This document provides an overview of the KDE desktop environment, including what's new in KDE4 like Strigi desktop search and Phonon multimedia framework. It demonstrates some KDE4 applications and discusses why the author likes KDE, such as its large community and customization options. Useful KDE resources are listed for contributing, getting help, or learning more.

1. The Amazing KDE (C)Anand Vaidya [email_address]

2. Disclaimer I am not an expert, please do not ask difficult questions :-) I have given up compiling KDE from sources since 3.x, so I have no idea about KDE4 compilation, just use J. Riddell's debs Some info here is probably incorrect or plain wrong, Caveat Emptor! I am a long time KDE (1.x-) user and fan Icons and images are © of the respective organizations. I have attributed wherever possible

3. Agenda KDE in Two Slides What's new in KDE4? Hands on Demo – KDE4 Alpha aka very few things work ;-) Why I think KDE is cool (& useful)

4. What is KDE Desktop Env – like GNOME, CDE, Xfce, runs on top of X11 Written in C++ (no Mono or .Net stuff) Uses Qt from TrollTech, Norway 65 languages GPL licensed Linus' favourite desktop :-) Mark Shuttleworth use KDE on his desktop (http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=732&num=5)

5. What is KDE v3.5.7 latest stable (22/May/2007) v4.0 in development – offers completely new & exciting features Usability: Officially, KDE3 meets ISO9241 ( http://dot.kde.org/1179818755 ) My guess: More contributors from Europe, S.America

6. KDE Structure for Dummies KDE CORE KDE Multimedia KDE LIBS KDE PIM Web Image and Video NON CORE KDE APPS, Non KDE Apps www.kde-apps.org KDE extra-gear OS, infra (dbus, hal) and libs (libpng, zlib,pcre, xine-lib etc)

7. KDE4 -Many new things strigi – fast search Phonon Audio Framework Solid – Hardware support visually appealing GUI kross scripting

8. KDE4 Will run (as expected) on many unixes, Linux, BSDs, and gasp... Windows and OSX too. KDE4-Alpha released: 11/May/07 Final release in Oct-2007 Build system uses cmake. Code hosted on svn QT available on Win & Mac -GPL Completely new architecture

9. KDE4 Phonon: MM API supports gstreamer, NMM, Helix, Xine, DirectX-Windows backends Better Accessibility, HIG conformance SVG rendering everywhere No more app names beginning with “k” -Big Relief :-) App cleanups and merging KDE3 compat libs to support old (kde3) apps (2011)

10. Sample Oxygen Icons screenshot courtesy: http://www.oxygen-icons.org/?cat=3

11. KDE4 Phonon Phonon is a new KDE technology that offers a consistent API to use audio or video within multimedia applications. The API is designed to be Qt-like, and as such, it offers KDE developers a familiar style of functionality Not a xine engine replacement Handles volume changes etc (eg: loud music+incoming voip call) http://dot.kde.org/1170773239/

12. KDE4 Solid After a lot of hacking behind the scenes, a new initiative to improve KDE's interaction with network and hardware devices has been launched. Solid will provide a robust basis for the dynamic modern desktop in KDE, which needs to be aware of available hardware and networks, paving the way for innovative functionality. Users should see KDE applications taking advantage of Solid in KDE 4, from the most basic Plasma applets and complex applications to desktop-wide awareness. Developers will be able to take advantage of a robust, flexible and portable API and will be integrated into the Plasma engine. It will make use of existing technologies like HAL. Solid will also include a knowledge base providing a way for users to easily provide feedback on incorrect behaviour. http://dot.kde.org/1136389547/

13. KDE4: kross http://kross.dipe.org/ Scripting layer Apps & languages Supports Ruby, Python, Javascript Automate spreadsheets, image processing /usr/share/doc/python-qt4-doc/examples/graphicsview/elasticnodes.py see: http://dot.kde.org/1152490640/

14. KDE4 DEMO kstars – astronomy program kiten – japanese reference ksnapshot – capture screenshots konsole – terminal – our all-time favourite kate – superb text editor qt / python integration (see kross slide) Mahjong - game okular – more than a pdf viewer konqueror – the swiss army knife

15. KDE4 (non) DEMO Does not work: khotnewstuff kghostview kontact , kmail etc

16. REMUCO Demo Control Musicplayer through bluetooth enabled phone. http://remuco.sf.net Not really KDE4 demo.

17. okular More than a PDF viewer Try : File->Get Books from Internet Try: PDF, Save As Text

