KDE 3.2 Release Candidate 1 Debuts 422
danalien writes "Before a early Feb. release of the (stable) KDE 3.2, KDE has today announced the first 'Release Candidate', and hopefully the last pre-release, for its 'Open Source graphical desktop environment for Unix workstations'. Get it from download.kde.org, or use Konstruct if you don't feel like calling configure by yourself."
Hey editors: (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Hey editors: (Score:2, Funny)
KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:2, Flamebait)
I noticed a couple of downmods here. I was just wondering: Why is this post considered flamebait?
I ask because I don't have any NFI what QT, GTK, or Glib, or Bonobo is. Kinda wish the dude used the post button instead of a mod point.
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:4, Informative)
GTK+ - GIMP Toolkit. The widget toolkit used by GNOME.
Glib - GNOME utility library. Contains useful stuff like lists and hash maps.
Bonobo - Component toolkit to allow embedding of applications in other applications.
And before anyone flames, I've simplified, I know. But I have no idea of what the programming skills are of the parent poster.
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:5, Insightful)
No - you can't develop proprietary software with it without paying a license that's priced around average for libraries of this sort. Since it's also available under the GPL, there's nothing to stop you selling your QT software as long as it's GPL'd.
Why is this controversial? Nobody complains that useful libraries like GNU readline are under the GPL - and in the case of readline, you don't even have the option of buying a proprietary license, because the FSF ain't selling one! But somehow that is "good", whereas the same license applied to QT is "bad".
Posted anonymously because I really am a coward - and while I don't think the above is trolling or flamebait, I don't trust the moderators to realise. Guys, if you want to mod this down, please use "redundant", since this debate has been had to death many a time. Although given the grandparent's igorance of the issue, maybe setting out the arguments yet again isn't actually redundant for everyone.
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:3, Informative)
For instance, MySQL could bundle a QT-based query analyzer with their product, since MySQL is also GPL. That doesn't stop it from being sold and supported as a commercial product. Now, if they want to sell a version of MySQL that is u
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:3, Informative)
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:4, Insightful)
FWIW, obviously I like programming with Qt and KDE much more, but I know that that's my opinion. I wouldn't ever downmod someone for having a different opinion than mine.
-clee
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:3, Insightful)
IANAT. Qt has to be understood in the context that it was way ahead of its time with the signals/slots business, far ahead of C++ standardization. Props to Trolltech.
Nevertheless, the better long-term bet seems to lie with boost [boost.org], wherein is much goodness, at least on the backend. There was some fascinating discussion of a boost interface library a
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:2)
As you most certainly know, but fail to mention is that QT is only licensed under the GPL for non commersial, non Windows use [trolltech.com]. Otherwise, you have to buy a commersial, non GPL compatible [trolltech.com] license.
I'm a QT fan, but that doesn't mean we should start hiding the truth just to make it look better.
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:2)
Gnome libraries (glib, gtk, etc.) are released under the LGPL while Gnome, Gnome apps and other GNU software are released under the GPL.
Incidentally I believe RMS favours emacs, full screen in a text console, as his main desktop environment.
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:2)
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:5, Insightful)
KDE's development style is probably more monolithic than GNOME's, but the code is highly modular.
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:2)
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:2)
And if Gnome development faster why is it lagging behind KDE despite of having much more ressources and company-backing (Sun, RedHat)?
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:5, Informative)
KDE/Qt isn't any more monolithic than GNOME/GTK+. All the stuff that GNOME has as completely seperate libraries (libxml, etc) are seperate modules of Qt.
I think the "KDE is monolithic" viewpoint arises from the excellent integration between KDE applications and the desktop. Because they all operate as though they're a single, large piece of code, people assume they are. Ironically, it's the modularity of the code base that makes such seamless integration possible for a distributed development team.
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:3, Insightful)
According to the GNU project, GNOME was started because they were afraid QT would overtake the free desktop in marketshare and they would have yet another non-free desktop that was popular (much like CDE at the time)
If you look into history of the GNOME project, and this idea, the GNU project even started a free QT compatible widget library to replace QT. But since GNOME got more popul
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:2)
At the time there was so much Pro/Anti Gnome stuff going around neither project would have terminated voluntarily.
