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KDE Plasma Desktop
User:Tassietux This page is work-in-progress!
Introduction...
(see kde.org, wikipedia, etc.)
Versions
KDE SC 4
The KDE Software Compilation 4...
(e.g. KDE Plasma 4, KDE Platform, Applications)
KDE Software Compilation 4 is the most stable version of the KDE desktop environment. Many 3rd-party packages support KDE SC 4. It is the recommended version to install.
KDE Plasma 5
KDE Plasma 5 desktop environment...
(e.g. Plasma 5 desktop, KDE Frameworks, KDE Applications)
While KDE Plasma 5 is maturing, several KDE applications are yet to be migrated to KDE Frameworks 5. Combining KDE Plasma 5 with KDE SC 4 packages may be problematic. 3rd-party packages that claim support for KDE may remain broken until updated to support Plasma/Frameworks 5. Proceed with caution.
Installation
Preparation
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
The recommended flavor for KDE is desktop. This can be selected with the following command.
root # epro flavor desktop
With the flavor has been set to desktop, update Funtoo with the following command.
root # emerge --ask --update --verbose --deep --newuse --with-bdeps=y @world
This command can be shorted 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 the use of input devices (keyboard, mouse, joystick, etc.). Configuration is required in order for X11 to work with your particular video card. Use the Video guide to determine the appropriate VIDEO_CARDS entry for your install of Funtoo Linux. Using your favorite editor, edit make.conf to include the setting that you wish to apply.
/etc/portage/make.conf - example for Intel HD GraphicsVIDEO_CARDS="intel i965"
Now install the X Window System with the following command.
root # emerge --ask ---verbose x11-base/xorg-x11
Optional: To install KDE for a language other than English (United States) add an appropriate LINGUAS entry to make.conf.
/etc/portage/make.conf - Example for English (United Kingdom)LINGUAS="en_GB"
More information on Localization can be found at Funtoo Linux Localization.
Choose a KDE Installation
There are several variations to choose from.
KDE SC 4
This will provide the most 'complete' KDE desktop environment.
Earlier you set your Profiles to use the desktop flavor. Now you must add a mix-in in order to ensure the smooth installation of KDE. There are two KDE-related mix-ins available in Funtoo: kde and kde-plasma-5.
A mix-in for KDE Plasma 5 - kde-plasma-5 - is currently not available as validation testing is still ongoing. See FL-2373. (4-Nov-2015)
The mix-in required for KDE SC 4 is kde. Do NOT use kde-plasma-5. Add the mix-in using epro
root # epro mix-in kde
You are now ready to install KDE SC 4. With the Profile change (added mix-in) you must update the world set of packages, as well as merge KDE. This can be performed as two separate commands
root # emerge -auvDN --with-bdeps=y @world
followed by
root # emerge --ask kde-base/kde-meta
or alternatively in one line
root # emerge -auvDN --with-bdeps=y @world kde-base/kde-meta
Once completed proceed to the chapter Configure and Start KDE.
KDE Plasma 5
This will result in a minimal desktop environment based on KDE Plasma 5. Additional packages will need to be installed manually in order to provide a 'complete' desktop environment.
Earlier you set your Profiles to use the desktop flavor. Now you must add a mix-in in order to ensure the smooth installation of KDE. There are two KDE-related mix-ins available in Funtoo: kde and kde-plasma-5.
A mix-in for KDE Plasma 5 - kde-plasma-5 - is currently not available as validation testing is still ongoing. See FL-2373. (4-Nov-2015)
The mix-in required for KDE Plasma 5 is kde-plasma-5. Do NOT use kde. Add the mix-in using epro
root # epro mix-in kde-plasma-5
You are now ready to install KDE SC 4. With the Profile change (added mix-in) you must update the world set of packages, as well as merge KDE. This can be performed as two separate commands
root # emerge -auvDN --with-bdeps=y @world
followed by
root # emerge --ask kde-plasma/plasma-meta
or alternatively in one line
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 on its own does not install additional core applications such as a file manager or terminal emulator. The following KDE Applications 5 are available in Funtoo Linux
- kde-apps/dolphin (File Manager for KDE Plasma desktops)
- kde-apps/kate (An advanced text editor for KDE)
- kde-apps/konsole (KDE's terminal emulator)
Merge these using one command
root # emerge --ask kde-apps/dolphin kde-apps/kate kde-apps/konsole
At the time of writing this guide there are a small number of KDE meta-package ebuilds available to introduce several KDE Applications 5 applications.
