KDE Plasma 4#KRunner
{{Short description|2008 desktop environment}}
{{Infobox software
| name = KDE Plasma Workspaces
| title = KDE Plasma 4
| logo = Plasma.png
| screenshot = KDE Plasma Desktop 4.9.png
| caption =
| developer = KDE
| released = {{Start date and age|2008|01|11|df=y}}{{cite web |url=http://kde.org/announcements/4.0/ |title=4.0 Released |publisher=KDE |date=2008-01-11 |access-date=2013-09-23 |archive-date=2019-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415235804/https://kde.org/announcements/4.0/ |url-status=live }}
| discontinued = yes
| latest release date = {{start date and age|2014|11|11|df=yes}}
| programming language = C++, QML
| operating system = Unix-like
| genre = Desktop environment
| license = LGPLv2.1+
| replaces = K Desktop Environment 3
| replaced_by = KDE Plasma 5
}}
KDE Plasma 4 is the fourth generation of the KDE workspace environments. It consists of three workspaces, each targeting a certain platform: Plasma Desktop for traditional desktop PCs and notebooks, Plasma Netbook for netbooks,{{cite web
| url = http://community.kde.org/Plasma/Plasma_Netbook
| title = Plasma Netbook
| access-date = 2010-11-21
| archive-date = 2013-12-08
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131208200411/http://community.kde.org/Plasma/Plasma_Netbook
| url-status = live
}} and Plasma Active for tablet PCs and similar devices.{{cite web
| url = http://community.kde.org/Plasma/Active
| title = Plasma Active
| access-date = 2011-05-09
| archive-date = 2011-07-14
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110714070633/http://community.kde.org/Plasma/Active
| url-status = live
KDE Plasma 4 was released as part of KDE Software Compilation 4 and replaced Kicker, KDesktop, and SuperKaramba, which formed the Desktop in earlier KDE releases. They are bundled as the default environment with a number of free software operating systems, such as Chakra,{{cite web
|url=http://chakra-project.org/
|title=Chakra Project
|access-date=2010-11-26
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219085751/http://www.chakra-project.org/
|archive-date=2012-12-19
|url-status=dead
|url=http://www.kubuntu.org/
|title=Kubuntu website
|access-date=2010-11-06
|archive-date=2011-08-23
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823065027/http://www.kubuntu.org/
|url-status=live
}} Mageia (DVD version),{{cite web |url=http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2012/05/18/mageia-2-and-the-default-gnome-3-desktop/ |title=Mageia 2 and the default GNOME 3 desktop |publisher=LinuxBSDos.com |access-date=2013-09-23 |archive-date=2013-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510071109/http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2012/05/18/mageia-2-and-the-default-gnome-3-desktop/ |url-status=live }} openSUSE,{{cite news
| title = OpenSUSE community konfesses love for KDE, makes it default
| author = Ryan Paul
| url = https://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/08/opensuse-community-konfesses-love-for-kde-makes-it-default.ars
| agency = Ars technica
| publisher = Condé Nast Digital
| date = 2009-08-21
| archive-date = 2012-05-09
| access-date = 2017-06-14
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120509074154/http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/08/opensuse-community-konfesses-love-for-kde-makes-it-default.ars
| url-status = live
}} or TrueOS.{{cite web |url=http://www.pcbsd.org/en/about/ |title=About | Ideal for desktop or server |publisher=PC-BSD |access-date=2013-09-23 |archive-date=2013-09-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926164823/http://www.pcbsd.org/en/about/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Sean Michael Kerner |url=http://www.eweek.com/enterprise-apps/slideshows/freebsd-open-source-os-comes-to-the-pc-bsd-desktop.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140205012035/http://www.eweek.com/enterprise-apps/slideshows/freebsd-open-source-os-comes-to-the-pc-bsd-desktop.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 5, 2014 |title=FreeBSD Open-Source OS Comes to the PC-BSD Desktop |publisher=Eweek.com |date=2014-01-31 |access-date=2014-02-12 }}
With the release of KDE SC 4.11 on 14 August 2013, KDE Plasma 4 was placed into a feature freeze and turned into a long-term stable package until August 2015. On 15 July 2014 KDE Plasma 4's successor, KDE Plasma 5, was released.{{cite web|title=New Plasma brings a cleaner interface on top of a new graphics stack|date=15 July 2014|url=http://www.kde.org/announcements/plasma5.0/|website=kde.org|publisher=KDE|access-date=18 July 2015|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924161821/https://www.kde.org/announcements/plasma5.0/|url-status=live}}
Features
Plasma features containments, which are essentially applets that contain other applets. Two examples of containments are the desktop background and the taskbar. A containment can be anything the developer wants: an image (either raster graphics or an SVG image), animation, or even OpenGL. Images are most commonly used, but with Plasma the user could set any applet as the desktop background without losing functionality of the applet. This also allows for applets to be dragged between the desktop and the taskbar (two separate containments), and have a separate visualization for the more confined taskbar.
