KDE 4 2294442 226131663 2008-07-16T23:24:08Z 71.235.135.46 /* Release schedule */ font size was too small to read {{Infobox Software | name = KDE 4 | logo = [[Image:KDE4 logo preview.svg|100px]] | screenshot = [[Image:KDE 4.png|250px]]KDE 4.0 ---- [[Image:Rotateinatux.png|250px]] | caption = KDE 4 icon widget being rotated. | collapsible = | developer = The KDE Team | latest release version = 4.0.5 | latest release date = {{release date and age|2008|06|04}} | programming language = [[C++]] and [[Qt]] | operating system = Desktop: [[Unix-like]] with [[X11]]<br/>Applications: [[Mac OS X v10.4]]/[[Mac OS X v10.5|10.5]], [[Windows XP]]/[[Windows Vista|Vista]] | platform = | language = | status = | genre = [[Desktop environment]] | license = | website = [http://www.kde.org/ www.kde.org] }} '''KDE&nbsp;4''' is the current series of releases of the [[KDE|K Desktop Environment]]. The first version (4.0.0) of this series was released on [[11 January]] [[2008]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://kde.org/announcements/4.0/ | title=KDE&nbsp;4.0 Release Announcement}}</ref> The new series includes updates to several of KDE’s core components, notably a port to [[Qt (toolkit)|Qt]] 4. It contains a new multimedia API, called [[Phonon (KDE)|Phonon]], a device integration framework called [[Solid (KDE)|Solid]] and a new style guide and default icon set called [[Oxygen Project|Oxygen]]. It also includes the new desktop and panel user interface tool, called [[Plasma (KDE)|Plasma]], which supports desktop widgets, replacing [[SuperKaramba]] and similar to Apple’s [[Dashboard (software)|Dashboard]] widgets. The port to [[Qt (toolkit)|Qt]] 4 will facilitate support for non-[[X11]]-based platforms, including [[Microsoft Windows]] and [[Mac OS X]]. One of the overall goals of KDE&nbsp;4 is to be more easily portable to different operating systems. Major releases (4.x) are scheduled for every six months, while minor bugfix releases (4.x.x) are released monthly.<ref name="liquidat 4.1 schedule">{{cite-web|url=http://liquidat.wordpress.com/2008/01/18/kde-41-release-team-aims-at-july-2008/ |title=KDE 4.1 - release team aims at July 2008}}</ref> == Major updates == This is a short overview of major changes in KDE&nbsp;4. Not all of these changes are available in the first (4.0) release. === General === The port to the Qt 4 series is expected to enable KDE&nbsp;4 to use less memory and be noticeably faster than KDE&nbsp;3. The KDE libraries themselves have also been made more efficient. Qt 4 is available under the [[GPL]] for [[Mac OS X]] and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], which will allow KDE&nbsp;4 to run on those platforms. The ports to both platforms are in an early state but expected to be suitable for regular use by the release of KDE 4.1. Both ports are trying to use as little divergent code as possible to make the applications function almost identically on all platforms. During Google's [[Google Summer of Code|Summer of Code]] 2007 an icon cache was created to speed up application start up times for use in KDE 4.<ref>[http://code.google.com/soc/2007/kde/appinfo.html?csaid=1EF6392A4C8AEADD Google Code - Summer of Code - Application Information<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Improvements were varied - Kfind, an application which used several hundred icons, started up in almost a quarter of the time it took previously.