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, some of them do. Others don't.
The reason the FSF wrote the LGPL, and not just the GPL, is that there are times when LGPL is appropriate. Many people (including Bruce Perens) think that a Linux distro intended for enterprise use should make it easy to write proprietary software, for those who want to do it... and thus think the LGPL would be a better license for the toolkit used in such a Linux distro.
steveha
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, Bruce Perens is wrong. If he was right, we would have lots and lots of commercial GTK+-apps, and very very few commercial Qt-apps, since GTK+ has a "better" license. But it seems to me that Qt is more popular when it comes to commercial software than GTK+ is. Maybe you have to pay for Qt, but then again, you get quite alot for your
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:2)
The problem isn't political, but rather methodology. KDE started with a comprehensive and well designed toolkit, and their later libraries followed its model closely. GNOME started with distinct libraries and toolkits, and wrapped them up in an umbrella project. They're two different but valid ways of organizing the projects. But that said
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:5, Insightful)
If people on slashdot want to be taken seriously they really ought to make use of the freedom they are given and actually use some of the source code we donate.
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:5, Informative)
Actually...
According to Stallman and the GNU project, the idea of GNOME was to write a desktop to specifically replace KDE. The idea was that QT was not 100% free at the time, and the GNU project saw KDE's popularity as hurting the goals of the GNU project's operating system vision. So they started 2 projects: one to create a free replacement for QT, and another to create a replacement for the already free KDE. Since QT was GPL'd, the free replacement project was killed. But the GNOME project was already started and the developers decided to keep on working. In the process, GNOME made different choices on many aspects. Choosing to use CORBA to do their component technology was just one of the many different (than KDE's existing technology) choices the GNOME project chose. It just turns out that CORBA/bonabo (the Network Object Model part of GNOME) never got incorporated into many GNOME applications, and so now GNOME applications == GTK/glib applications.
When you think of the GNOME project, you should think of turning a primitive incomplete widget toolkit (the Gimp ToolKit) into what GTK+ is today, plus a set of applications which use this toolkit, plus guidelines on how these applications should behave. When you think of KDE today, you should think about the same things, but using already developed QT insted of GTK+ along with the ability to embed current applications into new ones efficienatly.
None of this has anything to do with KDE wanting to re-write everyting. In fact, they started with existing complete QT. and GNOME started with an incomplete GTK toolkit. The GNOME project is basically the GTK+ project combined with application rewriting with GTK+. So which project is the one that did the massive rewrites? I think that would be GNOME.
If you consider writing a program using GTK+ widget set and glib a GNOME application, you probably don't know the definition of Network Object Model Environment. (Hint, several KDE applications use such features, but most "GNOME" applications don't use bonobo.)
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:2)
Also, what I meant in my original comment is that Qt was designed originally do to what it does today (Qt was "new" at some point). On the other hand, Gtk was taken from Gimp and some people added stuff on top to it (pango,
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:3, Insightful)
They focus on the software, not on licensing and politics.
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:3, Interesting)
Sun: Gnome. UserLinux: Gnome. Redhat: Gnome. If IBM ever did a desktop, it would probably be based on Gnome.
Sorry, but if Gnome (or a project like Linux) isn't proof that licensing is more important than features in the long run, then I don't kno
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:3, Interesting)
In terms of the companies using Gnome, just look at your list again. Sun - Now there is a company that can pick winning user interfaces (is CDE ugly or what). UserLinux - In spite of what they say, it is a religious issue with them. RedHat - One of more of the primary Gnome developers works for them, don't you think that has some effect. IBM sells (among others) Suse linux, which has long been
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:2)
Is this a stock comment that gets attached to a lot of KDE articles or something? 'Cause I've seen it before [slashdot.org].
It doesn't really matter I guess, because the post makes some good points. Personally, I love KDE.
J
Re:KDE most impressive open source project - ever (Score:2)
Kool. (Score:5, Funny)
KDE is pretty kool. Aktually it's uber kool. I've konstantly kaught myself kakkling at their konstant play with K and K. Err.. K and K. Damn K and K... you know what i mean
Re:Kool. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Kool. (Score:2)
Re:Kool. (Score:2, Funny)
Oh, I get it! You put "K"'s in place of "C"'s! Because many KDE apps have names that begin with K! Ha! Ha! Ha! Wooh! I wonder why no one's ever made that joke before? It's just...so...hilarious!
