Howto install KDE 4.2 on openSUSE

Over on news.opensuse.org Zonker is pushing the Build Service KDE 4.2.0 packages in a major way. While I share the enthusiasm for KDE 4.2, I think that it’s a bit dangerous to push an unsupported upgrade to untested, under development packages of an entire desktop environment on the general public. At least I think that not all openSUSE users are geeks and experts, hopefully some of them are regular people who like their GNU/Linux operating system to be reliable and functional, and don’t just use it for play. So here’s what I think you should know about upgrading openSUSE to KDE 4.2.

1) Before installing 4.2

Before you decide to install the KDE 4.2 packages you should know that:

• The 4.2 packages for openSUSE 10.3, 11.0 and 11.1 on the /KDE4:/Factory:/Desktop/ repository are actually packages under active development for openSUSE 11.2 (Indicated by the word “Factory” in the URL). There can be (minor or major) breakage at any time if you update – or install at the wrong time.
• Installation is not 100% simple and convenient
• If you decide that you want to install despite the above, first make sure you remove any build service KDE repositories, that you may have added before at some time.

2) Installing 4.2

2.1 Adding the repository

Start YaST -> Software -> Software Repositories -> Add -> Specify URL… -> Paste this URL: http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/KDE4:/Factory:/Desktop/openSUSE_11.1/ (replace “11.1″ with “11.0″ or “10.3″ depending on your distro version.)

EDIT: The above factory repo moves to KDE 4.3 beta in early May. For KDE 4.2 use this repository instead:
http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/42/openSUSE_11.1/

2.2a Upgrading (you already have KDE 4.1/4.0)

Start YaST Software management -> Filter by Repositories -> Select the KDE4:/Factory/Desktop/ repository -> Right click a random package -> Select “All in this list” -> Update unconditionally

When you press “Accept” you’ll be met with a conflict dialog. A lot of people panic at the sight of it, but it’s perfectly simple, you just have to uninstall a few packages to resolve the conflicts. As you can see in the picture YaST offers you 3 different solutions – it should be obvious that our preferred solution will be to uninstall compiz-kde4.

Press “Ok, try again” until you’re done.

2.2b Installing KDE 4.2 (you don’t have any version of KDE4 previously installed)

If you wish to install KDE 4.2, and have previously been using a different desktop like KDE3, Xfce, IceWM or GNOME, you can do this easily – alongside your existing desktop, your display manager (kdm, gdm, xdm) will let you choose which session to start.

Start YaST Software Management -> Filter by patterns -> Check “KDE4 Base System” and “KDE4 Desktop Environment”

3) After installation of KDE 4.2

After the packages have finished installing, log out and log back in. If you come from a different desktop you can select to log into KDE 4.2 under “Session Type” at your display manager.

If your KDE4 desktop looks strange after the upgrade you can reset it with this command:

kquitapp plasma && rm ~/.kde4/share/config/plasma* && plasma &

And the last thing. Now that you’re using the KDE4:/Factory/Desktop/ repository, you have to follow planetsuse or join the opensuse-kde mailinglist. This way you’ll be notified about future repository changes – in about 3-4 months Factory is expected to move to KDE 4.3 beta – and this will cause you serious problems if you don’t pay attention.

Is KDE 4.2 too shiny?

Ever heard a beautiful woman, who also happens to be very intelligent, complain about not being taken seriously? KDE 4 seems to experience something similar. It appears that quite a lot of people simply can’t get past the sexy looks and appreciate the substance underneath (e.g. lots of powerful and highly configurable applications for users, excellent cross platform libraries and frameworks for developers, huge potential, great community.)

Since a lot of the KDE4 critics and the anti-eyecandy crowd in general care so much about how things look (do I have to point out the irony?), I thought I’d demonstrate how to make KDE 4.2 look like it’s ready to party like it’s 1999.

My KDE 4.2 before…	My KDE 4.2 after…

You can achieve the same in a couple of minutes, by following these simple steps:

• Use Aya plasma theme (right click desktop -> appearance settings -> desktop theme
• Folderview as your desktop activity (remove existing desktop widgets -> right click desktop -> appearance settings -> desktop acitivity type -> Folderview – this gives you traditional icons on the desktop)
• Classic menu (right click menu icon -> switch to classic menu style)
• Disable desktop effects (systemsetings -> desktop -> desktop effects)
• Switch Qt widget style (systemsettings -> appearance -> style -> Windows – you might also want to consider Motif or Cleanlooks)
• Switch windeco (systemsettings -> appearance Windows -> Redmond – kde2 or plastik might also be candidates)
• Replace “Places” pane in Dolphin with Folder tree (press F9 -> press F7)
• Switch to detailed view in Dolphin (Ctrl+2)
• Disable taskbar tooltips and force tasks into two rows (right click taskbar -> uncheck “Show tooltips” -> check “Force row setting
• Use a colour as background instead of an image (right click on desktop -> appearance settings -> Background image type -> Colour)

You can easily take it much further if you want, this is just a quick proof of concept. Maybe it’ll help some people to think more about the technology and less about the looks.

