KDE Plasma 4

Last updated
KDE Plasma 4
Developer(s) KDE
Initial release11 January 2008;16 years ago (2008-01-11) [1]
Written in C++, QML
Operating system Unix-like
Predecessor K Desktop Environment 3
Successor KDE Plasma 5
Type Desktop environment
License LGPLv2.1+
Website web.archive.org/web/20150319161319/https://www.kde.org/workspaces/plasmadesktop/   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

KDE Plasma 4 is the fourth generation of the KDE workspace environments. It consists of three workspaces, each targeting a certain platform: Plasma Desktop for traditional desktop PCs and notebooks, Plasma Netbook for netbooks, [2] and Plasma Active for tablet PCs and similar devices. [3] [4]

Contents

KDE Plasma 4 was released as part of KDE Software Compilation 4 and replaced Kicker, KDesktop, and SuperKaramba, which formed the Desktop in earlier KDE releases. They are bundled as the default environment with a number of free software operating systems, such as Chakra, [5] Kubuntu, [6] Mageia (DVD version), [7] openSUSE, [8] or TrueOS. [9] [10]

With the release of KDE SC 4.11 on 14 August 2013, KDE Plasma 4 was placed into a feature freeze and turned into a long-term stable package until August 2015. On 15 July 2014 KDE Plasma 4's successor, KDE Plasma 5, was released. [11]

Features

Plasma features containments, which are essentially applets that contain other applets. Two examples of containments are the desktop background and the taskbar. A containment can be anything the developer wants: an image (either raster graphics or an SVG image), animation, or even OpenGL. Images are most commonly used, but with Plasma the user could set any applet as the desktop background without losing functionality of the applet. This also allows for applets to be dragged between the desktop and the taskbar (two separate containments), and have a separate visualization for the more confined taskbar.

Plasma separates components into "data engine" and their visualization counterparts. This is intended to reduce the total programming effort when there are multiple possible visualizations of given data; and to make it easier for the data engine and the workspaces to be written independently.

The scalable nature of the Plasma widgets allows for them to be resized and rotated to any size, with only a brief pause to redraw themselves. The Kross scripting framework allows developers to write widgets in a variety of programming languages in addition to C++. [12]

KRunner in Plasma Desktop 4.3 Krunner kde4.3.png
KRunner in Plasma Desktop 4.3

KRunner is a versatile tool for several functions. [13] It replaces the dialog box "Run Command" from K Desktop Environment 3, and also inherits from the application launcher feature, expanding the possibilities through a modular plug. KRunner stores previously entered commands and searches, accessible via an auto-complete feature. KRunner can be shown on the desktop via the keyboard combination Alt+F2 or by selecting "Run Command ..." in the desktop menu.

These functions are handled by the plugin:

Available Plasma Workspaces

Desktop

KDE Plasma Desktop 4 KDE 4.png
KDE Plasma Desktop 4

Plasma Desktop was a standard desktop interface. It was declared mature with the release of KDE SC 4.2. [14] It is designed for desktop PCs and larger laptops. In its default configuration it resembles K Desktop Environment 3 and Microsoft Windows XP but extensive configurability allows radical departures from the default layout. [15]

Its technology is a fundamental rewrite of several desktop interaction programs included in previous KDE desktop environments for Unix-like systems, focusing on eye candy and special graphical effects. The Desktop Workspace replaces the previous KDesktop shell, Kicker taskbar and SuperKaramba widget engine used in the K Desktop Environment 3 series with a unified system of widgets that can be configured and replaced with alternative designs.

From KDE 4.0 to KDE 4.2, the default theme Oxygen was characterized by dark tones. In KDE 4.3, replaced by the new Air theme, which predominates in transparency and white as base color. New themes for Plasma can be chosen and installed through software like Discover or online at store.kde.org.

Supported widgets

Notes widget in Plasma 4.3 Kde43 plasmoid.png
Notes widget in Plasma 4.3

This is a list of widgets that the current release version of Plasma supports. Not all widgets are supported by default in all Linux distributions; some may require different packages, or even a recompilation of Plasma.