<ref>[http://commit-digest.org/issues/2007-07-22/ commit-digest.org - 22nd July 2007<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Other applications and a full KDE session started up a little over a second faster. Many applications in the [[Extragear]] module have received numerous improvements with the new features of KDE&nbsp;4 and Qt 4. But since they follow their own release schedule, they were not all available at the time of the first KDE 4 release. Popular applications like [[Amarok (software)|Amarok]], [[K3b]], [[digiKam]], [[Gwenview]] and [[KOffice]] (though not part of the extragear module) are being ported. === Visual === The most noticeable changes for users are the new icons, theme and sounds provided by the [[Oxygen Project]]. These represent a break from previous KDE icons and graphics, which had a cartoonish look. Instead Oxygen icons will opt for a more [[photorealistic]] style. The Oxygen Project builds on the [[freedesktop.org]] [http://standards.freedesktop.org/icon-naming-spec/icon-naming-spec-latest.html Icon Naming Specification] and [http://standards.freedesktop.org/icon-theme-spec/icon-theme-spec-latest.html Icon Theme Specification], allowing consistency across applications. The Oxygen team will be using community help for better visuals in KDE&nbsp;4, with both alternate icon sets and the winners of a wallpaper contest held by the Oxygen project being included in KDE&nbsp;4.<ref>[http://dot.kde.org/1195329269/ Oxygen Team Unveils Wallpaper Collection for KDE 4.0]</ref> There will also be a new set of [[human interface guidelines]] for a more standardized layout. [[Plasma (KDE)|Plasma]] provides the main desktop user interface and is a rewrite of several core KDE applications, like the desktop drawing and most notably the widget engine. Plasma will allow for a more customizable desktop and more versatile widgets. [[KWin]], the KDE Window Manager from KDE 3, now provides its own compositing effects, similar to [[Compiz]]. Compositing is disabled by default in 4.0. === Development === [[Phonon (KDE)|Phonon]] is the name of the new multimedia API in KDE 4. Phonon is a different approach to multimedia backends than in previous versions of KDE, as Phonon only functions as a wrapper. Abstracting the various multimedia frameworks available for unix-like operating systems into runtime switchable backends that can be accessed through a single API. This was done to provide a stable API for KDE 4 and to prevent it from depending on a single multimedia framework. Applications that use the Phonon API can be switched between multimedia frameworks seamlessly by simply changing the backend used in system settings. [[Trolltech]] adopted Phonon for multimedia use in Qt 4.4 and are developing backends for Gstreamer, Windows and OS X in the KDE SVN repository under the LGPL.<ref>[http://dot.kde.org/1197535003/ Trolltech Hosting Phonon Backends in KDE Subversion Repository]</ref> [[Solid (KDE)|Solid]] is the hardware API in KDE 4. It functions similarly to Phonon as it doesn't manage hardware on its own but makes existing solutions accessible through a single API. The current solution uses [[HAL (software)|HAL]], [[NetworkManager]] and [[BlueZ]] (the official Linux bluetooth stack), but any and all parts can be replaced without breaking the application, making applications using Solid extremely flexible and portable. [[ThreadWeaver]] is a programming library to help applications take advantage of multicore processors and is included with kdelibs. [[Kross (KDE)|Kross]] is the new scripting framework for KDE&nbsp;4. Kross itself is not a scripting language, but makes it easier for developers to add support for other scripting languages. Once an application adds support for Kross, any language Kross supports can be used by developers. New scripting languages can be added by creating a plugin for Kross, which benefits all applications using it. [[Decibel (KDE)|Decibel]] is a [[Telepathy (software)|Telepathy]] based communication framework, which is expected to be fully used by Kopete by KDE&nbsp;4.2 and will allow for easy embedding of chat inside applications. [[Strigi]] is the default search tool for KDE&nbsp;4, chosen for its speed and few dependencies.