KDE

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Matthias Ettrich LinuxTag 2005-06-23

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KDE 1.0

KDE 4

KDE Plasma 5.26 screenshot

Krita 5.0.0 screenshot

KDE is a free and open-source software community that develops a wide range of applications including the well-known Plasma Desktop, a popular desktop environment for Linux and Unix systems. KDE stands for "K Desktop Environment," though the acronym is now used to refer to the community as a whole rather than just the desktop environment. The KDE community's products are known for their emphasis on aesthetics, functionality, and freedom for users to customize their environment.

History

KDE was founded in 1996 by Matthias Ettrich, who was then a student at the University of Tübingen. Ettrich was dissatisfied with the Unix desktop landscape at the time, which was dominated by Motif and CDE - both of which were proprietary software. He proposed the creation of a new desktop environment that would be free software and sent out an announcement to several Usenet groups. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and thus KDE was born.

The first release, KDE 1.0, came out in 1998 and was notable for its use of the Qt toolkit, which at the time was not free software. This led to some controversy and the creation of the GNOME desktop environment, which sought to provide a completely free desktop solution. However, in 2000, Trolltech (the company behind Qt) released the Qt toolkit under the GPL, resolving the controversy and allowing KDE to grow rapidly.

Components

KDE is more than just a desktop environment; it is a collection of applications and frameworks. Key components include:

- Plasma Desktop: The flagship desktop environment known for its configurability and sleek design. - KDE Frameworks: A collection of more than 70 free and open-source libraries built on Qt, providing a wide range of functionalities from graphical user interfaces to networking and file management. - KDE Applications: A suite of applications that includes everything from office productivity to multimedia tools, all integrated to provide a seamless user experience. - KDE Neon: A Linux distribution based on Ubuntu that provides the latest versions of KDE software.

Philosophy and Community

KDE is built around principles of free software and open-source development. The community values collaboration and innovation, and it has established a comprehensive development ecosystem that encourages contributions from developers around the world. KDE operates under the governance of the KDE e.V., a non-profit organization registered in Germany that represents the community in legal and financial matters.

The KDE community organizes several events annually, such as Akademy, its global conference, to foster collaboration and share knowledge among developers, users, and enthusiasts.

Impact and Reception

KDE has had a significant impact on the Linux desktop environment landscape. Its commitment to usability and configurability has made it a favorite among many users, especially those who prefer a highly customizable desktop. The KDE community's work on frameworks and libraries has also benefited the wider free software ecosystem, providing developers with tools to build sophisticated applications.

Future Directions

The KDE community continues to innovate, with ongoing work to improve the Plasma Desktop, develop new applications, and enhance existing ones. There is also a focus on improving KDE's performance on a variety of hardware and expanding its presence on mobile devices through projects like Plasma Mobile.

See Also

- GNOME - Qt - Linux desktop environments - Free and open-source software