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Plasma (KDE)
Encyclopedia
Plasma Workspaces is the umbrella term for all graphical environments provided by KDE
.
Three Plasma sub-projects are currently being developed: Plasma Desktop for traditional desktop PCs and notebook
s, Plasma Netbook for netbooks, and Plasma Active for Tablet PC
s, Nokia N900
style smartphones and similar devices.
The Plasma Workspaces are released as part of KDE Software Compilation 4.
releases and Microsoft Windows
but extensive configurability allows radical departures from the default layout.
s and may also be used on tablet PC
s. The first stable release shipped with KDE SC 4.4.
files without the need to program in C++
.
Plasma Active serves as base for touchscreen-compatible workspaces. Active-compatible preview releases of the Kontact
applications and a document viewer based on Calligra Suite are already available.
s and small tablet devices that are mainly used via touch input
. It was originally expected to be released in 2011 along with Plasma Active 1.0 but development focus shifted towards Contour. It is currently unknown whether this workspace will be picked up for development again or if Contour will be ported to small screens.
or an SVG
image), animation, or even OpenGL
. Images are most commonly used, but with Plasma the user could set any applet as the desktop background without losing functionality of the applet. This also allows for applets to be dragged between the desktop and the taskbar (two separate containments), and have a separate visualization for the more confined taskbar. From KDE 4.0 to KDE 4.2, the default theme Oxygen was characterized by dark tones. In KDE 4.3, replaced by the new Air theme, which predominates in transparency and white as base color. New themes for Plasma can be chosen and installed through an authority.
The scalable nature of the Plasma widgets allows for them to be resized and rotated to any size, with only a brief pause to redraw themselves. The Kross
scripting framework allows developers to write widgets in a variety of programming languages in addition to C++
. Widgets are aware of their size and can be made to show more or less data depending on their size.
Plasma can support other widgets. Support for SuperKaramba
(the widget engine used in the KDE 3 series) has been added for legacy reasons.
These functions are handled by the plugin:
desktop environments for Unix-like
systems, focusing on eye candy
and special graphical effects. It most notably replaces the previous KDesktop
shell, Kicker
taskbar and SuperKaramba
widget engine used in the K Desktop Environment 3 series with a unified workspace for KDE SC 4. Plasma also provides a resolution-independent interface, making the desktop look almost identical regardless of screen size or resolution. Plasma’s applet
s range from informative widgets
to mini-applications like calculators and dictionaries. An important feature of Plasma is that there is no longer a distinction between panels (like the taskbar), desktop icons, and widgets; they are created the same way.
Plasma separates components into "data engines" and their visualization counterparts. This is intended to reduce the total programming effort when there are multiple possible visualizations of given data; and to make it easier for the data engine and its visualizations to be written independently.
, the lead developer of Plasma. The first interpretation, the orange lozenge represents the slick and energetic new desktop; the three colored drops indicate the merger of Kicker
, KDesktop
and SuperKaramba
. The second interpretation indicates the orange item is C++, while the three colored drops are JavaScript, Python and Ruby bindings. Finally, the third interpretation emphasizes the combination of technical excellence, artistic beauty and usability.
KDE
KDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems...
.
Three Plasma sub-projects are currently being developed: Plasma Desktop for traditional desktop PCs and notebook
Notebook
A notebook is a book or binder composed of pages of notes, often ruled, made out of paper, used for purposes including recording notes or memoranda, writing, drawing, and scrapbooking....
s, Plasma Netbook for netbooks, and Plasma Active for Tablet PC
Tablet computer
A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a complete mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen...
s, Nokia N900
Nokia N900
The Nokia N900 is a smartphone made by Nokia. It supersedes the Nokia N810. Its default operating system, Maemo 5, is a Linux-based OS originally developed for the Nokia 770 Internet Tablet. It is the first Nokia device based upon the Texas Instruments OMAP3 microprocessor with the ARM Cortex-A8...
style smartphones and similar devices.
The Plasma Workspaces are released as part of KDE Software Compilation 4.
Desktop
Plasma Desktop is a workspace that was developed first and was declared mature with the release of KDE SC 4.2. It aims at desktop PCs and bigger laptops. In its default configuration it resembles earlier KDE Software CompilationKDE Software Compilation
The KDE Software Compilation is a desktop environment and an associated range of KDE Applications produced by KDE. Prior to version 4.4, released in February 2010, the Software Compilation was known as KDE, which used to stand for K Desktop Environment until November 2009...
releases and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
but extensive configurability allows radical departures from the default layout.
