KDE 4.3: First Widget for Social Desktop
A widget has been included in KDE 4.3 as the first implementation of the „Social Desktop“ which allows the user to view other KDE users in his or her city or region.
The widget must be activated by the user, as it is not merely available by default on the desktop. After activation, the widget shows othe KDE users in the region who have also activated and are using this widget. When other users are marked as “friends”, they are permanently marked as such in the Friend-Plasmoid which displays whether friends are online at the time or not.
In order to be seen by others, users have to publish their IPs by means of a specific button included in the interface. The software then converts the IP address to Geolocation data. However, the option remains to hide one’s identity via a “private” function, emphasizes Frank Karlitschek, one of the main creators and developers of the Social Desktop, “that’s especially important because there are a lot of people who get nervous when it comes topersonal data.” Both of the other important developers involved in the first implementation are board members of the KDE e.V.; Cornelius Schumacher and Sebastian Kügler.
The complete back-end for such widgets is also included in KDE 4.3. The conversion from the past year provided a vaguely formed idea from a general API to a content provider of variation: the interface to a database. The KDE forum, first started in September 2008, as well as the cross platform site Opendesktop.org are the first projects to make use of this data engine.
The community is now encouraged to develop more widgets, plasmoids and complete applications using this social desktop engine on platforms such as the KDE forum or Opendesktop.org. It is now possible to develop clients for functions such as “ be a fan of application x”, “upload/download artwork” or “ask the Knowledge Base.”
Comments
comments powered by DisqusSubscribe 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
-
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.
-
EndeavorOS Mercury Neo Available
A new release from the EndeavorOS team ships with Plasma 6.3 and other goodies.
-
Fedora 42 Beta Has Arrived
The Fedora Project has announced the availability of the first beta release for version 42 of the open-source distribution.
sharing desktop
I imagine finding kde users and sharing part of your kde desktop (be it on linux, ms-windows or mac) through the internet
---p
Neat
Kool