KDE Plasma 6

Last updated

Developer(s) KDE
Initial release28 February 2024;10 months ago (2024-02-28) [1]
Stable release
6.2.5 [2]   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg / 31 December 2024
Preview release
n/a
Written in C++, QML
Operating system Unix-like
Platform FreeBSD, OpenBSD [3] and Linux
Predecessor KDE Plasma 5
Type Desktop environment
License GPL 2.0 or later [4]
Website kde.org/plasma-desktop

KDE Plasma 6 is the sixth generation of the KDE Plasma desktop environment. It is the successor of KDE Plasma 5 and was first released on 28 February 2024. [1]

Contents

Overview

KDE Plasma 6 was designed to not be a very large departure from KDE Plasma 5, instead being a series of improvements. [5] KDE Plasma 6 is built using Qt 6, KDE Frameworks 6 and KDE Gear 24.02. [1] [6] In addition, support for the Wayland protocol was mainstreamed as the default graphical session, with X11 support made secondary. [7] It introduces a new sound theme, Ocean, replacing Oxygen's sound theme as the default. [1] [6] [8] Plasma 6 on Wayland has partial support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) and color blindness correction filters. [1] [6] [9] The Discover app and settings were also improved and the 3D cube desktop effect was brought back. [10]

New features

Compared to the latest Plasma 5 release, the sixth generation brings the following new features:

History

The first Technology Preview of Plasma 6 was released on 28 February 2024. [1]

Releases

Releases of new versions are planned every 4 months (3 times a year) initially. Though it may move to 2 releases a year in the future. [12]

Normal releases will stop receiving bugfixes as soon as the following release is available. The exception to this rule are LTS releases.

Plasma 6 releases [13]
VersionDateKey features
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.0 [1] [14] 28 Feb 2024First release of KDE Plasma 6.0 (also known as KDE MegaRelease 6)
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.0.1 [12] 5 Mar 2024First bugfix release for KDE Plasma 6.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.0.2

[15]

12 Mar 2024Second bugfix release for KDE Plasma 6.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.0.3

[16]

26 Mar 2024Third bugfix release for KDE Plasma 6.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.0.4

[17]

16 Apr 2024Fourth bugfix release for KDE Plasma 6.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.1

[18] [19]

18 Jun 2024Remote desktop, better widget editing, persistent apps, synchronizing keyboard LEDs with accent color.
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.1.1

[20]

25 Jun 2024First bugfix release for KDE Plasma 6.1
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.1.2

[21]

2 Jul 2024Second bugfix release for KDE Plasma 6.1
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.1.3

[22]

16 Jul 2024Third bugfix release for KDE Plasma 6.1
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.1.412 Aug 2024Fourth bugfix release for KDE Plasma 6.1
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.1.5

[23]

10 Sep 2024Fifth bugfix release for KDE Plasma 6.1
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.2

[24] [25]

8 Oct 2024Drawing tablet calibration wizard and test mode, improved HDR support, support for PostmarketOS packages in Discover, overhauled Accessibility page in System Settings.
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.2.1

[26]

15 Oct 2024First bugfix release for Plasma 6.2
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.2.2

[27]

22 Oct 2024Second bugfix release for Plasma 6.2
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.2.3

[28]

5 Nov 2024Third bugfix release for Plasma 6.2
Old version, no longer maintained: 6.2.4

[29]

26 Nov 2024Fourth bugfix release for Plasma 6.2
Current stable version:6.2.5

[30]

31 Dec 2024Fifth bugfix release for Plasma 6.2
Legend:
Old version
Old version, still maintained
Latest version
Latest preview version
Future release

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KWin</span> KDE window manager for the X Window System

KWin is a window manager for the X Window System and a Wayland compositor. It is released as a part of KDE Plasma, for which it is the default window manager. KWin can also be used on its own or with other desktop environments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ubuntu</span> Linux distribution developed by Canonical

Ubuntu is a Linux distribution derived from Debian and composed mostly of free and open-source software. Ubuntu is officially released in multiple editions: Desktop, Server, and Core for Internet of things devices and robots. The operating system is developed by the British company Canonical and a community of other developers, under a meritocratic governance model. As of October 2024, the latest interim release is 24.10, with most-recent long-term support release is 24.04.

<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">Xubuntu</span> Linux distribution based on Ubuntu

Xubuntu is a Canonical-recognized, community-maintained derivative of the Ubuntu operating system. The name Xubuntu is a portmanteau of Xfce and Ubuntu, as it uses the Xfce desktop environment, instead of Ubuntu's customized GNOME desktop.

