[Bug 155581] New: Option For OpenGL To Turn Off Compositing

[Jeremy LaCroix]

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http://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=155581         
           Summary: Option For OpenGL To Turn Off Compositing
           Product: kdesktop
           Version: unspecified
          Platform: Ubuntu Packages
        OS/Version: Linux
            Status: UNCONFIRMED
          Severity: wishlist
          Priority: NOR
         Component: general
        AssignedTo: unassigned-bugs kde org
        ReportedBy: jeremyblacroix gmail com


Version:            (using KDE KDE 4.0.0)
Installed from:    Ubuntu Packages
OS:                Linux

I have an idea that I think will make things easier for some people and hopefully this is not hard to implement.

I really like the compositing/desktop effects of KDE4. The only downside is that when I have these effects turned on, I lose about half of the framerate for my video card when I play 3D games.

I know compositing with KDE4 may not be mature yet, but I have an idea to reach a cool middleground for people like me that play games and video, and suffer slowdown from compositing, but like the compositing too much to turn it off.

In the properties window for an icon, perhaps there should be a tickbox that says something like "disable desktop effects while this program is running". The option would be in kmenuedit also.

That way, it's not a burden for all the developers to choose what programs disable compositing and which ones don't, it's up to me, the user.

If I find compositing is slowing down a program, I can just go into the icon properties window, and set it to disable desktop effects while the program is running. Then, when I launch the game/application, desktop effects turns off so all the video resources are freed up, and then when I close the game/application, desktop effects would return.

I hope this idea makes sense.