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KDE Plasma Desktop

Plasma Workspaces is the umbrella term for all graphical environments provided by KDE.

KDE Plasma Desktop

KDE Plasma Desktop Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether KDE Plasma Desktop is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • KDE Plasma Desktop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-06

Features & Specs

  1. Customizability

    KDE Plasma Desktop offers an extensive range of customization options, allowing users to tweak almost every aspect of the user interface including widgets, themes, and layout.

  2. Performance

    Despite its rich feature set, KDE Plasma is known for being lightweight and efficient, performing well even on older or less powerful hardware.

  3. Feature-Rich

    Out of the box, KDE Plasma provides a wide array of built-in applications and tools, from productivity applications to utilities, catering to a variety of needs.

  4. Active Community

    KDE has an active and supportive community that constantly contributes to its development, ensuring the desktop environment is continuously improved and updated.

  5. Frequent Updates

    KDE Plasma receives regular updates, which bring not only security patches but also new features and improvements, keeping the desktop environment modern and secure.

Badges

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Videos

KDE Plasma 5 Deep Dive (Late 2019) | Linux Desktop Reviews

KDE Plasma Workspaces

Trying Out KDE Plasma 5.15

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about KDE Plasma Desktop and what they use it for.
  • Looking back at my transition from Windows to Linux in an anti-customer age
    You might like KDE[1]. It has a much more Windows like feel. Or Cutefish[2] for that OSX feel. It is pretty simple to make a switch (given you're comfortable with software I assume calling a few lines from the CLI doesn't scare you). Just some food for though. Personally I hate Gnome. Ugly as hell and unintuitive. I'd rather go headless than use Gnome. [0]... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Unlocking the Cutting Edge: Exploring Plasma 6 Beta, Secure Knowledge Management, and the Latest Tools for Linux Enthusiasts
    Plasma 6 - Beta 1 is the latest iteration of the KDE desktop environment, known for its flexibility and customization options. Beta releases are crucial for ironing out bugs and streamlining new features before the final release. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Apps cannot read files from Google Drive on KDE Neon
    Recently I installed KDE Plasma. I was pleased to see the KDE-KIO integration for Google Drive. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Should i switch?
    I'm glad to hear that you use Krita (and I may assume you use Blender for animations). Both are free and open source software that is available on Linux (even better, Krita is made by the KDE project, makers of all sorts of open source projects, including Plasma, one of the most complete user interfaces for Linux out there). Source: over 2 years ago
  • Gamer migrating to Linux
    Because of this, I recommend using Fedora (either the default edition, which uses the GNOME desktop, or Fedora KDE, which uses the KDE Plasma desktop, like the Steam Deck). It ships up-to-date software, and it's very polished. (Note that, due to the US software patents, support/hardware acceleration for some media codecs isn't included by default. You should add the RPMFusion repo and set up the codecs after... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Questions I have about Linux, from someone who wants to switch from Windows 10
    KDE Plasma is developed by KDE, another international group of developers that make all sorts of cool software for Linux, macOS, Windows, and mobile platforms. Plasma is their flagship project. Their motto is "simple by default, powerful when needed". At first glance it may seem a copy of Windows, with a bottom panel sporting a start menu on the left and a system tray with a clock on the right, but don't get... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Can we rid of these ads that lead to p**n sites?
    Consequently, if it is only a gaming machine, you might not need Windows anymore if you want to keep your old PC secure. https://kde.org/plasma-desktop/ is just like Windows. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Packagecloud customer success story: Nitrux
    Nitrux provides an eponymous Linux desktop distribution based on Debian. It uses the Calamares installer and includes the NX Desktop built on the KDE Plasma 5 desktop environment and MauiKit Applications. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Should I Switch Linux Distributions? A Guide...
    If you're frustrated with the way Gnome Desktop (https://www.gnome.org/) works, then looking at KDE Plasma (https://kde.org/plasma-desktop/) may be a good idea and vice-versa. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Should I Switch Linux Distributions? A Guide...
    This one's a bit trickier. Usually, what newer Linux users are told is that what they're probably after is a new Desktop Environment or Window Manager. If you're frustrated with the way Gnome Desktop (https://www.gnome.org/) works, then looking at KDE Plasma (https://kde.org/plasma-desktop/) may be a good idea and vice-versa. Some users find that they prefer working almost solely with the keyboard rather than a... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Why do you hate us, Microsoft? Biggest mistake was "upgrading" to Windows 11 in the first place
    Also, KDE manages everything being customizable just fine and it's written by volunteers. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Why do you hate us, Microsoft? Biggest mistake was "upgrading" to Windows 11 in the first place
    KDE manages it just fine, and it is literally written by volunteers. No reason a multibillion dollar company can't do it, stop giving michealsoft the benefit of the doubt. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Its not opinion, its fact!
    You might like https://kde.org/plasma-desktop/, it's more similar to windows. Source: over 2 years ago
  • A good day, and, a noob day
    Plasma: Made by the KDE Community, is the competition of GNOME because not only has a big ecosystem of companion apps tailored to feel integrated with the environment like GNOME, but it is the opposite of it: While GNOME has few options, the minimal amount of buttons, does not like that you apply a theme and uses the GTK graphical library, Plasma has all the options, apps allow you to add and remove buttons and... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Valent Is A KDE Connect Client For GTK-Based Desktops (Cinnamon, Xfce, MATE, Pantheon)
    Your sentence makes no sense. It's called KDE Connect because the developer community is called KDE. It's not Plasma Connect. Source: over 2 years ago
  • [Hobby Scuffles] Week of January 23, 2023
    Enter blendOS. Also immutable OS, but based on Arch instead of Ubuntu (which... Kinda not great for immutable unless you approach it like Valve's SteamOS due to how Arch normally wants frequent updates). Also by a famous dev, who has done projects such as Unity revival and Gamebuntu. It uses nearly which is a fork of almost. It uses Crystal Linux's jade installer which allows it to set what Desktop Environment... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Use Your Phone as a Mouse and Keyboard on Steam Deck
    KDE Plasma is the desktop environment which the Steam Deck uses, and has been supported directly by Valve, KDE's patrons includes the likes of Google, and has been around as a project since 1996. In fact, Valve themselves have been pushing development targets within KDE of late. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Need Mentorship
    Plasma: developed by KDE, an international community of developers. It is the opposite of GNOME, because it has a metric ton of options, tweaks and settings so you can practically make the UI you want. At first glance it looks like the windows UI, but as I said, you can pretty much move and tweak everything you see. Source: over 2 years ago
  • yo mamma so fat
    Windows 11's GUI? That's because they copied Linux and straight up stole KDE Plasma. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Valve is Paying 100+ Open-Source Developers to work on Linux Technologies
    This is how it was years ago, but since 2009 KDE does not expand into anything anymore. KDE is the name of the community and umbrella brand. The actual "desktop" environment is since then called Plasma. Desktop is in quotes since Plasma is also available on other form factors, e.g. Mobile devices. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Plasma and sway working together ish
    Oh right that actually makes sense. Installing just the plasma package doesn't install everything you need... There are package groups listed by Arch which install other packages needed to properly have Plasma installed and working, listed as kde-* here. kcm-colorful-git is a theme for Plasma, not the dock. That dock is most likely the default KDE Plasma panel, as shown in basically every screenshot of the DE... Source: almost 3 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of KDE Plasma Desktop

