No, not outside the package system. It's available in the package
system but not officially supported by the distribution's
maintainers.
No, not outside the package system. It's available in the package system
but not officially supported by the distribution's maintainers.
I think each distro has their own "maintainers" that make the package install and work for said distro, and those people would, more than likely, support the package for the distro they are maintaining the package for. Any bugs related to that specific distro would be fixed by them, and any bugs related to the package itself, would be reported upstream to the original developers.
That was my thought as well. But I've seen people online recommend
against installing a desktop environment that doesn't officially
come with the distro.
I wonder if there may be issues for distros that are based on other
distros. For instance, Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, so it can use
the same sources for software that's available for Ubuntu, but I
suppose it's possible that the maintainers of Linux Mint might not necessarily account for all the issues that might arise from
installing packages that they didn't include by default in the
distro.
That was my thought as well. But I've seen people online recommend against
installing a desktop environment that doesn't officially come with the
distro.
Why not? You can install any desktop environment on any Linux distro. You should stop believing everything you read online. ;)
https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-install-kde-plasma-on-linux-mint
Yeah, I've actually installed KDE on Linux Mint, and it does work.
I was just a little skeptical after seeing people recommend against
doing so. Also, years ago, I had installed Cinnamon on Ubuntu..
Also, while it works, the version of KDE Plasma included in the repo
for Linux Mint is a 5.x version, which is older than the one
included in KUbuntu 25.10 (6.x). I also noticed a couple features
in the display settings that weren't available, which are available
in the 6.x version included with KUbuntu. I imagine it would
probably be fine, but for now I decided to install KUbuntu as it has
the newer version of KDE Plasma. And I think it looks & works
fairly well.
I was mainly wondering about what would happen when I try to update
to the next major version of the distro and if anything would
break.. I haven't tried that with an alternate DE installed.
I *really* like running Debian like that. I'm running an SAP
environment at work, and we had two choices of distro - RHEL or
SuSe. I'm trying the latter for the first time in 25 years.
Probably just a restriction of their repos, and the age of their
packages. If Linux Mint leans more towards something like stable Debian repos, everything is going to be older. It all depends on which distro
you choose to go with.
Yeah, I've actually installed KDE on Linux Mint, and it does work. I was just a little skeptical after seeing people recommend against doi so. Also, years ago, I had installed Cinnamon on Ubuntu..
It works, I think the only problem is bloat - with needing libraries for multiple desktop environments.
poindexter FORTRAN wrote to Nightfox <=-
It works, I think the only problem is bloat - with needing libraries
for multiple desktop environments.
There's a new term now: "Getting Gnomed".
It's when you install one application but it "needs" nearly all the Gnome environment loaded to run, whether you use Gnome or not.
I *really* like running Debian like that. I'm running an SAP environment at
I *really* like running Debian like that. I'm running an SAP environment at work, and we had two choices of distro - RHEL or SuSe. I'm trying the latter for the first time in 25 years.
i looked and the packages ARE the KUbuntu ones, not from/intended
for Linux Mint at all, so nobody maintains anything KDE for Linux
Mint. somehow i doubt anyone would have much luck convincing the
KUbuntu package maintainers to fix something just for Linux Mint.
that's why everyone recommend against it. there are just better (and supported) options for something huge like KDE
KDE is nasty IMO
if you just wanted to borrow something like their calculator, or the
neat little task manager, you would need to install almost the
entire desktop environment. for one little program.
i looked and the packages ARE the KUbuntu ones, not from/intended for Linux
Mint at all, so nobody maintains anything KDE for Linux Mint. somehow i
doubt anyone would have much luck convincing the KUbuntu package
maintainers to fix something just for Linux Mint.
It would have nothing to do with the KUbuntu maintainers. The Linux Mint maintainers would need to keep it updated in their repositories, and then, would also have to support it.
However, Nightfox mentioned that KUbuntu runs KDE 6.x, whereas the packages available for Linux Mint is KDE 5.x, so they're either behind whatever KUbuntu is using, or Nightfox hasn't checked what is offered in Linux Mint in awhile.
Which distro is SuSe based on? I am not as familiar with it.
MIKE POWELL wrote to POINDEXTER FORTRAN <=-
Which distro is SuSe based on? I am not as familiar with it.
It looks like there are two versions of KUbuntu released at any
given time: One is a LTS (long term support) release which is
supposed to be more stable, and another is their more cutting-edge
version with newer versions of things. I'm using the one that has
the newer versions (currently, 25.10).
Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, so I believe it uses the same
repositories of software. And Linux Mint probably uses the ones
that Ubuntu LTS uses, so IMO it's no surprise that it has the older
version of KDE. I believe the current KUbuntu LTS version also has
KDE 5.x (according to their web site).
Which distro is SuSe based on? I am not as familiar with it.
IIRC it's and rpm based distro that uses Zypper as a front end for
package installation IIRC.
Which distro is SuSe based on? I am not as familiar with it.
They are their own distro, their own software/patch system - not an
offshoot of Debian like so many. Apparently, it's close to RHEL in
structure, which is why SAP supports it.
if you just wanted to borrow something like their calculator, or the neat little task manager, you would need to install almost the entire desktop environment. for one little program.
Ditto for Gnome - when I ran Lubuntu, loading a single nifty applet
would need a ton of supporting files and libraries. I don't recall if
the *second* applet was any lighter...
