KDE Linux

A free Linux®-based operating system built by KDE

Plasma

Linux has been used for decades powering the world’s supercomputers, data centers, web servers, and most smartphones. Now, through KDE, it’s available for you too!

Introducing KDE Linux, a free and open-source operating system that can turbocharge new computers and breathe life into old ones.

KDE Linux is an in-development project currently in a pre-alpha state. You can follow its progress here and try it out if you’re the adventurous type!

Install KDE Linux

Key Benefits

Safe

KDE Linux offers reliable system updates and lets you roll back to older versions if there are any issues.

All code is open and auditable, and no data is ever sent to KDE unless you authorize it.

Simple

The Plasma desktop environment is familiar and intuitive, offering panels, app launchers, icons, and menus where you expect them.

Flexible

Set up the system the way you like with the customizability built into Plasma. Show off your style or turn it into a high productivity workhorse!

Powerful

KDE Linux offers a rich catalogue of professional-caliber software for any purpose, all for free.

General Information

How is this free? What’s the catch?

No catch! KDE Linux is a volunteer-run project with financial support from KDE e.V. There are no ads, and it does not transmit or sell your personal information.

Who is KDE Linux for?

At the moment, only the Testing edition is available. The more these sentences describe you, the happier you’ll be using it:

  • You’re a KDE fan
  • You get excited about modern technology like Systemd, immutable OSs, containerized apps, and Btrfs
  • You want to participate in KDE’s QA process and find issues early
  • You’re a KDE Plasma developer
  • You don’t have an NVIDIA GPU that’s over 6 years old

How do I install apps?

The Discover app is your gateway to the world of Linux apps. Open it and browse through what’s available, or search for something specific.

How do I update the system?

KDE Linux will notify you when updates are available. Just click the notification about updates to launch Discover and see what’s available. Click “Update All” when you’re ready to update.

Alternatively, you can update the system using updatectl update in a terminal window.

The next time you restart the system, the update will be instantly applied.

How can I roll back to an older version if there’s a problem after updating?

When you turn on the computer, a list of KDE Linux versions will be shown for a few seconds. While this list is visible, use the Down arrow key to select an older version, and then press Enter.

Where can I report issues and get help?

Since KDE Linux is pre-alpha, please report issues you encounter!

  • Report issues in the KDE Linux operating system itself (i.e. OS design, integration, system services, etc.) on invent.kde.org, and ignore the scary red banner at the top of the page.
  • Report issues in KDE Plasma or any KDE apps on bugs.kde.org.
  • Get help with something that’s not necessarily a bug on discuss.kde.org, and tag your post with “kde-linux”.

Information for Nerds

Is this “The KDE OS”?

Yes! KDE Linux is the KDE community’s idea of a “reference implementation” OS with Plasma and KDE apps.

Though it’s designed to be suitable for general uses, KDE Linux may be less optimized and optimizable for specific uses compared to other operating systems. KDE Linux is not an attempt to discourage people from using them, but rather to raise the quality level for all KDE-centric operating systems.

What kind of base technology does KDE Linux use?

KDE Linux is an “immutable base OS” Linux distro created using Arch Linux packages, but it should not be considered an “Arch-based distro”; Arch is simply a means to an end, and KDE Linux doesn’t even ship with the pacman package manager.

KDE Linux leans on Systemd for a great deal of functionality. Updates are atomic and image-based, with the last 5 OS images cached on disk. Only the Wayland session is supported. Apps primarily come from Flatpak and Snap.

Learn more on the KDE Linux wiki page.

How can I install more specialized software not available in Discover?

As an “immutable base” operating system, KDE Linux does not include a traditional package manager that can modify the base OS. However, there are still multiple options for getting software not available in Discover:

  • Distrobox and Toolbox come pre-installed, and can install traditional packages from the Linux distro of your choice into containers in your home directory.
  • Homebrew can also be installed to provide traditional package management within your home directory.
  • You can compile software yourself, either into your home directory or on top of the base system using systemd-sysext.
  • AppImage apps downloaded from the internet work too.

Learn more on the KDE Linux wiki page.

What’s the deal with older NVIDIA GPUs?

NVIDIA GPUs using an architecture older than Turing (this means anything older than GTX 1630) require NVIDIA’s proprietary kernel modules. These modules cannot be loaded at runtime because the base OS is immutable, and pre-installing them appears to be in a legal gray area. To be safe, KDE Linux doesn’t include them.

Newer NVIDIA GPUs (Turing/GTX 1630 and newer) can use NVIDIA’s open kernel modules which are redistributable with the base OS in a legally clear manner, so KDE Linux pre-installs them. Necessary NVIDIA userspace drivers and utilities are also pre-installed, so these GPUs should work without drama.

Older NVIDIA GPUs should work with the less-performant Nouveau drivers, which are included. However support for this must be manually enabled right now, and is not recommended for non-experts. Follow the instructions here, and temper your expectations accordingly.

I’m a KDE developer. Why should I use KDE Linux, and how does KDE development work?

KDE Linux is an excellent development platform for KDE software. Advantages over other many distros include:

  • Faster: Don’t need to build all dependencies, only the specific thing you’re working on. More speed, less electricity usage and heat generation.
  • Safer: Compiling into a systemd extension overlaid on top of /usr or rolling back to one of the last 5 OS images cached on disk provide multiple easy methods to roll back broken changes.
  • Smaller: Over 45 GB of space savings compared to a dev setup where you build everything from source.
  • More deterministic: Build KDE software exactly the way it’s built on KDE Linux or Flathub. No weird bugs from different development toolchains.

Learn more on the KDE Linux wiki page.

This is so cool; how can I get involved with development?

Help is always appreciated! You can talk with the KDE Linux developers on Matrix, and submit Issues or Merge Requests on invent.kde.org.

The registered trademark Linux® is used pursuant to a sublicense from the Linux Foundation, the exclusive licensee of Linus Torvalds, owner of the mark on a world­wide basis.