Netbook
Plasma Netbook is the second workspace. It aims at netbookNetbook
Netbooks are a category of small, lightweight, legacy-free, and inexpensive laptop computers.At their inception in late 2007 as smaller notebooks optimized for low weight and low cost — netbooks omitted certain features , featured smaller screens and keyboards, and offered reduced computing...
s and may also be used on tablet PC
Tablet PC
Early tablet computers included many of the features of personal computers. These devices ran adapted versions of Microsoft Windows or desktop Linux and were capable of running many of the same applications...
s. The first stable release shipped with KDE SC 4.4.
Plasma Active
Plasma Active is not a workspace on its own. It is a service built on top of the Plasma frameworks that enables the creation of full-fledged workspaces using only QMLQML
QML is a JavaScript-based, declarative language for designing user interface–centric applications. It is part of Qt Quick, the UI creation kit developed by Nokia within the Qt framework...
files without the need to program in C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
.
Plasma Active serves as base for touchscreen-compatible workspaces. Active-compatible preview releases of the Kontact
Kontact
KMail supports folders, filtering, viewing HTML mail, and international character sets. It can handle IMAP, IMAP IDLE, dIMAP, POP3, and local mailboxes for incoming mail. It can send mail via SMTP or sendmail...
applications and a document viewer based on Calligra Suite are already available.
Contour
Contour is the Plasma interface for tablet devices. Its development was initiated in April 2011 by basysKom. Replacing an earlier Tablet prototype, Contour is now the main workspace and will be shipped as part of Plasma Active 1.0 which is expected to be released in October 2011.Mobile
Plasma Mobile is targeted at smartphoneSmartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
s and small tablet devices that are mainly used via touch input
Touchscreen
A touchscreen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touching the display of the device with a finger or hand. Touchscreens can also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus...
. It was originally expected to be released in 2011 along with Plasma Active 1.0 but development focus shifted towards Contour. It is currently unknown whether this workspace will be picked up for development again or if Contour will be ported to small screens.
Features
Plasma features containments, essentially an applet that contains other applets. Two examples of containments are the desktop background and the taskbar. A containment can be anything the developer wants: an image (either raster graphicsRaster graphics
In computer graphics, a raster graphics image, or bitmap, is a data structure representing a generally rectangular grid of pixels, or points of color, viewable via a monitor, paper, or other display medium...
or an SVG
Scalable Vector Graphics
Scalable Vector Graphics is a family of specifications of an XML-based file format for describing two-dimensional vector graphics, both static and dynamic . The SVG specification is an open standard that has been under development by the World Wide Web Consortium since 1999.SVG images and their...
image), animation, or even OpenGL
OpenGL
OpenGL is a standard specification defining a cross-language, cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. The interface consists of over 250 different function calls which can be used to draw complex three-dimensional scenes from simple primitives. OpenGL...
. Images are most commonly used, but with Plasma the user could set any applet as the desktop background without losing functionality of the applet. This also allows for applets to be dragged between the desktop and the taskbar (two separate containments), and have a separate visualization for the more confined taskbar. From KDE 4.0 to KDE 4.2, the default theme Oxygen was characterized by dark tones. In KDE 4.3, replaced by the new Air theme, which predominates in transparency and white as base color. New themes for Plasma can be chosen and installed through an authority.
The scalable nature of the Plasma widgets allows for them to be resized and rotated to any size, with only a brief pause to redraw themselves. The Kross
Kross (KDE)
Kross is the new scripting framework for KDE SC 4, the latest version of the KDE SC. Originally Kross was designed for use in Koffice but eventually became the official scripting framework in KDE SC 4...
scripting framework allows developers to write widgets in a variety of programming languages in addition to C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
. Widgets are aware of their size and can be made to show more or less data depending on their size.
Plasma can support other widgets. Support for SuperKaramba
SuperKaramba
SuperKaramba is a tool that allows one to easily create functionality enhancement modules on a KDE desktop. Currently, only Linux is officially supported, although it also works well on FreeBSD and NetBSD...
(the widget engine used in the KDE 3 series) has been added for legacy reasons.
KRunner
KRunner is a versatile tool to the user for various functions. Replaces the dialog box "Run Command" in previous versions from K Desktop Environment 3, it inherits from the application launcher feature, however, expanding the possibilities through a modular plug. KRunner stores the efforts made to propose them as needed via an auto-complete feature of search terms. It can be shown on the desktop via the keyboard combination ALT+F2 or by selecting "Run Command ..." in the desktop menu.These functions are handled by the plugin:
- Application launcher, type at least three letters of the desired name or description, KRunner shows applications associated with the terms of the research allowed the selection of the desired one.
- Calculator, simply enter the desired operation to show the result, it also supports sophisticated expressions.
- Contacts can search for entries in the KDE address book allowing you to directly open. For example, KMail write an e-mail. The address of the recipient of your choice is automatically added to the message.
- Unit Converter converts values between different units of measure.