UPDATE: You might also find this tip useful: http://aseigo.blogspot.com/2009/01/todays-tip-kdeskipargbvisuals.html

KDE 4.2 release party in Copenhagen

Much enthusiasm is growing around the upcoming KDE 4.2 release, which many feel is really a breakthrough release for the KDE4 series. Hence Copenhagen is now joining the string of cities to have a KDE 4.2 release party.

It’ll take place at the weekly SSLUG lug meeting on Wednesday January 28. SSLUG membership is not required to attend.

Debian KDE packager Sune Vuorela will be giving a presentation about KDE 4.2 and Amarok developer Nikolaj Hald Nielsen will present Amarok 2.0.1.1 and give a sneak peek at Amarok 2.1.

Some great gifts

Monitor arm

For a while I’ve been contemplating purchasing an LCD monitor arm, so I decided to make it one of my christmas wishes. Long story short, the Ergotron LX Desk Mount is now in my possession. It brings many benefits, like:

• Added flexibility of monitor positioning, including rotating the monitor
• Improved ergonomics
• Freeing space on my desk (some of which was quickly occupied by my plush friends though)
• Looking good

Currently I’m not using the extender arm as you can see, but it may become useful in other surroundings in the future.

openSUSE box

Today I received my openSUSE contributor parcel. Including the openSUSE 11.1 boxset containing the printed Start-up guide, a DVD with 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the distribution, an additional CD with non-free software, a couple of laptop stickers and a limited edition openSUSE branded flashlight (batteries included! ). Also included in the parcel was the special openSUSE contributor t-shirt, with “iContribute” printed on the back.

Of course, I would have traded it all for a little higher quality openSUSE 11.1 release in a heartbeat, but it is a pleasing package nevertheless.

openSUSE 11.1 unleashed

Today openSUSE 11.1 was released to the public, so it’s time to say a few words again, already. It feels like 11.0 was released yesterday since this was an unusually short release cycle (6 months vs. the normal 7-9 months). It’s also a special release because openSUSE 11.1 is the code base for SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 (SLE), due out in the first half of 2009. It’s surely not the most polished nor least buggy openSUSE release to date, but at least it looks like we won’t see a repeat of SUSE Linux 10.1*, as some people may have feared. With some online updates 11.1 can become a very enjoyable release.

KDE

As always the impressive openSUSE KDE-team worked tirelessly to make the KDE experience extra pleasing.

KDE 4.1.3 is shipped, with everything which that entails. Additionally it’s enhanced with a lot of backported features from the upcoming KDE 4.2 – such as panel hiding, windows can cover panel, the KWin cube effect, PowerDevil power management, full featured Folder View widget, taskbar tooltips, multirow systray, possibility to hide systray icons and more. A special openSUSE feature is the hidden by default controversial desktop toolbox – the “cashew” (looks like a GNOME logo) in the top right corner.

Amarok 2.0 and early versions of KDE 4 DigiKam, KDE 4 NetworkManager applet, KDE 4 Kerry etc. are available too. As these programs progress, better versions will become available via the openSUSE Build Service repositories.

If you’re a KDE 3 user venturing into the KDE 4 world for the first time with 11.1, hopefully this post and the official KDE4 introduction page will lessen the shock for you

KDE 3.5.10 is available too, on DVD installations – at the desktop selection step, click on “Other” to select KDE3, along with Xfce, text based installation and icewm. This is the last time the KDE 3 desktop will be officially included in openSUSE media. Packages may be maintained by community members on the Build Service for future versions, who knows.

Other stuff

A lot of interesting things actually happened “around” the distro this time – not just in the technology itself.

For the first time openSUSE is built in the openSUSE Build Service for example.

The Contrib repository saw it’s humble beginnings. This repository will let non-Novell employees build and maintain official packages. For users it will mean more packages being available in a single frozen repository – instead of having to use lots of ever-changing, experimental Build Service repositories that cause conflicts and other problems – if you’re not careful.

