KDE Plasma desktop 5.18 LTS released. Here is how to install KDE Plasma 5.18 in Ubuntu 19.10 and Ubuntu 19.04. Users can also install KDE Plasma Desktop Environment in Ubuntu.
KDE Plasma desktop 5.18 LTS
In Plasma 5.18 you will find neat new features that make notifications clearer, settings more streamlined and the overall look more attractive. Apart from all the cool new stuff, Plasma 5.18 also comes with an LTS status. LTS stands for “Long Term Support”. The 5.18 will be updated and maintained by KDE contributors for the next two years.
Plasma
Plasma 5.18 is even more user-friendly as we have added more features that let you work, play and express yourself better. Take the new Emoji Selector: it is literally always just two keystrokes away. Hold down the Meta (Windows) key and press the period (.) and it will pop up. Click on the icon that best represents your feelings and you can paste the emoji into your email, social media post, text message or even your terminal.
You can also find the emoji finder in the Kickoff application launcher — the main menu button usually located in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. Look under Applications → Utilities.
Another big change is the new Global Edit mode. The old desktop toolbox, the menu that used to live by default in the top right corner of your screen, is gone now, leaving a roomier, tidier desktop. Instead, we are introducing the Global Edit bar that you can activate by right-clicking on an empty area of your desktop and choosing “Customize layout” from the popup menu. The Global Edit bar appears across the top of the screen and gives you access to widgets, activities (extra workspaces you can set up separately from your regular virtual desktops) and the desktop configuration set of options.
Continuing with improvements to the overall look, Plasma 5.18 comes with better support for GTK applications using client-side decorations. These applications now show proper shadows and the resize areas for them. GTK apps now also automatically inherit Plasma’s settings for fonts, icons, mouse cursors and more.
There are quite a few new things in Plasma 5.18’s System Settings. First and foremost is the optional User Feedback settings. These are disabled by default to protect your privacy.
New Since 5.12 LTS
For those upgrading from our previous Long Term Support release (Plasma 5.12), here are some of the highlights from the last two years of development:
- Completely rewritten notification system
- Browser integration
- Redesigned system settings pages, either using a consistent grid view or an overhauled interface
- GTK applications now respect more settings, use KDE color schemes, have shadows on X11, and support the global menu
- Display management improvements, including new OSD and widget
- Flatpak portal support
- Night Color feature
- Thunderbolt device management
Install Plasma 5.18 in (K)Ubuntu
Run the following commands to install Plasma 5.18 in (K)Ubuntu:
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt update
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
sudo apt update
sudo apt install plasma-desktop
You can also install the KDE Desktop Environment:
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt update
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
sudo apt update
sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop
https://kde.org/announcements/plasma-5.18.0