Linux: The Ultimate Guide

Workspaces
The latest Plasma 5 features the following workspaces:
• Plasma Desktop for any mouse or keyboard driven computing 
devices like desktops or laptops
• Plasma Mobile for smartphones

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• Plasma Bigscreen for TVs and set-top boxes incl. voice interaction
• Plasma Nano, a minimal shell for embedded and touch-enabled 
devices, like IoT or automotive
Desktop Features
• KRunner is a search feature with many available plugins. In addi-
tion to launching apps, can find files and folders, open websites, con-
vert from one currency to another, calculate simple mathematical 
expressions, and perform numerous other valuable tasks.
• Flexible desktop and panel layouts composed of Widgets, also 
known as “Plasmoids,” can be configured, moved around, replaced 
with alternatives, or deleted. Each screen layout can be individually 
configured. New widgets created can be downloaded within Plasma.
• Have a powerful clipboard with a memory of pieces of text that can 
call up at will.
• Systemwide notification system supporting fast reply, drag-and-
drop straight from notifications, history view, and a Do Not Disturb 
mode.
• Central location to control media playback in open apps, your phone, 
or your web browser.
• Activities allow you to separate methods of using the system into
distinct workspaces. Each activity can have a set of favorite and 
recently used applications, wallpapers, “virtual desktops,” panels, win-
dow styles, and layout configurations. It also couples with ksmserver 
(i.e., X Session Manager implementation), which keeps track of apps 
that can be run or shut down along with given activity via subSessions 
functionality that keeps track of applications (not all applications sup-
port this feature as they don’t implement XSMP protocol).
• Encrypted vaults for storing sensitive data.
• Night Color can automatically warm the screen colors at night, user-
specified times, or manually.
• Style icons, cursors, application colors, user interface elements, 
splash screens, and more can change. Global Themes allow the entire 
look of the system to be modified in one click.

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• Session Management allows apps running when the system shuts 
down to be automatically restarted in the same state they were in 
before.
LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS USING PLASMA
Plasma 5 is a default desktop environment on Linux distributions,
similar to:
• ArcoLinux
• Fedora – KDE Plasma Desktop Edition is an official Fedora spin dis-
tributed by the project
• KaOS
• KDE neon
• Kubuntu
• LliureX
• Manjaro – as Manjaro KDE edition
• MX Linux
• Netrunner
• openSUSE
• PCLinuxOS
• Q4OS
• Slackware
• Solus Plasma
• SteamOS 3.0
• Ubuntu Studio
History
The first Technology Preview of Plasma 5 was released on December 
13, 2013. The first release version, Plasma 5.0, was on July 15, 2014. In 
2015, Plasma 5 replaced Plasma 4 in many popular distributions, such as 
Fedora 22, Kubuntu 15.04, and OpenSUSE Tumbleweed.

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Releases
Feature releases are released every four months and bugfix releases in the 
intervening months. Following version 5.8 LTS, KDE plans to support 
each new LTS version for 18 months with bug fixes, while new regular 
releases will see feature improvements. Here is the complete list of the 
KDE release.
KDE 5.0
July 15, 2014: KDE announces the immediate availability of Plasma 5.0, 
providing an updated and user-friendly desktop experience. Plasma 5.0 
introduces a large new version of the KDE workspace. The new concept of 
Breeze art introduces pure visuals and improved readability. The central 
workflow is simplified, while the well-known interaction patterns are left 
as is. Plasma 5.0 enhances high DPI display support and delivers a flex-
ible shell, which is able to switch between user experiences on different 
targeted devices. Changes under the cover include a move to a new, fully 
accelerated hardware stack based on OpenGL (ES) scenegraph. Plasma is 
built using Qt 5 and Frameworks 5.
Significant changes to this new version include:
• It is an updated and modern user, visually clean and interactive 
where the new Breeze theme is very different, a flat workplace theme.
• It is available in a variety of light and dark. Lightweight and simple 
graphics and typography-based layouts provide a clean and clear 
user experience.
• Smooth photo functionality thanks to the updated photo stack
• The Plasma user interface is provided at the top of the OpenGL or 
OpenGL ES scenegraph, loading multiple computer-enabled deliv-
ery functions.
• It allows for higher frames and smoother image displays while free-
ing up core system processor resources.
KDE Plasma 5.1
October 15, 2014: KDE releases Plasma 5.1.0, the first release featuring new 
features since the release of Plasma 5.0 in the summer of 2014. Plasma 
Games 5.1 is a wide variety of developments, leading to more excellent 
stability, better performance, and new and improved features. Thanks to 

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public feedback, KDE developers were able to pack a large number of fixes 
and enhancements for this release, among which is a complete and high-
quality artwork that follows the new 5.0 Breeze style, a re-addition of pop-
ular features like these. such as the Icon Tasks task switch and improved 
stability and performance.
Regular travelers will enjoy better time-based support on the panel 
clock. At the same time, those who stay at home have an updated clipboard 
manager, allowing you to access past clipboard content easily. The Breeze 
widget is now also available in Qt4-based applications, leading to greater 
interoperability across all applications. Wayland’s support function as a 
Plasma display server is ongoing, with enhanced support, but not limited 
to 5.1. Changes to all default sections improve access for visually impaired 
users by adding screen reader support and enhanced keyboard navigation.
In addition to visual enhancement and features, this release focuses on 
stability and performance enhancement, with more than 180 bugs resolved 
from 5.0 in the shell alone. KDE Plasma 5.1 requires KDE Frameworks 5.3, 
which brings a more significant number of improvements and performance 
improvements than a large number of adjustments to Plasma 5.1. If you 
want to help make most of this happen, consider a donation to KDE so that 
we can support more developers coming together to create great software
Changes Made in the Plasma 5.1 Version
Visual
The new Breeze Qt 4 widget theme allows KDE Platform 4 to fit your
Plasma 5 desktop. The concept of Breeze art, which first appeared in Plasma 
5.0, has seen many improvements. The icon set is now quite complete. 
Instead of the notifications on the panel, the icons are visually touched. 
A new style of native widget enhances the delivery of applications used in 
Plasma. The unique native style also works for Qt 4, allowing applications 
written with KDE Platform 4 to fit your Plasma 5 desktop. A new Settings 
module will enable you to switch between desktop themes.
Overall, Plasma 5.1’s Look and Feel improved the information avail-
able in 5.0 significantly. Behind all these changes is the development of 
the Human Interface Guidelines, which have resulted in consistent user 
information.