Plasma separates components into "data engine" and their visualization counterparts. This is intended to reduce the total programming effort when there are multiple possible visualizations of given data; and to make it easier for the data engine and the workspaces to be written independently.
The scalable nature of the Plasma widgets allows for them to be resized and rotated to any size, with only a brief pause to redraw themselves. The Kross scripting framework allows developers to write widgets in a variety of programming languages in addition to C++.{{cite web |url=http://www.linux.com/feature/114560 |title=KDE's Plasma is heating up |publisher=Linux.com |access-date=2013-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302104930/http://www.linux.com/feature/114560 |archive-date=2009-03-02 |url-status=dead }}
KRunner is a versatile tool for several functions.{{cite web
| url = http://userbase.kde.org/KRunner/
| title = KRunner
| access-date = 2010-11-21
| archive-date = 2010-11-13
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101113172239/http://userbase.kde.org/KRunner
| url-status = live
}} It replaces the dialog box "Run Command" from K Desktop Environment 3, and also inherits from the application launcher feature, expanding the possibilities through a modular plug. KRunner stores previously entered commands and searches, accessible via an auto-complete feature. KRunner can be shown on the desktop via the keyboard combination {{key press|Alt|F2}} or by selecting "Run Command ..." in the desktop menu.
These functions are handled by the plugin:
- Application launcher: Type at least three letters of the desired name or description. KRunner shows applications associated with the terms of the search and allows the selection of the desired one.
- Calculator: Simply enter the desired operation to show the result. It also supports sophisticated expressions.
- Contacts can search for entries in KDE's address book allowing users to directly open, for example, KMail to write an e-mail. The address of the recipient of your choice is automatically added to the message.
- Unit Converter converts values between different units of measure.
- Web history: Search history of recently visited sites in Konqueror.
- Recent documents: Search for recently opened files.
{{clear}}
Available ''Plasma Workspaces''
= Desktop =
Plasma Desktop was a standard desktop interface. It was declared mature with the release of KDE SC 4.2.{{cite web
|url=http://www.osnews.com/story/20891/KDE_4_2_NVIDIA_SkyOS_Dead_Like_Me
|title=KDE 4.2, NVIDIA, SkyOS, Dead Like Me
|quote=This new release marks the end of the testing phase by being the first release ready for everyone – instead of just developers and enthusiasts.
|date=1 Feb 2009
|access-date=2014-02-12
|archive-date=2015-09-24
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924062504/http://www.osnews.com/story/20891/KDE_4_2_NVIDIA_SkyOS_Dead_Like_Me
|url-status=live
}} It is designed for desktop PCs and larger laptops. In its default configuration it resembles K Desktop Environment 3 and Microsoft Windows XP but extensive configurability allows radical departures from the default layout.{{cite web
|url= http://www.kde.org/workspaces/plasmadesktop/
|title= Plasma Desktop
|access-date= 2010-11-21
|archive-date= 2017-02-19
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170219002849/https://www.kde.org/workspaces/plasmadesktop/
|url-status= live
}}
Its technology is a fundamental rewrite of several desktop interaction programs included in previous KDE desktop environments for Unix-like systems, focusing on eye candy and special graphical effects. The Desktop Workspace replaces the previous KDesktop shell, Kicker taskbar and SuperKaramba widget engine used in the K Desktop Environment 3 series with a unified system of widgets that can be configured and replaced with alternative designs.
From KDE 4.0 to KDE 4.2, the default theme Oxygen was characterized by dark tones. In KDE 4.3, replaced by the new Air theme, which predominates in transparency and white as base color. New themes for Plasma can be chosen and installed through software like Discover or online at store.kde.org.
== Supported widgets ==
File:Kde43 plasmoid.png in Plasma 4.3]]
This is a list of widgets that the current release version of Plasma supports. Not all widgets are supported by default in all Linux distributions; some may require different packages, or even a recompilation of Plasma.