Previous Plasma Workspaces releases also supported Edje gadgets and E17 modules. Support for those was developed in 2008 [19] but later, in 2010, removed. [20] [21]

Google Gadgets were also supported. [17] After Google announced to discontinue its two services that utilize Gadgets –  Google Desktop [22] and iGoogle [23]  – KDE removed support for this widget engine in early 2013. [24]

Netbook

KDE Plasma Netbook's Search and Launch view Screenshot of KDE 4.4 plasma-netbook.png
KDE Plasma Netbook's Search and Launch view

Plasma Netbook is the second workspace. It aims at netbooks and may also be used on tablet PCs. The first stable release shipped with KDE SC 4.4. [25]

Plasma Active

Plasma Active
Developer(s) KDE, basysKom, [26] Coherent Theory, [27] open-slx [28]
Initial releaseOctober 9, 2011;12 years ago (2011-10-09) [29]
Stable release
4.0 / September 5, 2013;10 years ago (2013-09-05) [30]
Written in C++, QML
Operating system Mer, openSUSE
License GPLv2
Website plasma-active.org

Plasma Active was a workspace for devices with touchscreens. It shipped with several applications such as Kontact Touch and a document viewer based on Calligra Suite. [31] It has been succeeded by KDE Plasma Mobile starting with KDE Plasma 5. [32]

Contour

Contour was the name of an interface for tablet devices. Its development was started in April 2011 by basysKom. [26] Replacing an earlier tablet prototype, [33] Contour has then become the main workspace UI of Plasma Active and was shipped as 1.0 in October 2011. [29]

Mobile

Plasma Mobile was targeted at smartphones and small tablet devices that are mainly used via touch input. It was originally expected to be released in 2011 along with Plasma Active 1.0 but development focus shifted towards Contour. A new version with the same name but based on KDE Frameworks 5 has been announced on 25 July 2015. [34]

History

KDE 4.0 was released in January 2008. Linux.com described the reaction from users as a "revolt", writing that the backlash KDE 4.0 received was on a scale that was unprecedented for a FOSS project. Although it was a developer's release, several distributions made the KDE 4.0 desktop environment available to their users without specifying that it was an experimental option. openSUSE released a more polished KDE 4 option while other distributions "released packages that simply [didn't] work," according to project leader Aaron Seigo. As a result, many users complained about the loss of features and stability. A number of KDE developers, including project leader Aaron Seigo, were targeted for abuse by outlets like Linux Hater's Blog. Several KDE developers stepped back from the public scrutiny. [35]

Releases

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calligra</span> Office suite made for KDE

Calligra Suite is a graphic art and office suite by KDE. It is available for desktop PCs, tablet computers, and smartphones. It contains applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, databases, vector graphics, and digital painting.

In computing, a desktop environment (DE) is an implementation of the desktop metaphor made of a bundle of programs running on top of a computer operating system that share a common graphical user interface (GUI), sometimes described as a graphical shell. The desktop environment was seen mostly on personal computers until the rise of mobile computing. Desktop GUIs help the user to easily access and edit files, while they usually do not provide access to all of the features found in the underlying operating system. Instead, the traditional command-line interface (CLI) is still used when full control over the operating system is required.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Window Maker</span> Window manager

Window Maker is a free and open-source window manager for the X Window System, allowing graphical applications to be run on Unix-like operating-systems. It is designed to emulate NeXTSTEP's GUI as an OpenStep-compatible environment. Window Maker is part of the GNU Project.

The taskbar is a graphical user interface element that has been part of Microsoft Windows since Windows 95, displaying and facilitating switching between running programs. The taskbar and the associated Start Menu were created and named in 1993 by Daniel Oran, a program manager at Microsoft who had previously collaborated on great ape language research with the behavioral psychologist B.F. Skinner at Harvard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kubuntu</span> Linux distribution based on Ubuntu, utilizing the KDE desktop environment

Kubuntu is an official flavor of the Ubuntu operating system that uses the KDE Plasma Desktop instead of the GNOME desktop environment. As part of the Ubuntu project, Kubuntu uses the same underlying systems. Kubuntu shares the same repositories as Ubuntu and is released regularly on the same schedule as Ubuntu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SuperKaramba</span> Widget engine for K Desktop Environment

