackage: compiz
>  UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to natty on 2011-04-21 (59 days ago)
>  dmi.bios.date: 12/26/2008
>  dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
>  dmi.bios.version: A15
>  dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
>  dmi.chassis.type: 8
>  dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
>  dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA15:bd12/26/2008:svnDellInc.:pnXPSM1330:pvr:rvnDellInc...

same issue started recently

ubuntu 11.04
compiz 1:0.9.4+bzr20110606-0ubuntu1~natty1, compiz 1:0.9.4+bzr20110606-0ubuntu1~natty2
nVidia GeForce 7950 GT (G71)
nvidia driver 270.41.06
2.6.38-8-generic-pae (i386)
gnome classic

I can confirm the problem with the workspacre switcher with many windows open.

Related to https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/compiz/+bug/760814 ?

This can lead to an occasional complete melt-down on my system which
is manifested in one of two ways:
1) xorg goes into 100% CPU usage
2) compiz uses 100% CPU

Sometimes with the compiz variety, the system recovers somehow
although the windows are rearranged (does compiz restart?)

When I connect my machine to an external monitor all symptoms are magnified...
  the bigger the monitor the slower and the more likely to hang indefinitely.

Is there a command to restart compiz without logging out and restarting X?

On Thu, Jul 14, 2011 at 5:04 AM, Heiko Scheit <email address hidden> wrote:
> I can confirm the problem with the workspacre switcher with many windows
> open.
>
> Related to https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/compiz/+bug/760814
> ?
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/799814
>
> Title:
>  desktop wall becomes slow with many windows open
>
> Status in “compiz” package in Ubuntu:
>  New
>
> Bug description:
>  Binary package hint: compiz
>
>  1. log in.
>  2. open a couple windows
>  3. see that the deskop wall switches normally (ctrl-alt arrow)
>  4. open a few more window ~6 total
>  5. notice the the wall switcher becomes very slow
>  6. close the windows.
>  7. notice that the switcher is still slow.
>
>  This is a regression.  It started when I updated to
>  0.9.4+bzr20110406-0ubuntu2.
>
>  ProblemType: Bug
>  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
>  Package: compiz 1:0.9.4+bzr20110606-0ubuntu1~natty1
>  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
>  Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic i686
>  NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
>  .proc.driver.nvidia.gpus.0: Error: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/proc/driver/nvidia/gpus/0'
>  .proc.driver.nvidia.registry: Binary: ""
>  .proc.driver.nvidia.version:
>   NVRM version: NVIDIA UNIX x86 Kernel Module  270.41.06  Mon Apr 18 14:54:25 PDT 2011
>   GCC version:  gcc version 4.5.2 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.5.2-8ubuntu4)
>  Architecture: i386
>  CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,compiztoolbox,decor,grid,vpswitch,gnomecompat,place,imgpng,regex,neg,snap,resize,move,mousepoll,put,session,animation,unitymtgrabhandles,expo,workarounds,wall,fade,group,ezoom,scale,unityshell,scaleaddon,switcher]
>  CompositorRunning: compiz
>  Date: Mon Jun 20 12:23:21 2011
>  DistUpgraded: Log time: 2011-04-21 17:51:33.968863
>  DistroCodename: natty
>  DistroVariant: ubuntu
>  DkmsStatus: nvidia-current, 270.41.06, 2.6.38-8-generic, i686: installed
>  GraphicsCard:
>   nVidia Corporation G86 [GeForce 8400M GS] [10de:0427] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
>     Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0209]
>  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100429)
>  InstallationMedia_: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100429)
>  JockeyStatus:
>   xorg:nvidia_173 - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use)
>   xorg:nvidia_current - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Enabled, Not in use)
>  MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS M1330
>  PackageArchitecture: all
>  ProcEnviron:
>   LANGUAGE=en_US:en
>   PATH=(custom, user)
>   LANG=en_US.UTF-8
>   SHELL=/bin/bash
>  ...

Confirming the issue.
nVidia GeForce 8500 GT
This only appeared in 11.04.

I started to experience this just 2 weeks ago, my lspci shows this

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 12)

I've noticed that the same window situation also has adverse effects on the OpenGL screensavers. Try a perf comparison with GLMatrix (fullscreen) with tons of windows open and then with no windows open.