Example:
root # emerge --ask kde-apps/kdeadmin-meta kde-apps/kdemultimedia-meta kde-apps/kdetoys-meta
KDE Plasma 5 with KDE SC 4 packages
This combines the KDE Plasma 5 desktop with compatible KDE SC 4 packages.
Updating an existing KDE SC 4 installation to KDE Plasma 5 may be problematic. This method is not recommended. Please consider a clean installation. Proceed with caution.
Earlier you set your Profiles to use the desktop flavor. Now you must add a mix-in in order to ensure the smooth installation of KDE. There are two KDE-related mix-ins available in Funtoo: kde and kde-plasma-5.
A mix-in for KDE Plasma 5 - kde-plasma-5 - is currently not available as validation testing is still ongoing. See FL-2373. (4-Nov-2015)
The mix-in required for KDE Plasma 5 (combined with KDE SC 4 ebuilds from kde-base/kde-meta) is kde-plasma-5. Do NOT use kde. Add the mix-in using epro
root # epro mix-in kde-plasma-5
You are now ready to install KDE SC 4. With the Profile change (added mix-in) you must update the world set of packages, as well as merge KDE. This can be performed as separate commands
root # emerge -auvDN --with-bdeps=y @world
followed by
root # emerge --ask kde-base/kde-meta
and
root # emerge --ask kde-plasma/plasma-meta
Alternatively the above commands can be combined into one:
root # emerge -auvDN --with-bdeps=y @world kde-base/kde-meta kde-plasma/plasma-meta
Once completed proceed to the chapter Configure and Start KDE.
Configure and Start KDE
OpenRC
After the many packages have been merged there will be a variety of post-install messages. Some of these request that critical services must be started in order for KDE to work. Typically these are ALSA (media-libs/alsa-lib), ConsoleKit (sys-auth/consolekit), DBus (sys-apps/dbus), and UDev (sys-fs/eudev). If the desktop flavor has been set then CUPS (net-print/cups) will also be included.
As a minimum execute the following series of commands to start services automatically via 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. To accommodate changes it is best to restart the service.
root # /etc/init.d/udev --nodeps restart
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 a good point to create a user account in addition to root. The following example creates a user alice and associates that account with the Groups games, ld, ldadmin, plugdev, users, video and wheel. A home directory for the account alice will be created at /home/alice.
root # useradd -m -G games,ld,ldadmin,plugdev,users,video,wheel alice
Now set a password for alice
root # passwd alice
Starting KDE with a Display (Login) Manager (Recommended)
KDE SC 4
The default Display Manager for KDE SC 4 is KDM (kde-base/kdm).
To use KDM edit the configuration file for xdm (x11-apps/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 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 with SDDM (Recommended)
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 configuration file for SDDM 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'.
/etc/sddm.conf - Change the line Current=[Theme]
# Current theme name
Current=breeze
To use SDDM edit the configuration file for xdm (x11-apps/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.
KDE Plasma 5 with LightDM
(details)
Without a Display (Login) Manager
Starting KDE automatically at login
(details)
Starting KDE manually from a terminal
KDE can be launched from a terminal with the command
root # startkde
Tips and Tricks
Desktop Effects
System Setting > Desktop Behavior > Desktop Effects
Enable the Application Dashboard in KDE Plasma 5
Unlock Widgets Right-click on Panel > Alternatives
Useful packages
app-cdr/k3b
net-firewall/ufw + kde-misc/kcm-ufw
kde-misc/yakuake
NetworkManager frontends
Troubleshooting
Package Blockers
(with kde-base/kde-meta + kde-plasma/plasma-meta)
Blank Screen with SDDM
root # gpasswd -a sddm video
KDE Plasma 5 desktop crashes over VNC
Requires a OpenGL-capable viewer.
Missing KCM in KDE Plasma 5
kde-misc/kcm-ufw has not been updated to work with KDE Plasma 5.
Combining KDE mix-ins with others
(Details)