KDE Neon is a great choice for fans of the KDE Plasma desktop environment, offering the latest KDE experience. By blending the stability of Ubuntu’s base with the newest innovations from KDE, Neon provides a seamless combination of dependability and state-of-the-art features. Our comprehensive guide will help you install KDE Neon on your Linux system and experience a lively and modern desktop environment.
What is KDE Neon
KDE Neon is a Linux distribution that focuses on providing a pure experience of the KDE Plasma desktop environment. Rather than being a full-fledged distribution with its own set of base packages, KDE Neon is built upon Ubuntu’s long-term support (LTS) releases.
Here’s a deeper dive into what KDE Neon offers:
- Up-to-Date KDE Software. KDE Neon provides the latest versions of KDE Plasma, applications, and other software components. This makes it an excellent choice for those who want to use the newest KDE software without waiting for their distribution to update its packages.
- Stable Base with Cutting-Edge KDE. By leveraging Ubuntu’s LTS as its base, KDE Neon offers stability. This base is combined with the latest KDE software, offering a unique blend of reliability and fresh software.
- Focus on KDE. It is designed specifically for fans of the KDE Plasma desktop and KDE applications. It doesn’t come with multiple desktop environments, ensuring a pure KDE experience.
- Rolling KDE Software. While the base system (from Ubuntu LTS) remains stable, the KDE software components are rolling, meaning they are continuously updated as soon as they’re released.
- Ideal for KDE Development. Developers and testers of KDE software might find KDE Neon especially useful, as it provides a platform to test applications and features in a setting that closely mirrors what users will eventually receive.
Process for Installing KDE Neon Distribution on Linux
Here’s how to install KDE Neon on an existing Ubuntu system:
#1 Backup Your System
Before making significant changes to your system, it’s a good practice to backup your data.
#2 Add the KDE Neon Repository
To install packages from the KDE Neon team, you need to add their repository to your system.
sudo apt-add-repository 'deb http://archive.neon.kde.org/user bionic main'
#3 Add the Repository Signing Key
This ensures that packages installed from this repository are trusted.
wget -qO - 'http://archive.neon.kde.org/public.key' | sudo apt-key add -
#4 Update Repositories and Install KDE Neon
Now that the repository is added, you can install KDE Neon packages.
sudo apt update sudo apt install neon-desktop
#5 Select Plasma at Login
After installing, restart your computer. At the login screen, select “Plasma” from the desktop environment list before logging in.
#6 Cleanup (Optional)
You might want to remove packages that are no longer required.
sudo apt autoremove
#7 Enjoy KDE Neon Experience
Once logged in, you’ll be in the KDE Plasma environment provided by KDE Neon, offering a fresh and up-to-date KDE experience.
That’s it! Now you’re able to install the KDE Neon Distribution on Linux. Before attempting to install KDE Neon or any other desktop environment, ensure you research compatibility with your current system and identify any potential issues. As always, back up important data before making changes to your system.
Conclusion
Looking to deploy Linux in the cloud? With Gcore Cloud, you can choose from Basic VM, Virtual Instances, or VPS/VDS suitable for Linux:
- Gcore Basic VM offers shared virtual machines from €3.2 per month
- Virtual Instances are virtual machines with a variety of configurations and an application marketplace
- Virtual Dedicated Servers provide outstanding speed of 200+ Mbps in 20+ global locations
