KDE Plasma is a highly customizable and user-friendly desktop environment for Linux. With Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) being the latest long-term support release, installing KDE Plasma on top of it provides a stable and pleasant desktop experience. This comprehensive guide will take you through the entire process, from adding the correct repositories to customizing the look and feel of your KDE desktop.
Prerequisites
Before installing KDE Plasma, make sure your system meets the following requirements:
- Ubuntu 22.04 LTS desktop installed and updated
- Active internet connection
- Root privileges – you‘ll need to run commands with
sudo - At least 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended for best performance)
It‘s also advisable to back up any important data beforehand.
Step 1 – Add KDE Plasma Repositories
Ubuntu‘s default repositories contain a limited selection of KDE packages. To install the full KDE Plasma desktop, you need to enable the official Kubuntu backports PPA:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backportsWhen prompted, press Enter to continue. This will add the necessary repositories to install Plasma from.
Next, update the package index to reflect the newly added repositories:
sudo apt updateStep 2 – Install KDE Plasma Desktop
With the correct repositories enabled, installing KDE Plasma desktop is as easy as running:
sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop sddmThis will install the KDE Plasma desktop environment, along with the recommended SDDM display manager.
The total download size is around 1.4 GB, so make sure you have a stable connection. The installation may take 10-15 minutes to finish, depending on your system‘s specifications.
Once installed, the system will auto-configure SDDM as the default display manager.
Step 3 – Reboot into KDE Plasma
After installation completes, reboot your system with:
sudo rebootThis will boot you straight into the KDE Plasma desktop. The default look resembles the classic Windows interface, but we‘ll customize that next.
On the login screen, select Plasma from the session dropdown and enter your user password. That‘s it – welcome to your fully functional and customizable KDE desktop!
Step 4 – Installing Additional Plasma Widgets
KDE Plasma is extremely flexible when it comes to customization. Beyond the default set of widgets, you can install additional ones from the extensive catalog.
To search and install widgets, right-click on any empty space on the desktop and select "Add Widgets".
In the search bar that pops up, enter the name of the widget you want to install. For example, to install a new world clock widget type "World" and select "Digital Clock (World)" from the list.
Click the green "+" icon to install it. The widget will now be available on your desktop. Continue searching and installing other widgets like system monitors, note pads, calendars etc.
Step 5 – Customizing the Look and Feel
You can extensively customize Plasma to your heart‘s content – from changing icons and themes to tweaking effects and animations. Let‘s go through some of the options:
Icons and Application Style
To change the icon theme system-wide, go to System Settings > Icons. From here you can:
- Browse and install new icon themes
- Change icons for individual apps or folder types
- Adjust icon sizes
Similarly, Application Style controls how program interfaces are rendered. Switch between Breeze, Fusion and Windows styles.
Cursors
Cursors tab lets you install animated mouse cursors, pointers and touchpads for extra visual flair. The Defaults are sleek and minimalistic.
Plasma Style and Window Decorations
This is where you can change the overall look – wallpapers, panel colors, window effects etc.
Plasma Styles radically transform with just single click. I recommend checking out the vairous community themes.
For modifying window effects like shadows, translucency and animations, head to Window Decorations. Enable/Disable compositing from here as well.
Wallpapers
To change wallpapers, simply right-click on desktop and choose from installed selection or add custom images. Make sure they properly contrast with rest of theme.
Besides these, you have granular control over every element be it panels, docks, notifications, lock screen and more. It may seem overwhelming initially, but as you start customizing KDE Plasma desktop to your taste it becomes second nature.
Uninstalling KDE Plasma
In case you ever decide to remove the KDE Plasma desktop entirely, it‘s a straightforward process.
Since we installed the kubuntu-desktop meta-package, removing that will uninstall KDE Plasma and associate packages:
sudo apt remove kubuntu-desktop sddmAdditionally, purge remaining configuration files:
sudo apt purge kubuntu-*This will cleanly revert your Ubuntu desktop back to the default GNOME, with LightDM display manager enabled again.
You may also want to remove the Kubuntu PPA repositories:
sudo add-apt-repository -r ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backportsAnd that‘s all there is to uninstalling KDE Plasma!
Final Thoughts
Installing and running KDE Plasma desktop on Ubuntu 22.04 results in a versatile and visually impressive user experience akin to Windows 10, with all the stability of an Ubuntu LTS base.
Due to the modular architecture, you have exceptional control over customizing Plasma to create a workflow tailored to your needs. From programmers looking for maximum productivity to Linux enthusiasts obsessed with an aesthetically pleasing desktop, Plasma caters to a wide variety of users.
So if you love having options to tweak your environment, or are simply looking to revamp the tired old default Ubuntu desktop, give KDE Plasma a try! Installing it on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS provides the most optimal blend of stability and customizability.