KDE Plasma Desktop

KDE Plasma is a desktop environment developed by the KDE Community. KDE Plasma is based on the Qt framework. Funtoo Linux offers KDE Plasma together with a variety of Applications also from KDE. Through Qt and a common platform of libraries and services, KDE Plasma combined with KDE Applications aims to deliver a desktop environment that is tightly integrated and visually consistent.

Currently there are two versions of the KDE Plasma Desktop available for Funtoo Linux - Plasma 4 and Plasma 5.

KDE Plasma 4 was released in 2008 [1] and is the more stable version of Plasma available for Funtoo Linux. KDE Plasma 5 was released in 2014 [2] and while being the target of new developments is subject to a greater number of bugs or instability issues. While the full suite of KDE Applications is optimized for Plasma 4 a number of these Applications are yet to be optimized for Plasma 5.

This guide aims to cover the steps required to achieve a basic install of KDE Plasma on x86 architectures following the completion of the Install guide.

External Links:

www.kde.org

www.kde.org/workspaces/plasmadesktop/

www.kde.org/applications/

wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/KDE

Pre-Installation

The following instructions are written for a new installation of Funtoo Linux performed using the Install guide.

Funtoo Profiles

Correctly setting Funtoo Profiles is required to install KDE. Review the selected profiles using epro.

root # epro show

=== Enabled Profiles: ===

        arch: x86-64bit
       build: current
     subarch: intel64-haswell
      flavor: core
     mix-ins: (not set)


=== All inherited flavors from core flavor: ===

                         minimal (from core flavor)

The recommended flavor for KDE is desktop. This can be selected with the command epro flavor desktop

root # epro flavor desktop

=== Enabled Profiles: ===

        arch: x86-64bit
       build: current
     subarch: intel64-haswell
      flavor: desktop
     mix-ins: (not set)

>>> Set flavor to desktop.

Following a flavor change an update of Funtoo packages is required

root # emerge --ask --update --verbose --deep --newuse --with-bdeps=y @world

   Tip

This command can be shortened to

root # emerge -auvDN --with-bdeps=y @world

Install the X Window System

KDE requires the X Window System (X11) to present graphics (video) and receive input (keyboard, mouse, joystick, etc.). Configuration is required for X11 to work with the video card on the target hardware. Use the Video guide to determine the appropriate VIDEO_CARDS entry for Funtoo Linux. With your favorite editor, edit make.conf to include the setting appropriate for the target video hardware.

   /etc/portage/make.conf - example for Intel HD Graphics

VIDEO_CARDS="intel i965"

Now install the X Window System by merging the meta-package No results

root # emerge --ask ---verbose x11-base/xorg-x11

Localization

To install KDE for a language other than English (United States) add an appropriate LINGUAS entry to /etc/portage/make.conf

   /etc/portage/make.conf - Example for English (United Kingdom)

LINGUAS="en_GB"

   Tip

More information on Localization can be found at Funtoo Linux Localization.

Emerge KDE Plasma

Choose a version of KDE Plasma.

KDE Plasma 4 - recommended

The Funtoo Profiles were earlier set to the desktop flavor. Now an additional mix-in profile is required to provide a smooth installation of KDE Plasma 4.

There are two KDE-related mix-ins available in Funtoo: kde and kde-plasma-5. The mix-in required for Plasma 4 is kde. Do NOT choose kde-plasma-5. Add the mix-in using epro

root # epro mix-in kde

=== Enabled Profiles: ===

        arch: x86-64bit
       build: current
     subarch: intel64-haswell
      flavor: desktop
     mix-ins: kde

>>> Added kde mix-in.

Now KDE Plasma 4 can be merged. This can be achieved in one of two ways.

One method is to merge the basic KDE Plasma 4 package followed by one or more optional KDE Applications meta-packages. The base package to merge is kde-apps/kdebase-meta and optional meta-packages are generally found under the category kde-apps (e.g. kde-apps/kdegames-meta).

