Plasma (software)
Plasma (also known as Plasma Desktop) is a graphical shell developed by KDE for Unix-like operating systems. Plasma is a standard desktop interface. It was declared mature with the release of KDE SC 4.2. It is designed for desktop PCs and larger laptops. In its default configuration it resembles KDesktop from K Desktop Environment 3, and Microsoft Windows XP; however extensive configurability allows radical departures from the default layout.
Plasma 5.27 | |
| Developer(s) | KDE |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 11 January 2008 |
| Stable release | |
| Preview release | n/a
|
| Written in | C++, QML |
| Operating system | Unix-like |
| Predecessor | KDesktop |
| Type | Shell |
| License | GPL 2.0 or later |
| Website | kde |
Its technology is a fundamental rewrite of several desktop interaction programs included in previous KDE desktop environments for Unix-like systems, focusing on eye candy and special graphical effects. Plasma replaces the previous KDesktop shell, Kicker taskbar and SuperKaramba widget engine used in the K Desktop Environment 3 series with a unified system of widgets that can be configured and replaced with alternative designs.
Since the split of the KDE Software Compilation into KDE Plasma Workspaces, KDE Frameworks and KDE Applications, each subproject can develop at its own pace. Plasma 5 is on its own release schedule, with feature releases every four months, and bugfix releases in the intervening months.