LinuxQuestions.org - Plasma 5 distro recommendations please

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Plasma 5 distro recommendations please

I'm looking for a distro that gives you a Plasma 5 desktop right out of the box. I know about Kubuntu and the KDE version of Manjaro. What should I use?

This will go in a VM and it's for a project I have in mind.

EDIT: OpenSUSE Tumbleweed?

Sorry not out of the box but I want my stuff to work not one debian that has done it for me.
So after years of apt-get break my stuff. Yum break my media libraries etc etc.
Gentoo comes close Mint is a far cry and so is Ubuntu and SUSE one package breaks another they have no clue.
I use Slackware64 current with Alien Bobs build of kde5 on my Mac Book Pro.
use a bridge for internet so all the android devices and mac devices can transfer data to my Macbook pro into a shared file.

if I was you install slackware64-current ISO
after installed
make sure your slackware is up to date. buy selecting a mirror from slackpkg.

Code:

# UNITED STATES (US)

# ftp://ftp.gtlib.gatech.edu/nv/ao2/lxmirror/ftp.slackware.com/slackware64-current/

# ftp://mirror.cs.princeton.edu/pub/mirrors/slackware/slackware64-current/

# ftp://mirrors.easynews.com/linux/slackware/slackware64-current/

# http://mirrors.easynews.com/linux/slackware/slackware64-current/

# ftp://mirrors.us.kernel.org/slackware/slackware64-current/

 http://mirrors.us.kernel.org/slackware/slackware64-current/ <--- not the uncomment pound  or hash sign to use mirror

# ftp://mirrors.xmission.com/slackware/slackware64-current/

# http://mirrors.xmission.com/slackware/slackware64-current/

# https://mirror.slackbuilds.org/slackware/slackware64-current/

# http://slackware.cs.utah.edu/pub/slackware/slackware64-current/

# http://slackware.mirrors.pair.com/slackware64-current/

# ftp://slackware.mirrors.tds.net/pub/slackware/slackware64-current/

# http://slackware.mirrors.tds.net/pub/slackware/slackware64-current/

# ftp://spout.ussg.indiana.edu/linux/slackware/slackware64-current/

# http://spout.ussg.indiana.edu/linux/slackware/slackware64-current/

# ftp://teewurst.cc.columbia.edu/pub/linux/slackware/slackware64-current/

# http://teewurst.cc.columbia.edu/pub/linux/slackware/slackware64-current/

then run

Code:

slackpkg update

slackpkg install-new

slackpkg upgrade-all

cool little script must be run in run level 3 "till kde5 is on Slackware 15 stable

as root assume root open a terminal type su you type password the enter
cute script I use
name it Install kde5

Code:

#!/bin/bash



if [ "$(id -u)" != "0" ]; then

  echo "This script must be run as root" 1>&2

  exit 1

fi



set -e



if [ -z "$ARCH" ]; then

  case "$( uname -m )" in

    i?86) ARCH=i486 ;;

    arm*) ARCH=arm ;;

      *) ARCH=$( uname -m ) ;;

  esac

fi



if [ "$ARCH" = "i486" ]; then

EXCLUDE="--exclude x86_64"

SYSA="x86"

elif [ "$ARCH" = "i686" ]; then

EXCLUDE="--exclude x86_64"

SYSA="x86"

elif [ "$ARCH" = "x86_64" ]; then

EXCLUDE="--exclude x86"

SYSA="x86_64"

else

echo your not running linux. 