I smell a "+5, Funny" coming your way, mister oh-so-clever-with-the-joke-that-isn't-even-close-
Obligatory Monty Python sketch quote (Score:5, Funny)
"The what?"
"The bolour supplement!"
"The colour supplement?"
"Yes. I'm sorry I can't say the letter B."
"C?"
"Yes, that's right. It's all due to a trauma I suffered when I was a spoolboy. I was attacked by a bat."
"A cat?"
"No, a bat."
"Can you say the letter 'K'?"
"Oh yes. Khaki, king, kettle, Kuwait, Keble Bollege Oxford."
"Why don't you use the letter 'K' instead of the letter 'C'?"
"What do you mean
"Yes."
"Kolour... Oh, that's very good, I never thought of that."
Mirrors (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Mirrors (Score:2)
The Developers (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:The Developers (Score:5, Informative)
Re:The Developers (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:The Developers (Score:3, Insightful)
To me, KDE is the best thing that has happened to Linux when it comes to bringing it to the desktop. These guys have done a fabulous job in a relatively short pe
Why Open Source for Linux Only? (Score:5, Interesting)
Of course, I'm a bit known for tilting at windmills [blogspot.com]
Re:Why Open Source for Linux Only? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Why Open Source for Linux Only? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Why Open Source for Linux Only? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Why Open Source for Linux Only? (Score:4, Interesting)
Writing a complete shell for Windows is not a particularly easy thing to do and I doubt that somehow porting KDE is viable. There are lots of shell replacements out there (Aston, GeoShell, BackBox and so on). Some are free and some are not. I've tried just about every one and for some reason or another I keep going back to Explorer after a while. It's really the little details, like not being able to open a folder view directly from the shell's Run command because the shell extension (Explorer) happens to not be loaded or the way minimized windows are managed. If you're curious you should try Geoshell [geoshellx.com]. In my opinion it should be what other shells aspire to be, but even as good as it is it's still not quite there. For one thing, the entire configuration is registry-based.
I'm no Microsoft basher, but I've always thought that opening up the shell would be the best thing they could do. After all, you'd still be running Windows underneath. But it's just too darn difficult to write your own. Explorer extensions (like the Google deskbar) are complicated, never mind a whole shell.
BAD LINK (Score:2, Informative)
Sorry 'bout that.
Re:Why Open Source for Linux Only? (Score:2)
Hmmmm....
It's possible to replace the windows 'shell' program, I believe (wasn't there an article on this in the most recent issue of 2600? [see, it's not ALL "how to crack security at $MAJOR_RETAILER"...]). Evidently, there's even a version of the BlackBox window manager for Windows.
Wonder how hard it would be to set up QT for windows and set up a subset of KDE as the replacement shell...
Re:Why Open Source for Linux Only? (Score:2)
Because QT (which KDE is based on) isn't Free on Windows. Duh.
Of course, I'm a bit known for tilting at windmills
(If you didn't read his link, you can skip over this now).
You can't treat "investment" like it's some magical way to multiply money. You don't take two million dollars, stick it in a cage for 10 years, and suddenly, like rabbits, it's multiplied to a "rolling cashflow" that can reduce taxes. Money always has to come from somewhere, and in your case, the m
Re:Why Open Source for Linux Only? (Score:2)
Besides a KDE'esque theme, what would this actually buy you?
Mirrors out of date? (Score:3, Interesting)
Why doesn't this mirror correctly? [kde.org]
Features (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Features (Score:5, Informative)
run-kde-and-jam-master-jay (Score:5, Funny)
New features? (Score:2, Interesting)
In other news... (Score:5, Funny)
Honestly, I think KDE is a technical masterpiece. It gives me a GUI which can easily be configured in pretty much every conceivable way.
GNOME, MacOS, and Windows just don't have that kind of room for personality.
KDE 3.2 CVS (Score:3, Informative)
It's a bit faster. I wish it would be much faster. But generally when this happens I reboot in XP for a day, then I realize that speed isn't all that counts. Prelinking helps, too.
