KDE Plasma 6.1 Release Imminent: Developer Hails Upcoming Features and Performance Improvements
In the world of open-source desktop environments, KDE Plasma 6.1 is generating considerable buzz ahead of its scheduled release in just over a week. Renowned KDE developer Nate Graham has labeled this upcoming iteration as a good one, noting a wealth of new features and enhanced performance.
Graham, known for his insightful weekly KDE development summaries, has highlighted several key updates and improvements:
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System Monitor Enhancement: The data backend can now extract CPU, memory, and I/O data from the
/proc/pressuredirectory, providing users with more accurate system monitoring information. -
Warning for NVIDIA GPU Users: Users with NVIDIA GPUs on X11 may encounter performance issues when using a floating panel with adaptive transparency due to a known NVIDIA driver bug. A new warning in the settings dialog aims to inform users about potential lag.
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Custom Accent Color Improvements: The feature now ensures that custom accent colors are more readable, particularly for links, enhancing the visual consistency of the desktop environment.
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WebAuth Support: Plasma Networks widget now supports WebAuth for SAML-based authentication, adding an extra layer of security for users accessing network resources.
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Crash Fixes: Plasma 6.1 addresses a KWin crash that could occur when the system wakes from sleep with weird screens. Additionally, performance improvements are expected for various tasks, especially when the
~/.cache/folder is located on a slower storage device like a hard drive. -
Hardware-Accelerated Cursor Support: Intel GPU users will benefit from the re-enablement of hardware-accelerated cursor support, which should improve cursor movement smoothness.
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General Stability Enhancements: Additional crash fixes for KWin and Plasma contribute to the overall stability and reliability of the desktop environment.
For a more detailed look at the recent changes and updates, readers can refer to Nate Graham’s blog. The stable release of KDE Plasma 6.1 is anticipated around June 18.
Michael Larabel, the principal author of Phoronix.com and the founder of the site, has been covering the Linux hardware experience since 2004. His latest article provides a concise overview of the upcoming Plasma release, emphasizing the community’s excitement and the developer’s optimism.
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