The other (and recommended) method is to emerge the package kde-base/kde-meta. This will install KDE Plasma 4 together with the full suite of KDE Applications and underlying libraries and services (known as KDE Platform). Collectively this is referred to by KDE as the KDE Software Compilation 4 or simply KDE SC 4.

Since the Profile has changed (added mix-in) the world set of packages must also be updated in addition to emerging KDE meta-packages. These actions can be performed in one step

root # emerge -auvDN --with-bdeps=y @world kde-base/kde-meta

Once completed proceed to the chapter Configure and Start KDE.

KDE Plasma 5

The Funtoo Profiles were earlier set to the desktop flavor. Now an additional mix-in profile is required to provide a smooth installation of KDE Plasma 5.

There are two KDE-related mix-ins available in Funtoo: kde and kde-plasma-5. The mix-in required for Plasma 5 is kde-plasma-5. Do NOT choose kde. Add the mix-in using epro

root # epro mix-in kde-plasma-5

=== Enabled Profiles: ===

        arch: x86-64bit
       build: current
     subarch: intel64-haswell
      flavor: desktop
     mix-ins: kde-plasma-5

>>> Added kde-plasma-5 mix-in.

This is the point to emerge KDE Plasma 5. This is performed by merging the package kde-plasma/plasma-meta. Since the Profile has changed (added mix-in) the world set of packages must be updated as well. These actions can be performed in one step

root # emerge -auvDN --with-bdeps=y @world kde-plasma/plasma-meta

Unlike the KDE SC 4 meta-package (kde-base/kde-meta) merging kde-plasma/plasma-meta will not install a number of core KDE Applications and services (KDE Frameworks) required for a working desktop environment such as file manager, web browser or terminal emulator. The following packages are recommended for installation with KDE Plasma 5

• kde-apps/kdebase-runtime-meta (useful core applications)
• kde-apps/dolphin (File Manager for KDE Plasma desktops)
• kde-apps/kate (An advanced text editor for KDE)
• kde-apps/kdemultimedia-meta (sound mixer applications for sound and video playback)
• kde-apps/konqueror (KDE's web browser)
• kde-apps/konsole (KDE's terminal emulator)

Merge these using one command

root # emerge --ask kdebase-runtime-meta kde-apps/dolphin kate kdemultimedia-meta konqueror konsole

Once completed proceed to the chapter Configure and Start KDE.

KDE Plasma 5 from an Alternative Repository (overlay)

An alternative installation method exists for KDE Plasma 5 which utilizes an external repository of KDE packages (separate to Funtoo Linux).

See KDE Plasma 5.

Configure and Start KDE

OpenRC

After the many packages have been merged there will be a variety of post-install messages presented by portage. Some of these request that critical services must be started in order for KDE to work. Typically these are ALSA (No results), ConsoleKit (No results), DBus (sys-apps/dbus), and UDev (No results). If the desktop flavor has been set then CUPS (No results) will also be included.

Execute the following series of commands to have these essential services start automatically via OpenRC (sys-apps/openrc)

root # rc-update add alsasound boot
root # rc-update add cupsd default
root # rc-update add consolekit default

DBus is usually started when these services start.

UDev is usually rebuilt during an install of KDE due to changes in USE flags from changing Profile flavor and mix-ins. To accommodate changes it is best to restart the service.

root # /etc/init.d/udev --nodeps restart

   Tip

Do not confuse the UDev package eudev (sys-fs/eudev) with evdev! evdev is the generic input device driver for the X Window System (x11-drivers/xf86-input-evdev)!

Create a User Account

Now is the appropriate point to create a user account for use with KDE Plasma. The following example creates a user alice and associates that account with the Groups lp, lpadmin, plugdev, users, video and wheel. A home directory for the account alice will be created at /home/alice.

root # useradd -m -G lp,lpadmin,plugdev,users,video,wheel alice

Now set a password for alice

root # passwd alice

Starting KDE with a Display (Login) Manager

KDE Plasma 4

The default Display Manager for KDE Plasma 4 is KDM (kde-base/kdm).