<ref>[http://dot.kde.org/1176310483/ The Road to KDE 4: Strigi and File Information Extraction]</ref> In concert with other software like [[Soprano (KDE)|Soprano]], an [[Resource_Description_Framework|RDF]] storage framework, and the [[NEPOMUK-KDE|NEPOMUK]] specification, Strigi will provide the beginnings of a [[semantic desktop]] in KDE&nbsp;4. Users can tag files with additional information through Dolphin, which Strigi can index for more accurate searches.<ref>[http://commit-digest.org/issues/2007-12-09/ KDE Commit-Digest – 9th December 2007]</ref> KDE 4 uses [[CMake]] for its build system. Since previous versions of KDE were only on Unix systems, [[GNU build system|autotools]] were used, but a new build system was needed for builds on operating systems like Windows and Mac OS X. CMake also dramatically simplified the build process. The autotools build system had become so complicated by KDE 3 that few developers understood it, requiring hours of work for simple changes. In early 2007 CMake was shown to compile the KDE 4 version of KDElibs 40&thinsp;% faster than the autotools compiled KDE 3 version.<ref>[http://dot.kde.org/1172083974/ The Road to KDE 4: CMake, a New Build System for KDE]</ref> DXS, previously known as GHNS (Get Hot New Stuff)<ref>[http://ghns.freedesktop.org/ GHNS Project - Get Hot New Stuff!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and now adopted by [[freedesktop.org]], is a web service that lets applications download and install data from the Internet with [[one click install|one click]]. It was used in the KDE 3 series but has been extended for use throughout KDE 4. One example was Kstars, that can use Astronomical data that is free for personal use but you cannot redistribute it. DXS allows that data to be easily downloaded and installed from within the application instead of manually downloading it. [[Akonadi]] is a new PIM framework for KDE 4 that will be included in later releases. Akonadi is a unification of previously separate KDE PIM components. In the past each application would have its own method for storing information and handling data. Akonadi itself functions as a server that provides data and search functions to PIM applications. It is also able to update the status of contacts. So if one application changes information about a contact, all other applications are immediately informed of the change.<ref>[http://conference2006.kde.org/conference/talks/9.php aKademy 2006: ''Akonadi – The KDE 4.0 PIM Framework'']</ref> == KDE 4.0 == The majority of development went into implementing most of the new technologies and frameworks of KDE 4. Plasma and the Oxygen style were two of the biggest user-facing changes. [[Dolphin (software)|Dolphin]] replaces Konqueror as the default file manager in KDE&nbsp;4.0. This was done to address complaints of Konqueror being too complicated for a simple file manager. However Dolphin and Konqueror will share as much code as possible, and Dolphin can be embedded in Konqueror to allow Konqueror to still be used as a file manager. [[Okular]] replaces several document viewers used in KDE&nbsp;3, like KPDF, KGhostView and KDVI. Okular makes use of software libraries and can be extended to view almost any kind of document. Like Konqueror and KPDF in KDE&nbsp;3, Okular can be embedded in other applications. === Pre-releases === On [[May 11]] [[2007]], KDE&nbsp;4.0 Alpha 1 was released marking the end of the addition of large features to the KDE base libraries and shifting the focus onto integrating the new technologies into applications and the basic desktop. Alpha 1 included new frameworks to build applications with, providing improved hardware and multimedia integration through [[Solid (KDE)|Solid]] and [[Phonon (KDE)|Phonon]]. [[Dolphin (software)|Dolphin]] and [[Okular]] were integrated and a new visual appearance was provided through [[Oxygen Project|Oxygen icons]].<ref>[http://www.kde.org/announcements/announce-4.0-alpha1.php KDE&nbsp;4.0 Alpha 1 announcement]</ref> On [[2007-07-04]], Alpha 2 was released.