SuperKaramba is a tool, a so-called widget engine, that allows the creation of functionality enhancement modules on the KDE desktop. The desktop widgets are usually embedded directly into the background and do not disturb the normal view of the desktop. The use of SuperKaramba is not limited to KDE, but certain libraries from KDE are required. SuperKaramba had been included in KDE since version 3.5. SuperKaramba is similar to gDesklets for GNOME. The name derives from Portuguese and Spanish super caramba, meaning approximately "super wow" or "super cool".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDE Software Compilation 4</span> Software

KDE Software Compilation 4 was the only series of the so-called KDE Software Compilation, first released in January 2008 and the last release being 4.14.3 released in November 2014. It was the follow-up to K Desktop Environment 3. Following KDE SC 4, the compilation was broken up into basic framework libraries, desktop environment and applications, which are termed KDE Frameworks 5, KDE Plasma 5 and KDE Applications, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maemo</span> Mobile operating system by Nokia

Maemo is a software platform originally developed by Nokia, now developed by the community, for smartphones and Internet tablets. The platform comprises both the Maemo operating system and SDK. Maemo played a key role in Nokia's strategy to compete with Apple and Android, but ultimately failed to surpass both companies.Maemo is mostly based on open-source code and has been developed by Maemo Devices within Nokia in collaboration with many open-source projects such as the Linux kernel, Debian, and GNOME. Maemo is based on Debian and draws much of its GUI, frameworks, and libraries from the GNOME project. It uses the Matchbox window manager and the GTK-based Hildon framework as its GUI and application framework.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NetworkManager</span> Software

NetworkManager is a daemon that sits on top of libudev and other Linux kernel interfaces and provides a high-level interface for the configuration of the network interfaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kicker (KDE)</span> Taskbar for the K Desktop Environment

Kicker is the main panel used in KDE 3 and earlier, and also in the TDE desktop. Together with KDesktop, it forms the graphical shell. It can be customized by the user. By default, it has the K Menu, a Desktop Access button, a Home button, a Konqueror button, a Kontact button, and a Help button. It also has the Desktop Preview & Pager, the Taskbar, the System Tray, and the Clock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxygen Project</span> Project for KDE 4 interface

The Oxygen Project is a project created to give a visual refresh to KDE Plasma Workspaces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDesktop</span> Component of K Desktop Environment

KDesktop is the component of the K Desktop Environment 3 and earlier, which provides a virtual background window to draw icons or other graphics on. In conjunction with Kicker and SuperKaramba, it constitutes the graphical shell.

A software widget is a relatively simple and easy-to-use software application or component made for one or more different software platforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GNOME</span> Desktop environment for Linux and other Unix-like systems

GNOME, originally an acronym for GNU Network Object Model Environment, is a free and open-source desktop environment for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuduntu</span>

Fuduntu Linux was a Fedora-based Linux distribution created by Andrew Wyatt. It was actively developed between 2010 and 2013. It was designed to fit in somewhere between Fedora and Ubuntu. It was notable for providing a 'classic' desktop experience. Although it was optimized for netbooks and other portable computers it is a general-purpose OS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mer (software distribution)</span> Free and open-source software distribution

Mer was a free and open-source software distribution, targeted at hardware vendors to serve as a middleware for Linux kernel-based mobile-oriented operating systems. It is a fork of MeeGo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDE Plasma 5</span> Desktop environment

KDE Plasma 5 is the fifth generation of the KDE Plasma graphical workspaces environment, created by KDE primarily for Linux systems. KDE Plasma 5 is the successor of KDE Plasma 4 and was first released on 15 July 2014. It was succeeded by KDE Plasma 6 on 28 February 2024.

Comparison of user features of operating systems refers to a comparison of the general user features of major operating systems in a narrative format. It does not encompass a full exhaustive comparison or description of all technical details of all operating systems. It is a comparison of basic roles and the most prominent features. It also includes the most important features of the operating system's origins, historical development, and role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GNOME 1</span> First major release of GNOME

GNOME 1 is the first major release of the GNOME desktop environment. Its primary goal was to provide a consistent user-friendly environment in conjunction with the X Window System. It was also a modern and free and open source software alternative to older desktop environments such as the Common Desktop Environment (CDE), but also to the K Desktop Environment (KDE). Each desktop environment was built-upon then proprietary-licensed widget toolkits, whereas GNOME's goal from the onset, was to be freely-licensed, and utilize the GTK toolkit instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDE Plasma</span> Graphical environment for Unix-like operating systems

Plasma is a graphical shell developed by KDE for Unix-like operating systems. Plasma is a standard desktop interface. It was declared mature with the release of KDE SC 4.2. It is designed for desktop PCs and larger laptops. In its default configuration, it resembles KDesktop from K Desktop Environment 3 and Microsoft Windows XP; however, extensive configurability allows radical departures from the default layout.