 exit

fi



#find slackware version with gcc

SLKGCC="$(gcc --version | grep gcc)"



if [ "$SLKGCC" = "gcc (GCC) 4.7.1" ]; then

  SLKUSYS="14.0"

echo slackware 14.0 not supported 

exit  

elif [ "$SLKGCC" = "gcc (GCC) 4.8.2" ]; then

  SLKUSED="14.1"

echo slackware 14.0 not supported 

exit  

elif [ "$SLKGCC" = "gcc (GCC) 5.5.0" ]; then

  SLKUSYS="14.2"

else

  SLKUSYS="current"

fi



 if [ -f  /etc/profile.d/qt5.sh ]; then

    echo -e "\e[1;34m  QT5 is installed\e[0m"

    echo -e "\e[1;33m  if this is an upgrade your fine\e[0m"

    echo -e "\e[1;34m  if this is a custom install\e[0m"

    echo -e "\e[1;33m  then it would be best to uninstall first\e[0m"

    echo -e "\e[1;32m  Sleep 5 seconds to read this hit CTRL c to stop\e[0m"

    FRESH=""

sleep 5 

else

    echo -e "\e[1;32m  doing a new fresh install\e[0m"

    FRESH="--reinstall"

        

 fi

# pull in the latest kde5 best done in runlevel 3

rsync -av  $EXCLUDE --delete-before --progress rsync://slackware.uk/people/alien-kde/$SLKUSYS/5 .



# need to be in runlevel 3

if ! xset q &>/dev/null; then

    echo "No X server at \$DISPLAY [$DISPLAY]" >&2

    else

    echo !!!! this is best done runlevel 3!!!!

fi

# ...

function pause(){

  read -p "$*"

}



echo -e "\e[1;33m !! best done in runlevel 3 stop now and type init 3 \e[0m"

echo -e "\e[1;33m and re-run script \e[0m"

pause 'Press [Enter] key to continue or ctrl c to stop...'

# rest of the script

#



#change directories to 5

cd 5

#install and or upgrade packages



slackpkg remove kde

 upgradepkg $FRESH --install-new $SYSA/deps/*.t?z

 echo -e "\e[1;33m deps installed\e[0m"

 sleep 2

 upgradepkg $FRESH --install-new $SYSA/kde/*/*.t?z

  echo -e "\e[1;33m  kde installed\e[0m"

  

function pause(){

  read -p "$*"

}



echo -e "\e[1;33m you should run pkgtool \e[0m"

echo -e "\e[1;33m select  setup to run slackware scripts  \e[0m"

echo -e "\e[1;33m select your xwmconfig !!plasma!!, fontsconfig update-desktop \e[0m"

echo -e "\e[1;33m update-mime-database update-gtk-icon-cache\e[0m"

echo -e "\e[1;33m going to run pkgtool \e[0m"

pause 'Press [Enter] key to continue or ctrl c to stop...'

# rest of the script

#



pkgtool



echo -e "\e[1;33m You should reboot your system now\e[0m"

exit

Now please read the readme here
slackpkg blacklist leave no space like mine

Code:

# This is a blacklist file. Any packages listed here won't be

# upgraded, removed, or installed by slackpkg.

#

# The correct syntax is:

#

# To blacklist the package xorg-server-1.6.3-x86_64-1 the line will be:

# xorg-server

#

# DON'T put any space(s) before or after the package name or regexp.

# If you do this, the blacklist will NOT work.



#

# Automated upgrade of kernel packages aren't a good idea (and you need to

# run "lilo" after upgrade). If you think the same, uncomment the lines

# below 

#

#kernel-firmware

#kernel-generic

#kernel-generic-smp

#kernel-headers

#kernel-huge

#kernel-huge-smp

#kernel-modules

#kernel-modules-smp

#kernel-source



#

# aaa_elflibs can't be updated.

#

aaa_elflibs



# You can blacklist using regular expressions.

#

# Don't use *full* regex here, because all of the following 

# will be checked for the regex: series, name, version, arch, 

# build and fullname.

#

# This one will blacklist all SBo packages:

#[0-9]+_SBo

[0-9]+alien

after it is install run pkgtool command and from setup choose Slackware installation scripts to run
Scroll to bottom select check wxmconfig then select plasma
now type reboot and have fun.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugan (Post 6090837)