I think I'll delete KDE 3.1.x entirely, since there is no need for it anymore.
stable as... (Score:5, Informative)
Next step - better apps (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Next step - better apps (Score:2)
2. OpenOffice is also soon to be KDE-ified so that's a moot point.
3. GIMP is no better integrated with GNOME than it is with KDE. I use it in KDE all the time.
4. KDevelop being clearly better means that in time, KDE apps will be clearly better.
Re:Gimp not integrated into GNOME???? (Score:4, Informative)
$ ldd `which gimp`
libgtk-1.2.so.0 =>
libgdk-1.2.so.0 =>
libgmodule-1.2.so.0 =>
libglib-1.2.so.0 =>
libdl.so.2 =>
libXi.so.6 =>
libXext.so.6 =>
libX11.so.6 =>
libm.so.6 =>
libc.so.6 =>
$
No GNOME libraries there. Compare it to the output of:
ldd `which gedit`
and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Re:Gimp not integrated into GNOME???? (Score:2)
Re:Gimp not integrated into GNOME???? (Score:3, Informative)
ldd `which gimp-1.3`
libgimpcolor-1.3.so.24 =>
libgimpmath-1.3.so.24 =>
libgimpbase-1.3.so.24 =>
libgimpmodule-1.3.so.24 =>
libgimpthumb-1.3.so.24 =>
libgimpwidgets-1.3.so.24 =>
li
Re:Next step - better apps (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Next step - better apps (Score:2)
Half a year ago, I would have agreed, but now with Mozilla removing [mozilla.org] features while Konqueror is adding SVG (in the default build, not in some seperate project), Konq is overtaking Mozilla about now.
I'd still say Mozilla has the better rendering engine, but Konqueror has better integration (an example is t
Better build system? (Score:2)
IMHO, what KDE needs is a better build system. The current one kinda sucks. It's so goddamn hard to compile and install a KDE app from source with all the directory requirements (all KDE apps have to be in the same --prefix if you want any advanced functionality like plugins) that makes it about impossible to build something and stow(8) it to /usr/local. No Gnome or GTK application I tried so far was so picky about it.
When something like this was possible, maybe all that stuff could be unbundled so that on
Re:Next step - better apps (Score:2)
- OO - it work's "good enough" and since it's also multiplatform it'll stay here. But from what I've heard, the OO code is as ugly as hell! Since KOffice will natively support OO file format it won't be such a big matter.
- Main big advantage of K* is CONSISTENT look of everything
Re:Next step - better apps (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Next step - better apps (Score:5, Interesting)
I like Konq better than Epiphany (Mozilla is not GNOME app, the GNOME project's PR aside) though Epiphany does have better rendering courtesy of Gecko. However, the gap is quickly narrowing, thanks partially to Safari's rendering fixes.
AbiWord and Gnumeric are great apps, but KOffice (the 1.3RC) is pretty competitive. And OpenOffice is to be KDE-ified in 2.x as well. That's the whole point of the NWF --- toolkit independent OpenOffice.
I'd say that Kopete is better than Gaim. Its got much better integration with KDE than Gaim has with GNOME. The only feature that's really missing is reliable AIM file-transfer.
The GIMP is not a GNOME app (as its developers repeatedly keep saying) so its irrelevent. Its UI is completely alien to both GNOME and KDE, so GIMP with the GTK-Qt theme is about as good as GIMP inside GNOME.
And don't forget about Quanta, the best graphical HTML editor on Linux, as well as Kate, which is a much better programmer's editor than GEdit.
In 3.2, Kontact should also give Evolution a run for its money. KMail in 3.2 has been getting a lot of very positive reviews.
Adopt every other opensource app while your at it (Score:5, Insightful)
Gnome has a habit of just picking the best apps and then "adopting" them so I don't think its fair to start saying these apps are blowing away KDE counterparts. Since when can't you run Gimp, Mozilla, OpenOffice.org in KDE? You can, thus your point is moot. Try and get over the whole Gnome or KDE has better apps thingy. Be happy that you can run any of these apps easily from any Window Manager.