- Web history, search history of recently visited sites in KonquerorKonquerorNot to be confused with the Conqueror web browser.Konqueror is a web browser and file manager that provides file-viewer functionality for file systems such as local files, files on a remote ftp server and files in a disk image. It is a core part of the KDE desktop environment...
. - Recent documents, search for matches recently opened files.
Technology
Its technology is a fundamental rewrite of several desktop interaction technologies included in previous KDEKDE
KDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems...
desktop environments for Unix-like
Unix-like
A Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification....
systems, focusing on eye candy
Eye candy
Eye candy may refer to:*Attractiveness*Eye Candy , an album by Mis-Teeq*software "Eye Candy", a plugin for Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Fireworks that adds new filter effects*"Eye Candy", an episode of the animated series Happy Tree Friends...
and special graphical effects. It most notably replaces the previous KDesktop
KDesktop
KDesktop is the component of the K Desktop Environment that provides a virtual background window to draw icons or other graphics on prior to KDE SC 4.It was replaced by Plasma in KDE SC 4....
shell, Kicker
Kicker (KDE)
Kicker is the main panel used in K Desktop Environment 3 and earlier. It can be customized by the user. By default, it has the K Menu, a Desktop Access button, a Home button, a Konqueror button, a Kontact button, and a Help button...
taskbar and SuperKaramba
SuperKaramba
SuperKaramba is a tool that allows one to easily create functionality enhancement modules on a KDE desktop. Currently, only Linux is officially supported, although it also works well on FreeBSD and NetBSD...
widget engine used in the K Desktop Environment 3 series with a unified workspace for KDE SC 4. Plasma also provides a resolution-independent interface, making the desktop look almost identical regardless of screen size or resolution. Plasma’s applet
Applet
In computing, an applet is any small application that performs one specific task that runs within the scope of a larger program, often as a plug-in. An applet typically also refers to Java applets, i.e., programs written in the Java programming language that are included in a web page...
s range from informative widgets
Widget engine
In computer software, a widget engine is a software service available to users for running and displaying applets on a graphical user interface, such as that of the desktop.The widget model in widget engines is attractive because of ease of development...
to mini-applications like calculators and dictionaries. An important feature of Plasma is that there is no longer a distinction between panels (like the taskbar), desktop icons, and widgets; they are created the same way.
Plasma separates components into "data engines" and their visualization counterparts. This is intended to reduce the total programming effort when there are multiple possible visualizations of given data; and to make it easier for the data engine and its visualizations to be written independently.
Supported widgets
This is a list of widgets that the current release version of Plasma supports. Please note that not all widgets are supported by default in all Linux distributions; some may require different packages, or even a recompilation of Plasma.- Native widgets (In C++C++C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
, JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
, RubyRuby (programming language)Ruby is a dynamic, reflective, general-purpose object-oriented programming language that combines syntax inspired by Perl with Smalltalk-like features. Ruby originated in Japan during the mid-1990s and was first developed and designed by Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto...
or PythonPython (programming language)Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
. Note that in many distributions, the Ruby and Python bindings must be downloaded separately as packages) - Edje gadgets and E17Enlightenment (window manager)Enlightenment, also known simply as E, is a stacking window manager for the X Window System which can be used alone or in conjunction with a desktop environment such as GNOME or KDE...
modules. - Google GadgetsGoogle GadgetsGoogle Gadgets are dynamic web content that can be embedded on a web page. They can be added to and interact strongly with Google's iGoogle personalized home page and the Google Desktop application, as well as Google Wave...
(desktop) - Mac OS X Dashboard widgets
- SuperKarambaSuperKarambaSuperKaramba is a tool that allows one to easily create functionality enhancement modules on a KDE desktop. Currently, only Linux is officially supported, although it also works well on FreeBSD and NetBSD...
desktop themes (separate package in some distributions) - Web widgets (supports HTMLHTMLHyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
and JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
)
Default environment
These operating systems offer it as the default environment:- ALT LinuxALT LinuxALT Linux is a set of RPM-based operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel and Sisyphus packages repository. ALT Linux is developed jointly by ALT Linux Team developers community and ALT Linux Ltd.- History :...
- Ark LinuxArk LinuxArk Linux is a Linux distribution maintained by a group of volunteers and aims to be easy to install and use. Its default desktop environment is KDE.Ark Linux is available both as an installable CD and as a Live CD, and is free software.-Principles:...
- ArtistX
- aptosid
- BackTrackBackTrackBackTrack is an operating system based on the Ubuntu GNU/Linux distribution aimed at digital forensics and penetration testing use. It is named after backtracking, a search algorithm...
- Chakra GNU/Linux
- FrugalwareFrugalwareFrugalware Linux is a general-purpose Linux distribution designed for intermediate users who are familiar with command-line operations. Early versions were based on Slackware, but it is now an independently-developed distribution...
