KDE Plasma – desktop environment created by KDE

Last Updated on July 6, 2021

Plasma is the KDE workspace. It’s a common framework for creating integrated interfaces. It’s flexible enough to provide interfaces for mobile devices (phones and netbooks), media centres and desktop computers.

Plasma supports widgets written specifically for Plasma (also known as Plasmoids) as well as widgets from other sources such as Google Gadgets, Superkaramba and some Dashboard Widgets from Mac OSX.

There are two varieties of Plasma: The Plasma Desktop environment and Plasma Mobile, the new cool environment for pads and smartphone.

Features include:

• Four components:
  • Panel – provides room for the application launcher, the list of windows (programs), clock and system tray. Panels allow you to place widgets around the edges of the screen. These collections of widgets can be configured in various ways, including making them automatically hide when not in use or aligned to certain areas of the screen.
  • Desktop – the area where widgets and icons reside.
  • Folder view – a widget that lists the content of a folder on your computer.
  • Plasma toolbox – used to access configuration and other options quickly and reliably.
• Built on widgets, allowing you to move, mix, add, and remove just about everything.
• Online Accounts – integrate many services such as Skype, Telegram, Twitter, Google, and others.
• KDE Connect – ties your Android devices to the KDE desktop. This offers, among other things, the ability to send and receive text messages out of sight of your phone.
• KDE’s Dolphin file manager is feature-laden. Besides standard file management functions, it can encrypt files, burn files to optical media, extract archives, and more.
• KRunner – a mini-command line that can search for applications, bookmarks, even sessions basing on your input, show system activity and even do simple arithmetic calculations. There’s Web shortcuts which works together with KRunner.
• Integrated features.
• Accessibility – control all aspects of the desktop from the keyboard.

Website: www.kde.org/plasma-desktop
Support: Wiki, Planet KDE
Developer: KDE
License: GNU Lesser General Public License

Return to Desktop Environments Home Page

Explore Linux
	Best Free and Open Source Software - A huge collection of recommended free and open source software covering every major category.
	In-depth Linux Software Reviews - Detailed assessments of Linux software covering features, usability and overall quality.
	The Big List of Active Linux Distros - An extensive collection of actively developed Linux distributions.
	Open Source Alternatives - Alternatives to software and services from Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Autodesk, Oracle and others.
	Essential Linux System Tools - Indispensable utilities for monitoring, maintaining and managing Linux systems.
	Linux Productivity Tools - Useful utilities for improving productivity and streamlining everyday tasks.
	Alternatives to Popular CLI Tools - Modern alternatives to familiar command-line utilities supplied with Linux systems.
	Awesome Free Linux Game Tools - Tools, utilities and companion software that improve gaming on Linux.
	Machine Learning on Linux - Machine learning and deep learning software, self-hosted applications and practical tools.
	Saving Money with Linux - Practical ways to reduce electricity consumption and lower computing costs with Linux.
	Linux Candy - Fun, entertaining and sometimes delightfully quirky software from the lighter side of Linux.