Even though it is the midst of the summer, there are no indications that the development of Plasma 6.0 will slow down at all, and this week has been another intriguing one for KDE development. The development of KDE Plasma 6.0 is continuing at a rapid pace, with new features and fixes being added all the time. In this article, we will take a look at some of the latest developments in Plasma 6.0, and discuss what you can expect from the upcoming release.
New Features in Plasma 6.0
One of the most notable new features in Plasma 6.0 is the improved default settings. The new default settings are designed to make Plasma more user-friendly and efficient, and they include a number of changes, such as:
A New Dark Theme
The KDE Plasma team is working on a new dark theme for Plasma 6.0. The new theme is based on the existing Breeze Dark theme, but it has been updated with a number of new features and improvements.
The introduction of a new color palette is one of the greatest changes in the new dark theme. The new palette is meant to be easy on the eyes and simpler to read, especially in low light. The new palette’s hues are also more dependable, which contributes to its more cohesive appearance and feel. Utilizing a new icon theme is another modification of the new dark theme. Breeze Dark Icons, the new icon theme, went with the new color scheme. The icons in Breeze Dark Icons are also more consistent than the icons in the previous Breeze Dark theme. It is still under development, but it is expected to be released with Plasma 6.0.
A New Notification System
The new notification system is based on the Qt Notification System (QtNs). This is a standard notification system that is used by many other desktop environments, such as KDE Plasma 5.25 and GNOME 42. Compared to the previous notification system in Plasma 5, the new notification system is more adaptable and expandable. It enables programmers to make unique notifications with various designs, animations, and sounds. The new notification system also offered more control over how notifications are shown. Users can opt to show notifications in a pop-up window, the notification bar, or even a separate notification center. Even while the new notification system is still being developed, it already represents a substantial advancement over the previous one. It is more adaptable, expandable, and customizable.
Here are some of the specific features of the new notification system:
- Customizable layouts: Notifications can be customized with different layouts, including text-only, image-only, and text-and-image layouts.
- Customizable animations: Notifications can be animated with different effects, such as fade in/out, slide in/out, and bounce.
- Customizable sounds: Notifications can be accompanied by different sounds, such as beeps, chimes, and waves.
- Configurable display options: Users can choose to display notifications in the notification bar, in a popup window, or even in a dedicated notification center.
- Configurable notification priorities: Users can prioritize notifications so that important notifications are always displayed at the top of the notification list.
The new notification system is a significant improvement over the old notification system in Plasma 5. It is more flexible, extensible, and user-configurable. If you are using Plasma 6.0 Development, I encourage you to try out the new notification system and see how it works for you.
Improved Wayland Support
The Plasma team is working to make Wayland the default session type in Plasma 6.0. This means that users will no longer have to explicitly choose Wayland when they start up their computers. The team is also working to improve the stability and performance of Wayland in Plasma. This includes fixing bugs, optimizing the code, and adding new features.
One of the key features that are being added to Wayland in Plasma 6.0 is support for Night Color. This feature automatically adjusts the color temperature of your screen to protect your eyes during long night computing sessions. The team is also working to improve the compatibility of Wayland with NVIDIA graphics cards. This includes adding support for the proprietary NVIDIA driver and fixing bugs that were present in previous versions of Plasma. Overall, the Plasma team is making significant progress in improving Wayland support in Plasma 6.0. This will make Wayland a more viable option for users who are looking for a stable and performant desktop environment.
Enhanced security features
Here are a few examples of the improved security features in Plasma 6.0 Development that should be available with Plasma 6:
- SELinux support: SELinux is a security framework that can be used to control access to system resources. In Plasma 6.0, SELinux support has been improved, making it easier to configure and use.
- AppArmor support: AppArmor is another security framework that can be used to control access to system resources. In Plasma 6.0, AppArmor support has been added, giving users more options for securing their systems.
- Enhanced firewall: The firewall in Plasma 6.0 has been enhanced to provide better protection against unauthorized access. The firewall now supports more rules and can be configured to block more types of traffic.
- Improved security settings: The default security settings in Plasma 6.0 have been improved to make it more difficult for attackers to gain access to a system. For example, the default settings now require users to create strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
- New security tools: A number of new security tools have been added to Plasma 6.0, including a security scanner, a password manager, and a firewall manager. These tools can help users to keep their systems secure and to protect their personal data.
These features can help users to protect their systems from unauthorized access and to keep their personal data safe.
Conclusion
The release date for Plasma 6.0 has not yet been announced, but it is expected to be released in the coming months. In the meantime, you can follow the development of Plasma 6.0 on the KDE website. The development of Plasma 6.0 is continuing at a rapid pace, and the upcoming release is shaping up to be a major one. These are just a few of the improvements that have been made in Plasma 6.0 development. The team is continuing to work on improving Wayland, and they are confident that it will be a stable and performant option for users when Plasma 6.0 is released. With new features, fixes, and improved default settings, Plasma 6.0 is sure to be a welcome update for KDE users.