A desktop environment is a collection of software designed to give functionality and a certain look and feel to an operating system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ubuntu version history</span> History of the Ubuntu operating system

Ubuntu releases are made semiannually by Canonical Ltd, its developers, using the year and month of the release as a version number. The first Ubuntu release, for example, was Ubuntu 4.10 and was released on 20 October 2004. Consequently, version numbers for future versions are provisional; if the release is delayed until a different month than planned, the version number will change accordingly.

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

Lubuntu is a lightweight Linux distribution based on Ubuntu that uses the LXQt desktop environment in place of GNOME. Lubuntu was originally touted as being "lighter, less resource hungry and more energy-efficient", but now aims to be "a functional yet modular distribution focused on getting out of the way and letting users use their computer".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shotwell (software)</span> Free software image organizer

Shotwell is an image organizer designed to provide personal photo management for the GNOME desktop environment. In 2010, it replaced F-Spot as the standard image tool for several GNOME-based Linux distributions, including Fedora in version 13 and Ubuntu in its 10.10 Maverick Meerkat release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unity (user interface)</span> Graphical user interface for Ubuntu

Unity is a graphical shell for the GNOME desktop environment originally developed by Canonical Ltd. for its Ubuntu operating system. It debuted in 2010 in the netbook edition of Ubuntu 10.10 and was used until Ubuntu 17.10. Since 2017, its development was taken over by the Unity7 Maintainers (Unity7) and UBports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falkon</span> Free and open-source web browser

Falkon is a free and open-source web browser developed by KDE. It is built on the QtWebEngine, which is a wrapper for the Chromium browser core.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ubuntu Touch</span> Mobile interface for Ubuntu developed by UBports

Ubuntu Touch is a mobile version of the Ubuntu operating system, developed by the UBports community. Its user interface is written in Qt, and is designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. However, the original goal of convergence was intended to bring Ubuntu Touch to laptops, desktops, IOT devices and TVs for a complete unified user experience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ubuntu Kylin</span> Derivative of the Ubuntu operating system

Ubuntu Kylin is the official Chinese version of the Ubuntu computer operating system. It is intended for desktop and laptop computers, and has been described as a "loose continuation of the Chinese Kylin OS". In 2013, Canonical Ltd. reached an agreement with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to co-create and release an Ubuntu-based operating system with features targeted at the Chinese market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ubuntu GNOME</span> Discontinued Linux distribution based on Ubuntu, utilizing the GNOME 3 desktop environment

Ubuntu GNOME is a discontinued Linux distribution, distributed as free and open-source software. It used a pure GNOME 3 desktop environment with GNOME Shell, rather than the Unity graphical shell. Starting with version 13.04 it became an official "flavour" of the Ubuntu operating system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDE Plasma 5</span> 2014 graphical desktop for Linux and FreeBSD

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ubuntu MATE</span> Official flavor of Ubuntu with the MATE desktop environment

Ubuntu MATE is a free and open-source Linux distribution and an official derivative of Ubuntu. Its main differentiation from Ubuntu is that it uses the MATE desktop environment as its default user interface, instead of the GNOME 3 desktop environment that is the default user interface for Ubuntu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDE neon</span> Linux distribution based on Ubuntu

KDE neon is a Linux distribution developed by KDE based on Ubuntu long-term support (LTS) releases, bundled with a set of additional software repositories containing the latest versions of the Plasma 6 desktop environment/framework, Qt 6 toolkit and other compatible KDE software. First announced in June 2016 by Kubuntu founder Jonathan Riddell following his departure from Canonical Ltd., it has been adopted by a steadily growing number of Linux users, regularly appearing in the Top 20 on DistroWatch.com's popularity tables.

Pop!_OS Linux distribution developed by System76

Pop OS is a free and open-source Linux distribution, based on Ubuntu, and featuring a customized GNOME desktop environment known as COSMIC. The distribution is developed by American Linux computer manufacturer System76. Pop!_OS is primarily built to be bundled with the computers built by System76, but can also be downloaded and installed on most computers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDE Connect</span> Synchronisation app for KDE desktop environment

KDE Connect is a multi-platform application developed by KDE, which facilitates wireless communications and data transfer between devices over local networks. KDE Connect is available in the repositories of many Linux Distributions and F-Droid, Google Play Store for Android. Often, distributions bundle KDE Connect in their KDE Plasma desktop variant. KDE Connect has been reimplemented in the GNOME desktop environment as GSConnect, which can be obtained from Gnome Extension Store. Since 2021, KDE connect has also been available on Windows, and it is available as an unstable nightly build on macOS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Q4OS</span> Lightweight Linux distribution, based on Debian