Considering you are experienced with Slackware and probably mean in addition to; openSUSE and Mageia both provide nice Plasma/KDE setups. Mageia is more ready out of the box as far as multimedia, openSUSE you need to add packman repo and install a few things or follow this: https://opensuse-community.org/

Quote:

Originally Posted by ondoho (Post 6090987)

Wouldn't that be KDE Neon?
Anyhow: https://distrowatch.com/search.php?desktop=KDE+Plasma

This would be my suggestion. Neon is fantastic. I've never really liked Ubuntu (various reasons), but Neon really is a wonderful OS. Latest version of KDE Plasma before anyone else, usually available literally hours after the official release of the new version. But based on the latest LTS, so you're not CONSTANTLY having to upgrade versions. This is the "distro" that changed my mind about using Ubuntu.

Have a look at PCLinuxOS. KDE Plasma is its default desktop, with the latest version 5.10 installed by your first update (the installation medium still uses 5.17). It's rolling-release, but far more careful than things like Arch or Tumbleweed; the only complaints I've heard of since December have all be solved and mostly related to Nvidia (surprise!)

I'm a user of Gentoo on all my home computers now, but if not I always used Kubuntu if I needed a convenient Plasma. Never tried KDE Neon but I'd imagine it would just be "Kubuntu LTS with an unnecessary delay" like Mint KDE is, am I wrong?

Quote:

Originally Posted by redneonglow (Post 6091095)

Other way around. Neon will ALWAYS have the newer version of Plasma LONG before Kubuntu gets it. Neon currently has 5.18.0, while Kubuntu 18.04 has 5.12.?. Even Kubuntu 19.10 only has 5.17.?, not 5.18.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugan (Post 6090837)

In my old hardware (2 x Core2 Duo from 2008 with 4 GB RAM) I was dualbooting:

KDE Neon
Mageia 7 KDE
Debian testing KDE
Fedora 31 KDE
openSUSE Tumbleweed KDE
PCLinuxOS KDE
Mint 18 KDE
Slackware by AlienBOB (KDE 5)
Arch KDE
Sabayon KDE
Void KDE

Some of them had been installed since since October 2016 (Debian testing); ─ January 2017 (openSUSE Leap, later upgraded to Tumbleweed); ─ since June 2017 (Arch); ─ and so on.

I have used Kubuntu since 2009, but after these last 3 years I feel I prefer the latest KDE ─ and also, not to reinstall / not to upgrade a "point-release" every 6 months.

So, in a new PC I have started installing openSUSE Tumbleweed, Fedora 31 (ok, it is a point-release, but upgrade has been fine), KDE Neon (upgrade each 2 years) and PCLinuxOS.

For easyness, I would recommend KDE Neon, which benefits from large "Buntus" forums. Indeed, I rarely need to ask help in a forum or Google for help in KDE Neon.

PCLinuxOS is very easy, too, since you have learned its "basics". Just use Synaptic to daily updates and forget what does "reinstall" mean. No serious problem, after 2 years, but I use to visit its main forum daily. It is like a family, and each newbie problem is solved quickly. I have learned a lot there.

No real problem with openSUSE last 3 years, but it almost fully upgrades each 3 or 5 days. It may be sad if you have a low hardware or a bad network. ─ I rarely Googled or needed to go to forum to get help in openSUSE, now.

Fedora doesn't have the latest KDE, but it has a very recent KDE. I had to read and learn a lot, to finally get it fine, even after 10 years using Linux.

Next weeks I will install also Arch in the new PC. No real problem for 3 years. If you get some weird message from pacman, just say "no" and Google it, or just go to the forum. The only difficult is to install Arch for the first time.

Well, I use Intel CPU, no graphics card, I don't play games and I usually install official packages ─ rarely, from an extra repository. ─ Things may be different if you use Nvidia, if you want to play games and / or if you want to install many unofficial packages.

If you don't need the latest KDE, Mageia 7 is a nice distro, since you have learned its "basics".

Obviously, there are many other nice distros with KDE, and what is good for me, may not be so good to another guy.