Re:Next step - better apps (Score:4, Insightful)
Mozilla certainly isn't GNOME by a long shot, though there are GNOME browers that use the Mozilla core. And OpenOffice? Why do the GNOME guys keep saying it's a GNOME app? It clearly is not! Just because it's soon to be gnomified is meaningless, because it's soon to be qt-ified as well.
Re:Next step - better apps (Score:2)
Re:Next step - better apps (Score:2)
You obviously haven't tried AbiWord recently. At all.
I have to say I was disappointed when I first tried it a year ago. But ever since 2.0 was released... wow.
AbiWord 2.0.3 is stable and polished. It only lacks a couple of features (like automated indexing and grammar correction) but other than that it is brilliant. It is also lightening fast.
OOWriter (the Ximian-ified version) take
Re:Next step - better apps (Score:2)
I can run them all under Linux, Desktop Environment is just a preference. Some are more polished and some are more finished, it's just the way it is
Adding to the praise (Score:3, Funny)
Only 4 to 9 yrs and 364 days away from the Desktop (Score:2, Funny)
Konqueror changes from Apple? (Score:5, Interesting)
It would be interesting to know how useful the Safari team's contributions have been.
Re:Konqueror changes from Apple? (Score:5, Informative)
Mandrake RPMs? (Score:2)
To Rule, KDE Only Needs.... (Score:2, Interesting)
With Windows all you needed was to make it cheaper than the Macintosh and stifle all possible competition. In the open source community, you need to have the best software platform (KDE already does) and it needs to be acceptable to the community.
As I mentioned, KDE is by far the cleanest, most well-designed API/Software environment for Linux; however you need to please two
Re:My Grandma just got confused (Score:2)
Oh and beta-versions isn't for your granny in the first place.
Re:My Grandma just got confused (Score:2)
A computer scientist studies (and at least supposedly understands) the science behind computers. A degree in CS doesn't mean you know how to use a particular environment, or compiler, or even that you know how to use email or a zip file.
As I like to say, I just build 'em... I don't know how to use 'em. I just finished my BS in CS, and guess what? Working in an IT department, I face all sorts of things that I don't understand. Installing a web server (or in thi
Re:My Grandma just got confused (Score:2)
Re:My Grandma just got confused (Score:2)
A computer scientist should also have some basic knowledge about computers in real life.
Knowing that beta-releases aren't for grandma is basic knowledge.
Knowing that end-users are using Linux distributions and do not download their DE themselves is also basic knowledge.
Somebody claiming to be a computer scientist who doesn't know that is either lying or has been at a real bad university.
I repeat: I was
Re:My Grandma just got confused (Score:3, Insightful)
Just because an upgrade comes out, doesn't mean you have to upgrade !! But I understand the psycology behind it (something new and shiny, or will I be 'missing out' ?)
Re:My Grandma just got confused (Score:2)
Now, when it comes to the official release, yes I agree one of those buttons is just what the doctor ordered.
Re:My Grandma just got confused (Score:4, Interesting)
I'd rather have people who don't know what they're doing test it out.. that way you'll be able to identify usability problems.
Re:My Grandma just got confused (Score:2)
That "just works".
Now, if you want the (possibly) unstable release kandidate then IMHO you should need to jump through a few more hoops and know what you are doing, otherwise you may have your system konstantly krashing and not be able to fix it.
Re:My Grandma just got confused (Score:3, Insightful)
Think of it as 0-day KDE warez
Re:My Grandma just got confused (Score:2, Informative)
Don't take him so literally though (about his grand
Re:A noobie question... (Score:2, Insightful)
I'm sure this debate can (and probably will) rage on for years. Many people reading this probably won't understand this reply and many others because the poor "noobie" (his own word) who asked the question got immediately smacked with a Troll mod for his curiosity, so he will be filtered out by many. To that moderator: Can you please be nice to the n00bs so more people will be open to Linux?
I'm beginn
Re:WHY KDE IS WRONG (Score:2)
Re:Konqueror (Score:3, Insightful)
Adblocks are only the beginning. Deanimate GIFs, block banners, rewrite HTML/JS on the fly, replace HTTP header entries, and control by host if you want. There's a lot you can do.
I'd never depend on a browser to do security work
Re:screenshots? (Score:3, Informative)