Kubuntu 15.04 Will Use Plasma 5 Desktop by Default

[simonlang]

 

 

Kubuntu 15.04 will ship with the new Plasma 5 desktop environment by default, its lead developer has confirmed.

The news, shared by Jonathan Riddell, won?t come as much of a shock to those of you who tend to spell ?my favourite flavour? with a K. The popular distro pushed out regular ISO images using the new experimental desktop during the last release cycle, a similar approach it took when transitioning to KDE 4 during 2008.

But for the upcoming release of 15.04 Riddell states that Kubuntu developers now feel confident enough in its performance and capabilities to switch across wholesale, writing:

    ??following some discussion and some wavering we will be switching to Plasma 5 by default. It has shown itself as a solid and reliable platform and it?s time to show it off to the world.?

Ubuntu 14.10 launched last week with the KDE Software Compilation 4 series as default. Over the coming six months developers will strive to ?fill in? missing features and gaps in expectations, Riddell adds.
Not Alone

Kubuntu isn?t alone in making big changes to its desktop environment. The hands behind the lightweight spin Lubuntu are currently facing a tense decision whether to hold off on switching to the Qt-based LXQt desktop for Vivid Vervet, or roll with it early. With an LTS under their belt suitable for those who don?t fancy the bleeding edge, I think they should go for it.

Such switches are rarely without penalties. The migration from KDE 3.x to KDE 4.x between 8.04 and 8.10 was met with equal amounts of anger and enthusiasm.

 

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[Ryster]

Maybe this year...  /s

[spy beef]

Maybe this year...  /s

 

I think 2015 will be the year of the... /s

[WinMacLin Guy]

I tried KDE Plasma 5 (the first release; have yet to tinker with the second release) and I think it was quite stable (much more stable than KDE 4.0-4.2), but still I would have waited one more release before making it the default. With that being said though, KDE (specifically from 4 and above) has always been the least stable desktop I have tried on Linux, I have always had frequent Plasma and Kwin crashes; I do not believe it is hardware related as I have tried KDE 4.x and 5 on a multitude of hardware with similar issues.

[simonlang]

i don't buy this. since i made KDE my default desktop with 4.13.3 it is now at 4.14.2 and i see it the exactly opposite. most stable, fastest and highest customizable DE i have ever seen. many see it the same way. you might check your hardware :)