- First generation native widgets (In C++, JavaScript, Ruby or Python. In many distributions, the Ruby and Python bindings must be downloaded separately as packages)
- Second generation native widgets written in QML.{{cite press release |url=http://kde.org/announcements/announce-4.6-beta1.php |title=4.6 Beta1 Brings Improved Search, Activities and Mobile Device Support |publisher=KDE |access-date=2013-09-29 |archive-date=2013-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910035051/http://kde.org/announcements/announce-4.6-beta1.php |url-status=live }}
- Apple Dashboard widgets{{cite web |url=http://introducingkde4.blogspot.com/2008/11/plasma.html |title=Introducing KDE 4: Plasma |publisher=Introducingkde4.blogspot.com |access-date=2013-09-29 |archive-date=2013-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003154515/http://introducingkde4.blogspot.com/2008/11/plasma.html |url-status=live }}
- SuperKaramba widgets – used in KDE 3.{{cite journal |url=http://www.freiesmagazin.de/freiesMagazin-2008-09 |title=freiesMagazin 2008-09 |journal=FreiesMagazin |access-date=2013-09-29 |archive-date=2013-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916222512/http://www.freiesmagazin.de/freiesMagazin-2008-09 |url-status=live }}
- Web widgets (supports HTML and JavaScript)
Previous Plasma Workspaces releases also supported Edje gadgets and E17 modules. Support for those was developed in 2008{{cite web |url=http://blog.morpheuz.cc/21/08/2008/plasmoid-with-qedje/ |title=Plasmoid with QEdje |access-date=2013-09-29 |archive-date=2013-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002120539/http://blog.morpheuz.cc/21/08/2008/plasmoid-with-qedje/ |url-status=dead }} but later, in 2010, removed.{{cite web|author=Artur Duque de Souza |url=https://projects.kde.org/projects/kde/kde-workspace/repository/revisions/f9d8bf81027167c6c18dd0f81248f34317201921 |title=KDE Workspace - Revision f9d8bf81 |publisher=KDE |date=2010-07-09 |access-date=2013-09-29}}{{cite web |url=http://blog.morpheuz.cc/10/07/2010/kde-calls-home/ |title=KDE calls 'home' |date=2010-07-10 |access-date=2013-09-29 |archive-date=2010-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713203255/http://blog.morpheuz.cc/10/07/2010/kde-calls-home/ |url-status=dead }}
Google Gadgets were also supported. After Google announced to discontinue its two services that utilize Gadgets – Google Desktop{{cite web |last=Chitu |first=Alex |url=http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2011/09/google-desktop-will-be-discontinued.html |title=Google Desktop Will Be Discontinued |publisher=Google |date=2011-09-02 |access-date=2013-09-29 |archive-date=2013-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003154723/http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2011/09/google-desktop-will-be-discontinued.html |url-status=live }} and iGoogle{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/258753/google_to_discontinue_mini_search_appliance_igoogle_other_products.html |title=Google to Discontinue Mini Search Appliance, IGoogle, Other Products |magazine=PCWorld |access-date=2013-09-29 |archive-date=2013-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002142642/http://www.pcworld.com/article/258753/google_to_discontinue_mini_search_appliance_igoogle_other_products.html |url-status=live }} – KDE removed support for this widget engine in early 2013.{{cite web|author=Michael Palimaka |url=https://projects.kde.org/projects/kde/kde-workspace/repository/revisions/f18065df9b91c72a813291f43707513e99bb72e8 |title=KDE Workspace - Revision f18065df |publisher=KDE |date=2013-04-01 |access-date=2013-09-29}}
= Netbook =
File:Screenshot of KDE 4.4 plasma-netbook.png
Plasma Netbook is the second workspace. It aims at netbooks and may also be used on tablet PCs. The first stable release shipped with KDE SC 4.4.{{cite web |url=http://www.kde.org/announcements/4.4/ |title=SC 4.4.0 Caikaku Release Announcement |publisher=KDE |date=2010-02-09 |access-date=2012-03-30 |archive-date=2016-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529143202/https://www.kde.org/announcements/4.4/ |url-status=live }}
{{clear}}
= Plasma Active =
{{Infobox software
| name = Plasma Active
| logo = x64px
| screenshot = Plasma Active 3 - Files.png
| caption = Plasma Active’s Semantic File Browser
| developer = KDE, basysKom, Coherent Theory,{{cite web |url=http://www.notmart.org/index.php/BlaBla/Jobs_1 |title=Jobs |publisher=Notmart.org |access-date=2013-09-23 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305205514/http://notmart.org/index.php/blabla/jobs_1 |url-status=live }} open-slx{{cite web |url=http://vizzzion.org/blog/2012/06/next-iterations-of-the-kde-workspaces/ |title=Next Iterations of the KDE Workspaces |publisher=Vizzzion.org |date=2012-06-17 |access-date=2013-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418163103/http://vizzzion.org/blog/2012/06/next-iterations-of-the-kde-workspaces/ |archive-date=2016-04-18 |url-status=dead }}
| released = {{Start date and age|2011|10|09}}
| latest release version = 4.0
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2013|09|05}}{{cite news|url=http://dot.kde.org/2013/09/05/plasma-active-4-ready-when-you-are |title=Plasma Active 4 – ready when you are |publisher=KDE |access-date=2013-09-23}}