References

  1. ↑ "4.0 Released". KDE. 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  2. ↑ "Plasma Netbook" . Retrieved 2010-11-21.
  3. ↑ "Plasma Active" . Retrieved 2011-05-09.
  4. ↑ Stuart Jarvis (Jun 12, 2012). "Plasma Active - a New Approach to Tablet Computing". Linux Journal. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  5. ↑ "Chakra Project". Archived from the original on 2012-12-19. Retrieved 2010-11-26.
  6. ↑ "Kubuntu website" . Retrieved 2010-11-06.
  7. ↑ "Mageia 2 and the default GNOME 3 desktop". LinuxBSDos.com. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  8. ↑ Ryan Paul (2009-08-21). "OpenSUSE community konfesses love for KDE, makes it default". Condé Nast Digital. Ars technica.
  9. ↑ "About | Ideal for desktop or server". PC-BSD. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  10. ↑ Sean Michael Kerner (2014-01-31). "FreeBSD Open-Source OS Comes to the PC-BSD Desktop". Eweek.com. Retrieved 2014-02-12.
  11. ↑ "New Plasma brings a cleaner interface on top of a new graphics stack". kde.org. KDE. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  12. ↑ "KDE's Plasma is heating up". Linux.com. Archived from the original on 2009-03-02. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  13. ↑ "KRunner" . Retrieved 2010-11-21.
  14. ↑ "KDE 4.2, NVIDIA, SkyOS, Dead Like Me". 1 Feb 2009. Retrieved 2014-02-12. This new release marks the end of the testing phase by being the first release ready for everyone – instead of just developers and enthusiasts.
  15. ↑ "Plasma Desktop" . Retrieved 2010-11-21.
  16. ↑ "4.6 Beta1 Brings Improved Search, Activities and Mobile Device Support" (Press release). KDE. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  17. 1 2 "Introducing KDE 4: Plasma". Introducingkde4.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  18. ↑ "freiesMagazin 2008-09". FreiesMagazin. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  19. ↑ "Plasmoid with QEdje" . Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  20. ↑ Artur Duque de Souza (2010-07-09). "KDE Workspace - Revision f9d8bf81". KDE. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  21. ↑ "KDE calls 'home'". 2010-07-10. Archived from the original on 2010-07-13. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  22. ↑ Chitu, Alex (2011-09-02). "Google Desktop Will Be Discontinued". Google. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  23. ↑ "Google to Discontinue Mini Search Appliance, IGoogle, Other Products". PCWorld. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  24. ↑ Michael Palimaka (2013-04-01). "KDE Workspace - Revision f18065df". KDE. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  25. ↑ "SC 4.4.0 Caikaku Release Announcement". KDE. 2010-02-09. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
  26. 1 2 "Contour Open Source Project announced – a new and innovative usage paradigm for digital devices". basysKom. 2011-04-11. Archived from the original on 2011-05-03. Retrieved 2011-04-24.
  27. ↑ "Jobs". Notmart.org. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  28. ↑ "Next Iterations of the KDE Workspaces". Vizzzion.org. 2012-06-17. Archived from the original on 2016-04-18. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  29. 1 2 Carl Symons (2011-10-09). "Plasma Active One released!". KDE. KDE.NEWS. Retrieved 2012-01-14.
  30. ↑ "Plasma Active 4 – ready when you are". KDE. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  31. ↑ "Plasma Active 3 Improves Performance, Brings New Apps". KDE. 2012-10-15.
  32. ↑ "Plasma/Active - KDE Community Wiki". community.kde.org. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  33. ↑ Artur Souza (2010-12-03). "KDE's Mobile Team Meets for First Sprint". KDE. KDE.NEWS. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  34. ↑ Swapnil Bhartiya (25 July 2015). "KDE Community announces fully open source Plasma Mobile". ITworld. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  35. ↑ "What went wrong with the KDE 4 release?". Linux.com | The source for Linux information. 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.