KDE 4 Released
Eagerly anticipated, KDE 4.0.0 was officially released on Friday.
The Linux desktop introduces some major changes after a complete rework by its developers. A Visual Guide helps users with their first steps in the colorful new world of KDE and explains the biggest changes. And a release party was celebrated at the Google Campus.
Dashboards are useful and attractive.
Not all of the planned features have made the KDE 4.0 release, and some say the release has come too early. The first release candidate had numerous bugs, although the quality had improved dramatically by the time RC 2 became available.
KDE developers such as Aaron Seigo defended the early release date saying that authorities, companies and home users who preferred a more stable KDE version should stick to KDE 3 for the time being. The early release of KDE 4.0.0 should motivate more developers to test the desktop and submit bug reports.
The new Dolphin file manager on KDE 4.0.
Critics fear that this release policy might scare off potential KDE users, who expect the same kind of stability from the new KDE that they had from the “older” version. Distributions such as OpenSuse and Kubuntu are taking a two-pronged approach and letting users decide whether to install KDE 3.5 or 4.0
.
KRunner can calculate and google.
There have been far too many changes to KDE 4.0 to list them all here. The Visual Guide provides a comprehensive introduction.
New
Kalzium: constructing molecules with KDE 4.0.
Geography lessons with Marble.
KWin supports genuine transparency for windows.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.
-
Linux Kernel 6.14 Released
The latest Linux kernel has arrived with extra Rust support and more.