KDE Plasma Desktop, widely recognized as one of the most prominent desktop environments within the Linux ecosystem, commands significant appreciation and attention from the technical community. Known for its cutting-edge flexibility and extensive customization options, KDE Plasma ranks as a preferred choice for users seeking a personalized and feature-rich user interface akin to traditional operating systems like Windows.

Public opinion generally casts KDE Plasma in a favorable light, often praising it for its comprehensive suite of desktop tools and widgets, allowing users to craft a bespoke user experience. With its widget-based architecture, Plasma is lauded for enabling extensive customization and allowing users to add, move, or remove desktop elements according to their preferences. This aspect significantly distinguishes it from competitors like GNOME, which is perceived as more minimalistic and less configurable.

The desktop environment is also commended for its efficiency and performance. While offering a wide array of features and customization options, KDE Plasma maintains a reputation for speed and low resource consumption, making it a viable option for older or less powerful hardware, unlike more resource-heavy desktop environments.

Recent updates and developments further underscore Plasma's adaptability. The forthcoming Plasma 6, currently in beta, is receiving attention for its enhancements and ongoing refinements, which demonstrate KDEโ€™s commitment to continuous improvement and user feedback integration. The iterative release process reflects a focus on ironing out bugs and optimizing features before the official launch, ensuring a stable and robust user experience.

Moreover, KDE Plasma's integration into popular distributions like Fedora and its use as the default interface for the Steam Deck underscores its growing adoption in diverse contexts, emphasizing its versatility. The fact that KDE Plasma is backed by a substantial community of international developers, including support from major industry players like Valve, attests to its reliability and sustained innovation.

Critically, KDE Plasma is recognized not only for its technical prowess but also for its ecosystem, which includes a plethora of KDE applications that seamlessly integrate into the environment. Tools such as Dolphin, a powerful file manager, and Krita, a professional-grade painting application, are often highlighted as examples of the quality and functionality available within KDE's ecosystem.

Nevertheless, some users transitioning from other environments like GNOME might find KDE Plasma's vast configuration capabilities initially overwhelming. However, this adaptability is precisely what many veteran users value, as it provides unparalleled control over the desktop's appearance and functionality, establishing KDE Plasma as an excellent choice for power users and those who appreciate deep customization.

In summary, KDE Plasma continues to be a prominent and well-regarded choice in the Linux desktop environment landscape. Its extensive features, performance efficiency, and commitment to user-centric design uphold its standing as a compelling alternative to more constrained environments, making it a key player in the evolution of desktop solutions.

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Is KDE Plasma Desktop good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss KDE Plasma Desktop here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.