18. KDE4-Dashboard widgets http://www.applexnet.com/node/337 Limited support for Apple Dashboard widgets ( http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/ ) image used with permission from Mike Piontek, from:http://mikepiontek.com/software/mac/delivery-status.html

19. Experiencing KDE4 Use opensuse LiveCD with KDE4 (http://home.kde.org/~binner/kde-four-live/) Install KDE4 packages on kubuntu feisty fawn (http://kubuntu.org/announcements/kde4-alpha1.php) Compile from source (http://techbase.kde.org/Getting_Started/Build/KDE4)

20. Far Out in the Future... One of the first implementations of Semantic Desktop : Nepomuk KDE http://nepomuk.semanticdesktop.org/xwiki/ http://nepomuk-kde.semanticdesktop.org/xwiki/bin/view/Main/ See van den oever's presentation slides

21. Cool KDE Stuff: konq uber app: web browser + file manager + many things Save/email pages as PDF Tools->Archive Webpage: Create a single tarball with all images, html etc Tools->Speak Text gg: and ggx: - Google search apt:/search?firefox , apt-search: xine cpan: lwp browse bluetooth locate: linux or bug: 110385 or dbug: 68635

22. Cool KDE Stuff: GHNS Get new wallpapers, themes, right from your desktop (see demo)

23. Cool KDE Stuff: strigi strigi Desktop search – Standard part of KDE4 – see now on KDE3 (kubuntu feisty fawn) apt-get install strigi-daemon strigi-applet strigi-plugins Add strigi applet to dockbar Konqueror: strigi:/status Indexes pdf, txt, ODF, rpm, deb, tar etc Other C apps can use strigi – using dbus inotify support

24. Cool KDE Stuff: cmd line Commandline still available. eg: Try this: kmail -s "Test Message" --msg /tmp/testmsg.txt --attach /tmp/attachment.pdf yourfriend@example.com

25. Cool KDE Stuff: amarok Listen to online radio -even Singapore stations (with some effort) Integrated Magnatune (online store) Podcasts Retrieve lyrics, last.fm integration ScriptManager: get lyrics, Control amarok from your browser! (localhost:4774)

26. More apps KDE-Wallet -one place for all passwords Many many more K3B -Burn Baby Burn – CD/DVD recording

27. Some Myths Biggest Baddest: GNOME and KDE don't get along well : Nothing can be more wrong than this: eg Guademy 2007 (GUADEC + KDE Akademy) Work done at FD.o Common standards: dbus, scripting interfaces, HIG etc Many common underlying libs (okular uses poppler, xine-engine support in kde etc) There are major differences of opinions though

28. KDE Myths Read more: http://kdemyths.urbanlizard.com/ You may also read an article by me @ http://wiki.kde.org/tiki-index.php?page=KDE+vs+Other+Desktops

29. Why I like KDE GPL license Large community Friendly Developers - http://planet.kde.org Nice Apps (previous slides), fast Superb customisation options baghira, karamba, kxdocker etc

30. KDE Info KDE e.V. is a registered non-profit organization that represents the KDE Project in legal and financial matters. ( http://ev.kde.org ) Corporate patrons: Trolltech, Mark Shuttleworth (ubuntu fame)

31. Useful KDE sites http://dot.kde.org - News, articles http://wiki.kde.org http://techbase.kde.org -developer info http://websvn.kde.org -source http://bugs.kde.org http://planet.kde.org http://kdemyths.urbanlizard.com/ - squash the lies http://www.trolltech.no

32. Contributing to KDE File bugs Write C++ code, docs, tutorials, artwork, translations Write scripts (shell/python/ruby) Evangelize Contribute to wiki.kde.org Participate in forums, mailing lists Guide new users $$ or equipment donations No skills? No sweat: Give talks ;-)

33. Acknowledgements & Copying This material is based on my experience as well as material collected from the www, mostly kde related sites. This presentation can be redistributed as follows: No commercial re-distribution: eg, as part of a for-profit CDROM or as part of your sales pitch. Seek my permission first. Must attribute the document creator. Share alike: If you use this document and enhance it or modify, share the modifications or the modified document under a similar license Which means I apply: Creative Commons License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/

34. The End Thanks for your time. If you have any feedback, corrections or questions please contact me: Anand Vaidya, anand@novaglobal.com.sg This document was created with OpenOffice on kubuntu Linux. email me if you want the odp file instead of the pdf