<ref>[http://www.kde.org/announcements/announce-4.0-alpha2.php KDE&nbsp;4.0 Alpha 2 announcement]</ref> The release focused on integrating the Plasma desktop, improving functionality and stabilizing KDE. On [[2007-08-02]], Beta 1 was released.<ref>[http://www.kde.org/announcements/announce-4.0-beta1.php KDE&nbsp;4.0 Beta 1 announcement]</ref> Major features included a pixmap cache – speeding up icon loading, KDE PIM improvements, improved [[KWin]] effects and configuration, better interaction between Konqueror and Dolphin and [[Metalink]] support added to [[KGet]] for improved downloads. On [[2007-09-06]], Beta 2 was released with improved [[BSD]] and [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]] support.<ref>[http://kde.org/announcements/announce-4.0-beta2.php KDE&nbsp;4.0 Beta 2 announcement]</ref> The release included the addition of the Blitz graphic library – allowing for developers to use high performance graphical tricks like icon animation – and an overhaul of [[Krdc|KRDC]] (K Remote Desktop Client) for [[Google Summer of Code|Google’s ''Summer of Code'']]. [[Plasma (KDE)|Plasma]] was also integrated with Amarok to provide Amarok’s central context view. On [[2007-10-16]] Beta 3 was released.<ref>[http://kde.org/announcements/announce-4.0-beta3.php KDE&nbsp;4.0 Beta 3 Release Announcement]</ref> The beta 3 release was focused on stabilizing and finishing the design of libraries for the release of the KDE Development Platform. Plasma received many new features including an applet browser. The Educational software received many improvements in Marble and Parley (formerly known as KVoctrain) with bugfixes in other applications. A program called Step, an interactive physics simulator, was produced as part of the [[Google Summer of Code]]. On [[2007-10-30]] Beta 4 was released.<ref>[http://www.kde.org/announcements/announce-4.0-beta4.php KDE&nbsp;4.0 Beta 4 Release Announcement]</ref> A list of release blockers was compiled,<ref>[http://techbase.kde.org/Schedules/KDE4/4.0_Release_Beta_Goals Schedules/KDE4/4.0 Release Beta Goals - KDE TechBase]</ref> listing issues that need to be resolved before KDE will start with the release candidate cycle for the desktop. The goals were to focus on stabilization and fixing the release blockers. At the same time, the first release candidate of the KDE&nbsp;4.0 Development Platform was released. The development platform contains all the base libraries to develop KDE applications, including “high-level widget libraries, a network abstraction layer and various libraries for multimedia integration, hardware integration and transparent access to resources on the network.”<ref>[http://www.kde.org/announcements/announce-4.0-platform-rc1.php KDE 4.0 Platform Release Candidate 1 announcement]</ref> On [[November 20]] [[2007]] Release Candidate (RC) 1 was released.<ref>[http://www.kde.org/announcements/announce-4.0-rc1.php KDE&nbsp;4.0 Release Candidate Announcement]</ref> This release was called a "Release Candidate" despite Plasma requiring further work and not being ready for release. On [[2007-12-11]] RC2 was released.<ref>[http://www.kde.org/announcements/announce-4.0-rc2.php KDE&nbsp;4.0 Release Candidate 2 Announcement]</ref> The codebase was declared feature-complete. Some work was still required to fix bugs, finish off artwork and smoothen out the user experience. === Stable releases === KDE 4.0 was released on [[January 11]] [[2008]]. Despite being a stable release, it is intended for early adopters.<ref>[http://aseigo.blogspot.com/2008/01/talking-bluntly.html aseigo: talking bluntly]</ref> Users wanting a stable, "feature complete" desktop may wish to continue using KDE 3.5 for now.