To use KDM first edit /etc/conf.d/xdm with your favorite editor, updating the DISPLAYMANAGER entry to equal 'kdm'

   /etc/conf.d/xdm

DISPLAYMANAGER="kdm"

Now add xdm to the default runlevel of OpenRC.

root # rc-update add xdm default

The display manager KDM should appear at the end of computer boot. To avoid an unnecessary restart you can launch KDM/KDE from here with a simple command

root # rc

You will be presented with a login screen. Input devices (mouse, keyboard) should be working at this stage. Logging in will take you to the KDE Plasma desktop of KDE SC 4.

KDE Plasma 5

The recommended Display Manager for KDE Plasma 5 is SDDM - x11-misc/sddm. Installing KDE Plasma 5 with the kde-plasma-5 mix-in will install SDDM.

A few steps must first be completed for SDDM to work correctly with KDE Plasma 5. The first step is to create a configuration file for SDDM as one is not created automatically. Create one using the following command

root # sddm --example-config > /etc/sddm.conf

A configuration file now exists - /etc/sddm.conf. Edit this file with your favorite editor, changing the option 'Current' to be equal to 'breeze' - the KDE Plasma 5 default theme.

   /etc/sddm.conf - Change the line Current=

[Theme]
# Current theme name
Current=breeze

The next step is to configure Funtoo Linux to allow SDDM to access the video hardware. This is achieved by adding the user sddm to the group video with the following command

root # gpasswd -a sddm video

SDDM is installed with support for ConsoleKit (No results) and Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM). For these features to operate correctly edit the file /etc/pam.d/system-login and change the line

   /etc/pam.d/system-login

session    optional    pam_ck_connector.so nox11

removing 'nox11' so that it simply reads

   /etc/pam.d/system-login

session    optional    pam_ck_connector.so

The final steps are to configure SDDM to start on system startup.

Edit /etc/conf.d/xdm with your favorite editor, updating the DISPLAYMANAGER entry to equal 'sddm'.

   /etc/conf.d/xdm

DISPLAYMANAGER="sddm"

Now add xdm to the default runlevel of OpenRC.

root # rc-update add xdm default

The display manager SDDM should appear at the end of computer boot. To avoid an unnecessary restart you can launch KDE from here with a simple command

root # rc

You will be presented with a login screen. Input devices (mouse, keyboard) should be working at this stage. Logging in will take you to the KDE Plasma 5 desktop.

Next Steps?

This concludes the basic installation of KDE Plasma on Funtoo Linux.

For advanced installation options visit the individual package pages for KDE Plasma:

For KDE Plasma 4 (KDE SC 4) see kde-base/kde-meta.

For KDE Plasma 5 see No results.

Tips and Tricks

   Important

This section is in need of updates.

Starting KDE manually from a terminal

As an alternative to using a Display (Login) Manager, KDE Plasma can be launched from a terminal with the command

root # startkde

Change Desktop Effects

System Setting > Desktop Behavior > Desktop Effects

Enable the Application Dashboard in KDE Plasma 5

Unlock Widgets Right-click on Panel > Alternatives

Useful KDE-related packages

app-cdr/k3b

net-firewall/ufw + kde-misc/kcm-ufw

kde-misc/yakuake

NetworkManager frontends

Troubleshooting

   Important

This section is in need of updates.

KDE Plasma 5 not displaying Oxygen-themed icons

Settings > Icons > re-select Breeze icons and apply.

No Sound in KDE Plasma 5

emerge kdemultimedia-meta

see section on SDDM - edit /etc/pam.d/system-login

Missing KCM in KDE Plasma 5

kde-misc/kcm-ufw has not been updated to work with KDE Plasma 5.