Why not? You can install any desktop environment on any Linux distro. You
Mint at all, so nobody maintains anything KDE for Linux Mint. somehow i doub anyone would have much luck convincing the KUbuntu package maintainers to fi something just for Linux Mint.
KDE is nasty IMO
Which distro is SuSe based on? I am not as familiar with it.
Lately I've been rocking CachyOS and LOVING it. The Arch experience is not f everyone, but I rather enjoy the constantly updated software and don't mind
Mint at all, so nobody maintains anything KDE for Linux Mint. somehow i
doub anyone would have much luck convincing the KUbuntu package maintainers
to fi something just for Linux Mint.
One way around this is to build from source.. and an easy way of doing that is, install the src package for the thing you want to build. The package manager will install all of the libraries and other requirements. Then get the source from .. the source (KDE's website or github repo or whatever) .. and build that following the README.
KDE is nasty IMO
The old one was. It was held together by strings. The new one, Plasma, seems pretty nice.
SuSe is kinda almost not really but sort of similar to RedHat. It's more like Arch, though, in the way that it puts things in different places just to be different. It's not AS different as Arch, but same BS.
Arch is ok, but when I tried CachyOS on my laptop, something new broke every time there was a major update. After the third time, I said eff it.
Could that complicate things on Linux distros that use a package manager? I
What kind of BS? I used to use SuSE for a bit, around 1999-2001ish, and at time I really liked it, as its included configuration tools (such as YaST)
Lately I've been rocking CachyOS and LOVING it. The Arch experience is not everyone, but I rather enjoy the constantly updated software and don't mind
Arch is ok, but when I tried CachyOS on my laptop, something new broke every time there was a major update. After the third time, I said eff it.
Could that complicate things on Linux distros that use a package manager? If you get the source and build it, the package manager would be unaware that tha
software is installed, so if you upgrade your OS to a newer version, that software might no longer work as there may now be different versions of libraries installed that it's incompatible with, etc.. Also I imagine you coul
also (perhaps accidentally) install the same packages from the package manager
and cause issues, maybe? And I'm not sure if there would be a clean way to remove it if you wanted to.
Could that complicate things on Linux distros that use a package manager?
If
I mean, many of us are running synchronet (a non-package manager program) on a linux distro that normally uses a package manage. I suspect that any of us running on linux are in that boat.
The worst thing that normally happens is that you have to recompile the program(s) in question.
it.Arch is ok, but when I tried CachyOS on my laptop, something new broke eve
time there was a major update. After the third time, I said eff
Re: Re: Kde Plasma Desktop VsI prefer XFCE4 to KDE or Gnome. I use
By: Dr. What to poindexter FORTRAN > Thu Feb 05 2026 06:55 am
There's a new term now: "Getti > DW> Gnomed".
It's when you install one
application but it "needs" near > DW> all the Gnome environment loade > DW> to run, whether you use Gnome o > DW> not.
Yeah, I've noticed some Linux distro > have packages for Gnome support libraries. There are also KDE suppor > libraries as well.
And for UI themes, I've noticed that > even if you aren't using Gnome, some > the installed applications might be
using GTK (the Gnome toolkit); there > are a lot of GTK UI themes that will > get applied to those GTK application > but naturally, applications not usin > GTK won't get that theme. So you'll > have apps with one UI theme and othe > apps with a different UI theme.
Years ago, I used to like Gnome 2, a > when running in Gnome, all applicati > would look consistent with the same
theme. But that doesn't seem to be > case anymore with other desktop environments.
One thing I've noticed is that KDE
Plasma uses Qt, which is a
cross-platform GUI framework that I' > heard is considered one of the best > most popular (and wxWidgets being
another one). Qt is available for
Windows too, so theoretically, a
program written using the Qt GUI
framework (probably especially with
C++) would probably be able to be bu > and run for both Linux and Windows w > few modifications. I've done some C > development using wxWidgets and that > was one of the advantages of wxWidge > as well.
Nightfox
I prefer XFCE4 to KDE or Gnome. I use
Slackware and Gnome seems to be a lot
slower.
Re: Re: Kde Plasma Desktop VsI keep mine at 2560x1080. It works
By: Lumni1968 to Nightfox on Sun M > 08 2026 04:29 pm
I prefer XFCE4 to KDE or Gnome. > Lu> use
Slackware and Gnome seems to be > Lu> lot
slower.
I like XFCE, though if you have a
high-resolution monitor (maybe 1440p > 4K), it seems XFCE's scaling isn't t > greatest. I don't think it offers
fractional scaling (you could do 2x
scaling with it, but then everything > could look too big). I gave XFCE a > on my main PC, but I found that
Cinnamon looked better, and I think > Plasma looks even better. Also, it seems KDE Plasma is able to scale so > applications that still looked small > hard to read in Cinnamon, such as Zo > (for online video meetings). At lea > it seems that way in my experience.
Nightfox
I prefer XFCE4 to KDE or Gnome. I use Slackware and Gnome seems to be a lot slower.
Re: Re: Kde Plasma Desktop VsI might have to check that out.
By: Lumni1968 to Nightfox on Sun M > 08 2026 04:29 pm
I prefer XFCE4 to KDE or Gnome. > > use Slackware and Gnome seems to > > a lot slower.
if you ever want super light, try
something like openbox.
Lumni1968 wrote to phigan <=-
I prefer XFCE4 to KDE or Gnome. > > use Slackware and Gnome seems to
if you ever want super light, try
something like openbox.
I might have to check that out.
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