| latest preview version =
| latest preview date =
| programming language = C++, QML
| operating system = Mer, openSUSE
| genre =
| license = GPLv2
| website = {{URL|http://plasma-active.org/}}
}}
Plasma Active was a workspace for devices with touchscreens. It shipped with several applications such as Kontact Touch and a document viewer based on Calligra Suite.{{cite web |url=http://kde.org/announcements/plasma-active-three/ |title=Plasma Active 3 Improves Performance, Brings New Apps |publisher=KDE |date=2012-10-15 |access-date=2012-10-15 |archive-date=2023-11-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231128053319/https://kde.org/announcements/plasma-active-three/ |url-status=live }} It has been succeeded by KDE Plasma Mobile starting with KDE Plasma 5.{{Cite web |title=Plasma/Active - KDE Community Wiki |url=https://community.kde.org/Plasma/Active |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=community.kde.org |archive-date=2023-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923013845/https://community.kde.org/Plasma/Active |url-status=live }}
== Contour ==
Contour was the name of an interface for tablet devices. Its development was started in April 2011 by basysKom.{{cite news
|title=Contour Open Source Project announced – a new and innovative usage paradigm for digital devices
|url=http://contour.basyskom.com/
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503130637/http://contour.basyskom.com/
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=2011-05-03
|publisher=basysKom
|date=2011-04-11
|access-date=2011-04-24
}} Replacing an earlier tablet prototype,{{cite news
| title = KDE's Mobile Team Meets for First Sprint
| url = http://dot.kde.org/2010/12/03/kdes-mobile-team-meets-first-sprint
| author = Artur Souza
| agency = KDE.NEWS
| publisher = KDE
| date = 2010-12-03
| access-date = 2011-01-01
| archive-date = 2020-11-09
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201109031701/https://dot.kde.org/2010/12/03/kdes-mobile-team-meets-first-sprint
| url-status = live
}} Contour has then become the main workspace UI of Plasma Active and was shipped as 1.0 in October 2011.{{cite news
| title = Plasma Active One released!
| author = Carl Symons
| url = http://dot.kde.org/2011/10/09/plasma-active-one-released
| agency = KDE.NEWS
| publisher = KDE
| date = 2011-10-09
| access-date = 2012-01-14
| archive-date = 2012-02-05
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120205044027/http://dot.kde.org/2011/10/09/plasma-active-one-released
| url-status = live
}}
== Mobile ==
Plasma Mobile was targeted at smartphones and small tablet devices that are mainly used via touch input. It was originally expected to be released in 2011 along with Plasma Active 1.0 but development focus shifted towards Contour. A new version with the same name but based on KDE Frameworks 5 has been announced on 25 July 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.itworld.com/article/2952189/linux/kde-community-announces-fully-open-source-plasma-mobile.html|title=KDE Community announces fully open source Plasma Mobile|author=Swapnil Bhartiya|date=25 July 2015|work=ITworld|access-date=23 August 2015|archive-date=8 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151108090531/http://www.itworld.com/article/2952189/linux/kde-community-announces-fully-open-source-plasma-mobile.html|url-status=dead}}
File:Plasma-mobile (Tokamak 4).png|First technology preview of Plasma Mobile during the “Tokamak 4” developer sprint in February 2010
File:Plasma-mobile demo (2010-03-21).ogv|Technology preview of Plasma Mobile on video
History
KDE 4.0 was released in January 2008. Linux.com described the reaction from users as a "revolt", writing that the backlash KDE 4.0 received was on a scale that was unprecedented for a FOSS project. Although it was a developer's release, several distributions made the KDE 4.0 desktop environment available to their users without specifying that it was an experimental option. openSUSE released a more polished KDE 4 option while other distributions "released packages that simply [didn't] work," according to project leader Aaron Seigo. As a result, many users complained about the loss of features and stability. A number of KDE developers, including project leader Aaron Seigo, were targeted for abuse by outlets like Linux Hater's Blog. Several KDE developers stepped back from the public scrutiny.{{Cite web| title = What went wrong with the KDE 4 release?| work = Linux.com {{!}} The source for Linux information| access-date = 2017-12-20| date = 2008-07-15| url = https://www.linux.com/news/what-went-wrong-kde-4-release| archive-date = 2017-12-22| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171222104849/https://www.linux.com/news/what-went-wrong-kde-4-release| url-status = live}}
= Releases =
{{See also|KDE Software Compilation#Release cycle}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.kde.org/workspaces/}}
- [http://userbase.kde.org/Plasma Plasma user wiki]
- [http://community.kde.org/Plasma Plasma developer wiki]
{{KDE}}
{{X desktop environments and window managers}}
{{Widget engine}}
Category:Articles containing video clips
Category:Free desktop environments
Category:Software that uses QML