- KanotixKanotixKanotix, also referred to as KANOTIX, is an operating system Live CD based on Debian, with advanced hardware detection. It can run from an optical disc drive or other media i.e. USB-stick without using a hard disk drive....
- KororaaKororaaKororaa is a remix of the Fedora GNU/Linux distribution. Originally Kororaa was a binary installation method for Gentoo Linux which aimed for easy installation of a Gentoo system by using install scripts instead of manual configuration. The name is an alternate spelling for the Māori word, ...
- KubuntuKubuntuKubuntu is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system using the KDE Plasma Desktop instead of the Unity graphical environment. It is part of the Ubuntu project and uses the same underlying system. It is possible to install both the KDE Plasma Desktop as well as the Unity desktop on...
- MageiaMageiaMageia is the name of a non-profit organization and Linux distribution. The first release of the distribution was made on 1 June 2011.-Name:The term "mageia" — μαγεία in Greek — means "magic" in English...
- Mandriva LinuxMandriva LinuxMandriva Linux is a Linux distribution distributed by Mandriva. It uses the RPM Package Manager...
- Magic Linux
- MCNLiveMCNLiveMCNLive is a Live CD and Live USB Linux distribution based on Mandriva Linux. It is a desktop system. It contains graphical wizards to put it on a USB key, the copy2ram feature to speed things up....
- MEPISMEPISMEPIS is a set of Linux distributions, distributed as Live CDs that can be installed onto a hard disk drive.MEPIS is developed and maintained by an active community begun by Warren Woodford and the eponymous company MEPIS LLC....
- openSUSEOpenSUSEopenSUSE is a general purpose operating system built on top of the Linux kernel, developed by the community-supported openSUSE Project and sponsored by SUSE...
- PardusPardus (operating system)Pardus is a Linux distribution developed with support from the Turkish government. Pardus’ main focus is office-related work, including the use in Turkish government agencies. Despite that, Pardus ships in several languages. Its ease of use and availability free of charge spawned numerous...
- PCLinuxOSPCLinuxOSPCLinuxOS, often shortened to PCLOS, is a GNU/Linux distribution, with KDE Plasma Desktop as its default user interface. It is a primarily free software operating system for personal computers aimed at ease of use...
- Qomo Linux
- Sabayon Linux
- SlackwareSlackwareSlackware is a free and open source Linux-based operating system. It was one of the earliest operating systems to be built on top of the Linux kernel and is the oldest currently being maintained. Slackware was created by Patrick Volkerding of Slackware Linux, Inc. in 1993...
- SkolelinuxSkolelinuxSkolelinux is an operating system intended for educational use and based on Debian .Skolelinux is a free and open source software project founded in Norway, now supporting all languages present in Debian...
- VectorLinux
- Xange
- YOPERYOPERYoper Linux—Your Operating System—is a Linux distribution for PCs with i686 or higher processor types. It can be used for both personal computers and server use and uses hardware recognition tools known from Knoppix...
- PC-BSDPC-BSDPC-BSD is a Unix-like, desktop-oriented operating system based on FreeBSD. It aims to be easy to install by using a graphical installation program, and easy and ready-to-use immediately by providing KDE SC as the pre-installed graphical user interface. PC-BSD provides official binary nVidia and...
- BeleniXBeleniXBeleniX is an operating system distribution built using the OpenSolaris source base. It can be used as a Live CD as well as installed to hard disk. From the information provided on the BeleniX website, it may appear that currently, BeleniX is compiled only for 32-bit execution...
- SuperX
Project icon
The logo of Plasma can be explained by three symbolic interpretations as stated by Aaron SeigoAaron Seigo
Aaron Joseph Seigo is a Canadian open source software developer who lives in Zürich, Switzerland. He has been a KDE contributor since KDE 2 alphas release in 2000....
, the lead developer of Plasma. The first interpretation, the orange lozenge represents the slick and energetic new desktop; the three colored drops indicate the merger of Kicker
Kicker (KDE)
Kicker is the main panel used in K Desktop Environment 3 and earlier. It can be customized by the user. By default, it has the K Menu, a Desktop Access button, a Home button, a Konqueror button, a Kontact button, and a Help button...
, KDesktop
KDesktop
KDesktop is the component of the K Desktop Environment that provides a virtual background window to draw icons or other graphics on prior to KDE SC 4.It was replaced by Plasma in KDE SC 4....
and SuperKaramba
SuperKaramba
SuperKaramba is a tool that allows one to easily create functionality enhancement modules on a KDE desktop. Currently, only Linux is officially supported, although it also works well on FreeBSD and NetBSD...
. The second interpretation indicates the orange item is C++, while the three colored drops are JavaScript, Python and Ruby bindings. Finally, the third interpretation emphasizes the combination of technical excellence, artistic beauty and usability.