Q4OS is a light-weight Linux distribution, based on Debian, targeted as a replacement for operating systems that are no longer supported on outdated hardware. The distribution is known for an addon called XPQ4, which adds themes intended to replicate the look and feel of Windows 2000, XP, 7, 8 and 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDE Plasma</span> Set of graphical environments for Unix-like operating systems

KDE Plasma is a set of graphical shells developed by KDE for Unix-like operating systems. With the KDE brand repositioning in 2009, Plasma 4.4 succeeded KDE 4.3. Currently, it has four workspace variants: one for desktop PCs and laptops, one for TVs, one for smartphones, and another for embedded and touch-enabled devices. Plasma Desktop, in its default configuration, resembles KDesktop from K Desktop Environment 3 and Microsoft Windows XP; however, extensive configurability allows radical departures from the default layout.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "KDE MegaRelease 6". KDE. 28 February 2024. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  2. ↑ "KDE Plasma 6.2.5, Bugfix Release for December". 31 December 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  3. ↑ Sadowski, Rafael (20 May 2024). "KDE6 on OpenBSD". rsadowski.de. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  4. ↑ "Copying of Plasma Workspace". KDE Invent. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  5. 1 2 Wallen, Jack (11 September 2023). "I tested KDE Plasma 6 and found it very familiar. Here's why that's a good thing". ZDNET. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nestor, Marius (28 February 2024). "KDE Plasma 6 Desktop Environment Officially Released, This Is What's New". 9to5Linux. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  7. ↑ Wallen, Jack (14 February 2024). "The first Linux distribution to deliver a pure KDE Plasma 6 environment is here". ZDNET. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  8. ↑ Sneddon, Joey (28 February 2024). "KDE Plasma 6.0 Has Arrived, This is What's New". OMG! Ubuntu. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  9. ↑ Davenport, Corbin (28 February 2024). "KDE 6 Update Arrives With Big Plasma Desktop Updates for Linux". How-To Geek. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  10. 1 2 Rudra, Sourav (28 February 2024). "KDE Plasma 6: The Big Release is Here!". It's FOSS News. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  11. ↑ "Plasma/Plasma 6". KDE Community Wiki. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  12. 1 2 "KDE Plasma 6.0.1, Bugfix Release for March". announcements.kde.org. 5 March 2024. Archived from the original on 6 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  13. ↑ "Schedules/Plasma 6 - KDE Community Wiki". community.kde.org. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  14. ↑ Proven, Liam (29 February 2024). "KDE Plasma 6.0 brings the same old charm and confusion". The Register . Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  15. ↑ "KDE Plasma 6.0.2, Bugfix Release for March". 12 March 2024. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024.
  16. ↑ "KDE Plasma 6.0.3, Bugfix Release for March". 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024.
  17. ↑ "KDE Plasma 6.0.4, Bugfix Release for April". 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 15 May 2024.
  18. ↑ "Plasma 6.1". KDE Community. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  19. ↑ Sneddon, Joey (18 June 2024). "KDE Plasma 6.1 Released With… Well, A Fair Bit!". OMG! Ubuntu. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  20. ↑ "KDE Plasma 6.1.1, Bugfix Release for June". KDE Community. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  21. ↑ "KDE Plasma 6.1.2, Bugfix Release for July". KDE Community. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  22. ↑ "KDE Plasma 6.1.2, Bugfix Release for July". KDE Community. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  23. ↑ "KDE Plasma 6.1.5, Bugfix Release for September". KDE Community. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  24. ↑ "Plasma 6.2". KDE Community. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  25. ↑ Sneddon, Joey (8 October 2024). "KDE Plasma 6.2 Released, This is What's New". OMG! Ubuntu. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  26. ↑ "KDE Plasma 6.2.1, Bugfix Release for October". KDE Community. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  27. ↑ "KDE Plasma 6.2.2, Bugfix Release for October". KDE Community. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  28. ↑ "KDE Plasma 6.2.3, Bugfix Release for November". KDE Community. 5 November 2024. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  29. ↑ "KDE Plasma 6.2.4, Bugfix Release for November". KDE Community. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  30. ↑ "KDE Plasma 6.2.5, Bugfix Release for December". KDE Community. 31 December 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
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.