<ref>[http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080111-kde-4-0-rough-but-ready-for-action.html KDE 4.0 released: rough, but ready for action]</ref> There are maintenance releases every month,<ref name="liquidat 4.1 schedule"/> which fix bugs and add some minor features such as resizable desktop panels. <gallery> Image:Kde4alpha1.png|KDE&nbsp;4.0 Alpha 1, showing Dolphin and early Oxygen icons Image:Kde4Beta1.png|Beta 1, showing the run dialogue, clock plasmoid and Dolphin file manager Image:Kdebeta2 plasma.png|Beta 2, showing a number of plasmoids Image:KDE 4 beta 4.png|Beta 4, showing the new Kickoff menu Image:KDE 4.0RC2.png|RC2, showing Dolphin and Konqueror Image:KDE 4.png|Final release, showing Dolphin, System Settings and Kickoff </gallery> == KDE 4.1 == {{beta software}} Development of the 4.1 release, which is expected to be available in July 2008, is in progress.<ref name="liquidat 4.1 schedule"/><ref name="4.1 schedule">{{cite web | url=http://techbase.kde.org/index.php?title=Schedules/KDE4/4.1_Release_Schedule | title=KDE&nbsp;4.1 Release Schedule}}</ref> KDE 4.1 will include a shared emoticon theming system which is used in PIM and Kopete, and DXS, a service that lets applications download and install data from the Internet with one click.<ref name="4.1 goals">{{cite web | url=http://techbase.kde.org/Schedules/KDE4/4.1_Release_Goals | title=KDE&nbsp;4.1 Release Goals}}</ref> Also introduced are [[GStreamer]], [[QuickTime]] 7, and [[DirectShow]] 9 [[Phonon (KDE)|Phonon]] backends.<ref name="4.1 goals"/> Plasma improvements include support for [[Qt (toolkit)|Qt]] widgets and [[WebKit]] integration – allowing many Apple [[Dashboard (software)|Dashboard]] widgets to be displayed.<ref name="4.1 goals"/> There will also be ports of some applications to Windows and [[Mac OS X]].<ref name="4.1 goals"/> New applications include:<ref name="4.1 goals"/> * [[Dragon Player]] multimedia player (formerly Codeine) * [[KDE-PIM]] module, with some [[Akonadi]] functionality * [[Skanlite]] scanner application * [[Step (KDE)|Step]] physics simulator * Games - [[Kdiamond]] (a [[Bejeweled]] clone), [[Kollision]], [[Kubrick (KDE)|Kubrick]], [[KsirK]], [[KBreakout]] <gallery> Image:Krunner4 1 beta1.png|krunner in KDE 4.1 Beta 1. Image:Plasma-panelcontroller 4.1 beta 1.png|New panel configuration interface in Beta 1. Image:Kontact-calendar 4.1 Beta 1.png|Kontact in Beta 1. Image:Kwin-coverswitch4.1 beta 1.png|"CoverSwitch" effect. </gallery> <!-- == KDE 4.2 == {{beta software}} Planning and development have commenced for the 4.2 release, which is expected to be available in January 2009.<ref name="4.2 goals">{{cite web | url=http://techbase.kde.org/Schedules/KDE4/4.2_Release_Goals | title=KDE&nbsp;4.2 Release Goals}}</ref> The [[Decibel (KDE)|Decibel]] [[VoIP]] and real-time communication framework will be introduced. Plasma improvements include Plasma packages and an add-on creator.<ref name="4.2 goals"/> Kopete will also receive additional work.<ref name="4.2 goals"/> New applications include:<ref name="4.2 goals"/> * [[KDevelop]] and [[KDevplatform]] modules * [[KBlogger]], blogging software --> == Release schedule== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: left; " |- !Date !Event |- !colspan="2" style="background:#C0C0C0"|4.0<ref>{{cite web | url=http://techbase.kde.org/index.php?title=Schedules/KDE4/4.0_Release_Schedule | title=KDE&nbsp;4.0 Release Schedule}}</ref> |- !{{rh}} | [[April 2]] [[2007]] | Subsystem Freeze<br>From this date forward, no new KDE subsystem or major changes can be committed to kdelibs. |- !{{rh}} | [[May 1]] [[2007]] | kdelibs soft API Freeze<br>The kdelibs API is "soft-frozen", meaning that changes can be made with the consent of the core developers. |- !{{rh}} | [[May 11]] [[2007]] | [[Software release life cycle#Alpha|Alpha]] 1 |- !{{rh}} | [[June 1]] [[2007]] | trunk/KDE is module frozen<br>Trunk is frozen for new or resurrected applications. |- !{{rh}} | [[July 4]] [[2007]] | Alpha 2<br/>Initially due to be called Beta 1, it was decided to retain the alpha designation because this release wasn’t judged to be beta quality. |- !{{rh}} | [[July 24]] [[2007]] | Core Library API Freeze |- !