Revamped and Refreshed: The Latest KDE Plasma Desktop Update

KDE Plasma is a highly popular desktop environment for Linux computers that draws inspiration from Windows and macOS while providing an extensive range of customization options. The latest release, Plasma 5.27, has recently been launched by the KDE community, just in time for Free Software Day. It is utilized as a desktop environment in a variety of operating systems, including Kubuntu, KDE Neon, openSUSE, and Fedora KDE. The most notable improvement in this version is the introduction of a new tiling system, which enables users to create custom tile layouts and effortlessly resize adjacent windows. While it is significantly more powerful than window tiling features in Windows, it is still a relatively new feature and may not be suitable for everyone.

The latest release of Plasma 5.27 has brought significant improvements to the System Settings app, making it more organized and user-friendly. With customization being a major focus for KDE, it's great to see that the overwhelming range of options has been streamlined and made less daunting for new users. The Discover app has also been given a facelift, with a revamped homepage and better search functionality, as well as exciting new features for Steam Deck owners who can now run system updates right from their desktop. Additionally, Plasma 5.27 offers a host of other enhancements, including improved system widgets, KRunner utility, panel, multi-monitor support, and Wayland compositor support.

Plasma users on rolling-release Linux distributions can expect to receive the new desktop update via an upcoming software update. While Kubuntu and Fedora will likely wait until their next OS release to offer the update, Kubuntu already offers testing packages for Plasma 5.27. It's possible that Kubuntu 23.04 Luna Lobster will include the update when it becomes available in April.