Linux: The Ultimate Guide

Artwork Galore
Plasma 5.4 delivers more than 1400 new icons that integrate all KDE 
applications and provide Breeze-themed technology to programs such as 
Inkscape, Firefox, and LibreOffice that offer a cohesive, native feel.
KDE Plasma 5.5
On December 8, 2015, KDE unveiled a new version of Plasma 5.5
Updated Breeze Plasma Theme
The Breeze Plasma widget theme has been updated to make it more consis-
tent. While the Breeze icon theme adds new icons and updates the existing 
icon set to enhance the visual design.
Plasma Widget Explorer
The Plasma Widget Explorer now supports a two-column view with the 
new Breeze, Breeze Dark, and Oxygen widget icons.
Extended Feature Set to App Launcher
The context menus in the app launcher (“Kickoff”) can now list recently 
opened documents in the app, allowing you to edit the app menu installa-
tion and add the app to the panel, Task Manager, or desktop. Favorites now 
support system texts, references, and system actions or can be created with 
search results. These (and other) features were previously only available in 
another Application Menu (“Kicker”) and are now available in the Default 
Program Launcher for sharing backgrounds between the two launchers.
Color Picker
The color picker applet allows you to select a color from anywhere on the 
screen and automatically copy its color code to the clipboard in various 
formats (RGB, Hex, Qt QML rgba, LaTeX).
User Switch
User switches have been updated and upgraded and are now accessible 
in the app launcher, the new User Switcher applet, and the lock screen. It 
displays the full username and user set of the avatar.

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KDE Plasma Desktop Environment 
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KDE Plasma 5.7 Beta
June 16, 2016: DE releases a beta update to its desk-top software, Plasma 
5.7. This release introduces a new entry-level screen design that completes 
the Breeze sensor we tried on Plasma 5.6. The structure has been rede-
signed and is more suitable for operating channels part of a domain or 
corporate network.
The Air and Oxygen Plasma themes that still support users opt for a 
three-dimensional design have also been upgraded. Plasma 5.7 calen-
dar view on the calendar, providing a quick overview and easy access to 
upcoming appointments and holidays.
KDE Plasma 5.8
October 4. 2016: KDE releases a beta update for its desktop software, 
Plasma 5.8.
This release brings a new entry-level screen design that gives you a 
complete Breeze launch to almost indulge you. The structure has been 
redesigned and is more suitable for operating channels part of a domain 
or corporate network. Although very simple, it also allows for significant 
customization: for example, all Plasma wallpaper plugins, such as slide-
shows animated wallpapers, can now be used on the lock screen.
Support for Semitic written languages from right to left, such as Hebrew 
and Arabic, has dramatically improved. The content of the panels, desk-
top, and configuration dialogs is displayed in this setting. Plasma sidebar 
bars, such as widget checker, window switch, task manager, appear on the 
right side of the screen.
Visual desktop switch (“Page”) and rewritten window list applet, using 
the new functionality of the task manager presented in Plasma 5.7. It 
allows them to use the same database as a task manager and improves 
their performance while reducing memory usage. The desktop switcher 
also could display the current screen only on multiple screens, and now we 
are sharing its multiple codes with the task switch applet.
KDE Plasma 5.8
October 10, 2017: KDE releases a beta update for its desktop software, 
Plasma 5.8. Plasma 5.11 delivers advanced notifications and a more power-
ful task manager, a redesigned settings app. Plasma 5.11 is the first release 
featuring a new “Vault.” This system allows users to encrypt and open text 
sets in a secure and easy-to-use way.

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Linux 
New System Settings Design
A new design is added as an option; users who prefer an old icon or tree 
view can return to their favorite navigation trail.
Task Manager Development
New functions make it easier for applications to provide access to internal 
functions (such as text editor timetables, application modification options 
or document status, etc.), depending on what the application is currently 
doing. Additionally, rearranging windows in group pop-ups is now pos-
sible, allowing the user to order their open programs predicted. Despite 
all these changes, the function of the task manager has been improved to 
make it more efficient.
The new Plasma Vault offers solid encryption features introduced in 
an easy-to-use way. Plasma Vault allows you to lock and encrypt a set of 
documents and hide them from being seen even by a user. These “vaults” 
can be removed, encrypted, and opened quickly. Plasma Vault extends the 
feature of Plasma functions with secure storage.
INSTALLATION
Steps to Install KDE
The tasksel package will be used to install KDE Plasma in our Ubuntu 
programs.
• Installation of Tasksel
• Tasksel is an Ubuntu package that provides a visual interface that 
allows users to install packages on their systems as if performing a 
specific task. In order to use the tasksel, we first need to install it on 
our systems. To do this, open the terminal by pressing the Ctrl + Alt 
+ T keys or use the dash to gain access to a list of all installed appli-
cations. After opening the terminal, enter the following command:
$ sudo apt install tasksel
• To ensure that the tasksel is installed, enter the following com-
mand at the terminal:
$ sudo tasksel
• If you see a screen like the one shown below, it means that tasksel 
is installed on your system. Press Esc to return to the terminal.

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KDE Plasma Desktop Environment 
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