{{rh}} | [[August 2]] [[2007]] | [[Software release life cycle#Beta|Beta]] 1 |- !{{rh}} | [[September 6]] [[2007]] | Beta 2<br>Trunk is frozen for feature commits. |- !{{rh}} | [[October 18]] [[2007]] | Beta 3 |- !{{rh}} | [[October 24]] [[2007]] | KDE 4 Release Freeze<br>Source and binary compatibility until KDE 5, hard freeze Platform & soft freeze Desktop. |- !{{rh}} | [[October 30]] [[2007]] | Beta 4 |- ! rowspan="2" {{rh}} | [[November 20]] [[2007]] | [[Software release life cycle#Release candidate|Release candidate]] 1 |- |KDE Development Platform released |- !{{rh}} | [[December 11]] [[2007]] | Release candidate 2<br>Only regressions or serious bugs can be fixed. |- !{{rh}} | [[January 11]] [[2008]] |style="background:#DCDCDC"| '''KDE 4.0 released''' |- !{{rh}} | [[February 5]] [[2008]] |4.0.1 Maintenance release. |- !{{rh}} | [[March 5]] [[2008]] |4.0.2 Maintenance release. |- !{{rh}} | [[April 2]] [[2008]] |4.0.3 Maintenance release. |- !{{rh}} | [[May 7]] [[2008]] |4.0.4 Maintenance release. |- !{{rh}} | [[June 4]] [[2008]] |4.0.5 Maintenance release. |- <!--________________________________________4.1________________________________________--> !colspan="2" style="background:#C0C0C0"|4.1<ref name="4.1 schedule"/> |- !{{rh}} | [[April 20]] [[2008]] | Soft Feature Freeze<br/>Features must be finished or listed in the planned features document. |- !{{rh}} | [[April 29]] [[2008]] | Alpha 1<br/> |- !{{rh}} | [[May 19]] [[2008]] | Hard Feature Freeze<br/>Trunk is frozen for all feature commits. Hereafter, only bug fixes are allowed. |- !{{rh}} | [[May 27]] [[2008]] | Beta 1<br/> |- !{{rh}} | [[June 24]] [[2008]] | Beta 2<br/> |- !{{rh}} | [[July 15]] [[2008]] | Release candidate 1<br/>Additional release candidates will be created as needed. |- !{{rh}} | [[July 29]] [[2008]] |style="background:#DCDCDC"| '''Release KDE 4.1'''<br/>Expected release date of KDE 4.1 |- |colspan="2" style="text-align:center"|''All future dates are provisional.'' |} == External links == * [http://home.kde.org/~binner/kde-four-live/ Regularly updated Live CD from a KDE developer] * [http://techbase.kde.org/index.php?title=Schedules/KDE4/4.0_Release_Schedule&oldid=9235 Original KDE Release Schedule] * [http://techbase.kde.org/ TechBase] – Information site for KDE, currently mostly developer information * [http://plasma.kde.org/ Plasma] – Desktop Interface project for KDE&nbsp;4 * [http://solid.kde.org/ Solid] – Hardware project for KDE&nbsp;4 * [http://phonon.kde.org/ Phonon] – Multimedia project for KDE&nbsp;4 * [http://decibel.kde.org/ Decibel] – Project providing a service architecture to make chat and phone communication universally available to desktop applications * [http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2006/01/12/KDE4.html ''Previewing KDE&nbsp;4''] * [http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/KDE_on_Mac_OS_X KDE&nbsp;4 for Mac OS X] * [http://www.linuxactionshow.com/?p=48 Linux Action Show interview with Aaron Seigo about KDE&nbsp;4], part 1 * [http://www.linuxactionshow.com/?p=50 Linux Action Show interview with Aaron Seigo about KDE&nbsp;4], part 2 * [http://www.kde.org The KDE website] * [http://windows.kde.org KDE's Windows Port site] * [http://techbase.kde.org/index.php?title=Projects/KDE_on_Windows KDE on Windows Project page, at techbase.kde.org] * [http://techbase.kde.org/index.php?title=Projects/KDE_on_Windows/Installation Installing KDE on Windows] * [http://www.winkde.org/pub/kde/ports/win32/installer/kdewin-installer-gui-0.9.2.exe KDE for Windows Installer] {{KDE}} == References == {{reflist|2}} [[Category:Free desktop environments]] [[Category:User interface]] [[Category:Graphical user interface]] [[Category:Software architecture]] [[Category:MS Windows-like desktops]] [[Category:KDE]] [[cs:KDE 4]] [[es:KDE#KDE_4]] [[fa:کی‌دی‌ای ۴]] [[fr:KDE4]] [[it:KDE 4]] [[lt:KDE4]] [[ro:KDE 4]] [[ru:KDE 4]] [[sk:KDE 4]] [[sl:KDE 4]] [[tr:KDE 4]]