behold, the desktop reborn! and not just kicker, but kdesktop and superkaramba as well. as i've mentioned previously in my blog these three pieces of software are being refactored into one coherent application. the desktop will still have icons, but they will be (behind the scenes) the exact same objects as you see on the panel (this is transparent to the user who couldn't care less of course ;). the desktop will be able to host applets, which is of course where kicker and superkaramba conspire. drag an applet from the desktop to the panel, or "detach" it so that it floats, and the applet will reconfigure itself appropriately for the form factor.
at least 3 languages will be supported for writing applets: C++, JavaScript+CSS+HTML and Python. personally i'm also hoping to get Ruby in the door, but no promises unless someone steps up to commit for sure to that. my current plan is to make the Python and tentative Ruby bindings plugins, meaning that people should be able to add new language bindings and those who don't use them don't need to take the penalty hit resource wise for them. this also means we finally have a real reason to ship KJSEmbed and Python bindings with KDE by default. anybody want to do Java bindings? ;)
a new applet library, which will amalgamate refactored classes from libkdeui, libkickermain and superkaramba will provide applets with access to system information, web services and of course the usual wealth of standard KDE facilities.
using Qt4's graphics capabilities (and the mad graphic hacking of Zack) we should be able to make this not only look dead sexy but also be performant! for instance, right now kdesktop sends the background via DCOP to the panel to coordinate for the "transparency" effect (ever wondered why it was slow? ;), now we have the opportunity to simply composite all the graphics in process. also expect new takes on the kmenu (which will cease to be a popup menu, by the way), the standard applets such as the clock and more.
what will this all mean for the average user? a prettier desktop that feels smoother and does more. it also means zero barrier, 2-click access to add on desktop widgets via Get Hot New Stuff (yes, we are already talking about sandboxing the applets =). the changes won't be so amazingly drastic that the WinRefugee will feel lost, but they will be immediately apparent and seductive. it won't be in your face, but it will be elegant.
and what will this all mean for the developer? it means that if you can develop a web page, you can make an applet. it means that if you know python or ruby you can quickly create a widget that will run everywhere: fast development of products that are easy to distribute. it means better cooperation between their desktop, application launcher, run command window, eye candy ....
with this exciting set of synergies we obviously need a new name, a new look a new symbol for this software. KDE4 will mark the departure of kicker, kdesktop and superkarmaba as names from the the public consciousness (though kicker will still appear in the code =). therefore i ask you to welcome:
major props to pinheiro, master of the KDE OpenOffice icons, for coming up with the above (beta) logo. plasma is the fourth state of matter, an excited and brilliant event. the orange plasma lozenge represents the slick and energetic new desktop shell. the three "gumdrops" of coloured plasma represent the fusion of kicker, desktop and superkaramba as well as the cohesion of Javascript, Python and Ruby bindings (the Orange glob is C++, of course) as well as the combination of technical excellence, artistic beauty and usability.
speaking of artistic beauty, i've started interfacing with the amazing KDE art community over at kde-artist.org. if you have artistic vision and talent, please visit the kicker kollaboration forum and join us in defining the new look of the desktop!
we're going to kick ass with KDE4.
18 comments:
It is beautiful _and_ inspiring, my respect for your vision grows. May I humbly ask -- will there be double buffering for the desktop too?
*stoned for a couple of secs, jaws drop, and then finally awake ...*
Yeeeeeeeehah!!!
WOW.....
i used the automatic scrolling in konqueror, so it took some time until i saw what you announced - PLASMA! really cool. damn i can't wait to get my hands on KDE 4. pitty it'll take some time :D
keep up the good work, man!
Aaron, your vision is so...cool! And with only one brand new name we get rid of 3 KNames, and this is good too for KDE! :)
Does this Plasma thing encompass knotify or is that a separate project? Attention management is a field that could REALLY use some improvement.
@ants: knotify is a separate topic. that doesn't mean it won't get attention in kde4 though =)
Aaron, it must be said: I love your vision on the KDE4 desktop. You're not affraid to innovate and try new stuff, which are cool, (is likely going to) look very cool, but extend, innovate and remain very useful. Keep it going! :)
That's a really wonderful logo and a wonderful name. It's good to see KDE won't be short of marketing, pretty colours, pretty logos and catchy names :).
Qt4 is certainly going to be a wonderful development basis for creating all of this stuff. I think I was right in feeling that KDE 4.0 is where it's all going to start.
What about kompose? May be it could be part of plasma... may be not; but I think it could be nice :)
@fromoze
the author of Kompose, Hans Oischinger, is actually on the Plasma team and will be working on various items. we haven't yet decided how Kompose itself will work into the whole picture, but he's already been doing some wicked effects with the taskbar, for instance.
@pete
> will there be double buffering
> for the desktop too
yes, inasmuch as Arther provides that for us.
(sorry i didn't answer you quicker. somehow i missed your question)
Great, I'd love so see the "card" applet concept from the kicker project make it in there!
This seems like it will seriously rock!
Congratulations to the whole team behind this vision!!
If I may, I personally would like to see Kopete tightly integrated with this project too.
I feel it makes great sense to have the kopete basic controls quickly available as an extensible applet dockable to plasma's kicker (or whatever it will be called) :)
I'm thinking along the lines of those cool "Slicker" mockups we all drool on some time ago.
Anyway, keep those minds flying, and those fingers coding! :)
Beautful idea - any chance of a 'top' on your desktop (pref with a means of re-nicing)?, I don't like the extra delay of switching desktops or running up an app to de-clutter the cpu....
I'm prob asking too much - stick with your vision...NICE.
This blog is awesome! If you get a chance you may want to visit this software engineering site, it's pretty awesome too!
Thought you would like this. cash
Hey asiego nice coverage on plasma i hope at last i can see taskbar panel of KDE much better than OS X.
Many hopes and wishes from plasma,so lets welcome plasma in 2006
These comments have been invaluable to me as is this whole site. I thank you for your comment.
Post a Comment