Exciting strides have been taken in the field of software freedom. Adobe Flash, Agfa fonts etc. have been dropped from the DVD media – this means the DVD media is now redistributable and is licensed under GPLv2 – allowing commercial and non-commercial redistribution. Adobe flash-player will be pulled in as an update, if you don’t want it uninstall pullin-flash-player. Agfa fonts are replaced by Liberation Fonts.

OpenJDK and a web start plugin is installed by default instead of Sun Java, and works very well for many Java applets. A newer and even better version of OpenJDK is already available on the Build Service. Sun Java 1.5 and 1.6 is still available via the official non-oss repository if you need it.

The inclusion of SELinux should also interest a lot of people – even though it’s not very integrated, and it isn’t running by default – AppArmor is.

Have a lot of fun with openSUSE 11.1!

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* The uninitiated may not know that SUSE Linux 10.1 – which formed the base of SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 – was probably the worst release of a GNU/Linux distribution in this millenium due to horribly broken package management.

KDE 4 for KDE 3 users

Since the release of KDE 4.0 11 months ago, there’s been a whole lot of heated debate going on, on blogs, mailing lists, forums, IRC and basically any other media you can imagine. The complaints seem to come in waves though – everytime there’s a KDE release or a major distribution release with KDE 4, a new wave of angry complaining people seems to appear out of the blue, putting forward the exact same complaints other people have already been presenting all over the net for months. It would actually be kind of funny to observe the phenomenon, if only they weren’t so loud and angry.

Since the release of openSUSE 11.1 with KDE 4.1.3 is imminent I thought I’d prepare a little something for the upcoming wave of frustrated people. Many other KDE4 FAQs and introductions already exist, but they’re not invented here. I’ll try to keep it short and broad, since almost all the complaints fall into three basic categories.

It’s different
Yes, KDE 4 is different from KDE 3 in many ways – this was the whole point of KDE 4 from the beginning. It was always intended to be a radical change, since it was decided that incremental improvements would only get KDE so far. This means there is a learning curve and there may be the need to reconfigure some applications from scratch.

However many applications are more or less straight ports, but some components are new and rather different, most notably the desktop and panel (KDesktop and Kicker) were replaced with Plasma, KControl has been replaced with Systemsettings and Dolphin replaces Konqueror as the default file manager.

Over time KDE 4 will become more different than KDE 3, not less, so waiting to migrate later probably won’t make it any easier.

Missing features
Yes, it’s true that KDE 4.0, 4.1 and even 4.2 doesn’t have every exact feature or configuration option that exists in KDE 3. This means you may have to adapt your workflows a little bit, but it’s very unlikely any of these missing features will be critical to doing your work if you think about it.

Nevertheless KDE 4.x already has got lots and lots of features that weren’t in KDE 3, you just have to look.

The missing features are not the result of a new philosophy for KDE, it just happens that porting everything to KDE4/Qt4 was a huge task, and some components were completely replaced and need more time to mature completely, but mid- to long term it’s for the best. If you compared KDE 4.0 with 4.2 (beta) you’d be amazed how many features and configuration options have been added in one short year.

Lack of polish
As mentioned above important components have been rewritten from scratch and even straight porting application wasn’t a walk in the park. KDE 4.1 is still just the beginning of the KDE 4 era, it will become much better in every area very fast. There’s definitely room for improvements regarding optimizations, usability and bugs in KDE 4.1. But it’s not like KDE 3 was bug free either, many KDE 4 components objectively work much better than their KDE 3 predecesssors.

This post won’t do much to alleviate the inconveniences with migration in a practical sense, but hopefully it’ll help some people migrating from KDE 3 to KDE 4 to understand what’s going on and why, and see things in a bigger perspective.

It’s also interesting that generally the most unhappy users are long time KDE 3 users – whereas users of GNOME or Microsoft Windows etc. don’t seem to have all these problems when they try KDE 4. I guess they approach KDE 4 with more of an open mind, intending to try something new and different, instead of expecting to find their former desktop environment++, maybe KDE 3 users can learn from that approach.

PS: KDE 3.5 is included in openSUSE 11.1, for the last time(!!). It’s under “Other” in the Desktop selection step of DVD installations.

Valgkamp i SSLUG

SSLUG har generalforsamling på onsdag d. 3/12. Der er ikke tilstrækkeligt opstillede kandidater til bestyrelsen til et kampvalg, men derfor bør du alligevel møde op til generalforsamlingen. På trods af det manglende kampvalg er valgkampen hård og intens. Du kan se et nyhedsindslag om Bryan “Kloeri” Østergaards effektive græsrodskampagne for formandsposten her (hvis du har Flash).

Alexander “ahf” Færøy er kommet sent ind i valgkampen, men han ligner en stærk kandidat med valgmateriale som denne plakat.