I can make my system very slow by opening only a single window...
   if I open a firefox window with many embedded youtube videos compiz
actions will be extremely slow even if I never click on any of them.
For example, I open a single window with this page:
http://www.jazzenrafale.com/concours_demi_finales.html

On Wed, Jul 20, 2011 at 7:16 PM, RawwrBag <email address hidden> wrote:
> I've noticed that the same window situation also has adverse effects on
> the OpenGL screensavers. Try  a perf comparison with GLMatrix
> (fullscreen) with tons of windows open and then with no windows open.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/799814
>
> Title:
>  desktop wall becomes slow with many windows open
>
> Status in “compiz” package in Ubuntu:
>  New
>
> Bug description:
>  Binary package hint: compiz
>
>  1. log in.
>  2. open a couple windows
>  3. see that the deskop wall switches normally (ctrl-alt arrow)
>  4. open a few more window ~6 total
>  5. notice the the wall switcher becomes very slow
>  6. close the windows.
>  7. notice that the switcher is still slow.
>
>  This is a regression.  It started when I updated to
>  0.9.4+bzr20110406-0ubuntu2.
>
>  ProblemType: Bug
>  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
>  Package: compiz 1:0.9.4+bzr20110606-0ubuntu1~natty1
>  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
>  Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic i686
>  NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
>  .proc.driver.nvidia.gpus.0: Error: [Errno 21] Is a directory: '/proc/driver/nvidia/gpus/0'
>  .proc.driver.nvidia.registry: Binary: ""
>  .proc.driver.nvidia.version:
>   NVRM version: NVIDIA UNIX x86 Kernel Module  270.41.06  Mon Apr 18 14:54:25 PDT 2011
>   GCC version:  gcc version 4.5.2 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.5.2-8ubuntu4)
>  Architecture: i386
>  CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,compiztoolbox,decor,grid,vpswitch,gnomecompat,place,imgpng,regex,neg,snap,resize,move,mousepoll,put,session,animation,unitymtgrabhandles,expo,workarounds,wall,fade,group,ezoom,scale,unityshell,scaleaddon,switcher]
>  CompositorRunning: compiz
>  Date: Mon Jun 20 12:23:21 2011
>  DistUpgraded: Log time: 2011-04-21 17:51:33.968863
>  DistroCodename: natty
>  DistroVariant: ubuntu
>  DkmsStatus: nvidia-current, 270.41.06, 2.6.38-8-generic, i686: installed
>  GraphicsCard:
>   nVidia Corporation G86 [GeForce 8400M GS] [10de:0427] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
>     Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0209]
>  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100429)
>  InstallationMedia_: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100429)
>  JockeyStatus:
>   xorg:nvidia_173 - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Disabled, Not in use)
>   xorg:nvidia_current - NVIDIA accelerated graphics driver (Proprietary, Enabled, Not in use)
>  MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS M1330
>  PackageArchitecture: all
>  ProcEnviron:
>   LANGUAGE=en_US:en
>   PATH=(custom, user)
>   LANG=en_US.UTF-8
>   SHELL=/bin/bash
>  ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=96761261-328d-4418-8fba-6c120eb0e3b9 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
>  ProcVersion...

Here's a strange symptom:
1. open a few windows.
2. open glxgears.
3. close the other window.

see that glxgears no longer runs smoothly (even the the FPS look good still) even if you close it and reopen it.

Could someone tell me the easiest way to install the original compiz that cam with 11.04?
That one worked fine for me.

any progress on this issue? i've already got used to that, but every time i switch back to windows i'm suprised how fluent desktop rendering can be.

This issue appears to be fixed on my machine in 11.10, as the background no longer scrolls with the desktop switch.

Will it be fixed in 10.04?

I meant 11.04....

this is no longer a problem for me in 11.10 either.

great, same here

Thank you for reporting this bug to Ubuntu. 11.04 reached EOL.
See this document for currently supported Ubuntu releases: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases

Please upgrade to the latest version and re-test. If the bug is still reproducible, increase the verbosity of the steps to recreate it so we can try again.

Do feel free to report any other bugs you may find.

As it is fixed in 11.10, marking as Fix Released.