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KDE 2.2 Released
Binaries and Source Code Available for Downloading
20 August 2001
The KDE project released the 2.2 rendition of its free, Open Source, K Desktop 15 August 2001. Simply put the K Desktop Environment (KDE) is a graphical user interface (GUI) shell that operates on top of the Linux and other UNIX operating systems (OSs). The K desktop has a very nice look and feel and is easy to use right out-of-the-box when integrated into a Linux distribution.
KDE includes the K Desktop plus more than 100 applications including the Konqueror file manager and Web browser, which is nicely integrated into the K Desktop. The complete KDE package also includes games, office and productivity applications, Internet and system tools, graphics and multimedia programs, development tools, utilities, and lots more.
Major Linux distributions such as Caldera OpenLinux 3.1, Mandrake Linux 8.0, Red Hat Linux 7.1, and SuSE Linux 7.2 come with either KDE 2.0.x or KDE 2.1.x nicely integrated into their operating system packages. This allows users of these Linux distributions to be up and running with a fully functional Linux operating system and applications menu right out-of-the-box. Distribution-specific KDE 2.2 upgrade binary and source code packages are available for downloading -- links are further down.
According to the KDE Project's 15 August Press Release announcing KDE 2.2;
The KDE 2.2 release features a number of enhancements which (sic) remove any potential obstacles to widespread, productive enterprise adoption of the free KDE desktop:
- up to 50% improvement in application startup time on GNU/Linux systems using an experimental object file pre-linking method;
- increased stability and capabilities of HTML rendering and JavaScript;
- the addition of IMAP support (including SSL and TLS) to KDE's mail client KMail;
- a new plugin-based print architecture with integrated filter and page layout capabilities (currently supports LPR, CUPS, RLPR, external command, generic LPD and pseudo-printers such as print-to-fax or print-to-email gateways);
- enhanced startup speed and user feedback;
- a number of new plugins for Konqueror, including a Babelfish translator, an image gallery generator, an HTML validator and a web archiver;
- native iCalendar support in KOrganizer, KDE's PIM tool; and
- a new personalization wizard.
Here is the information from the KDE Project's 15 August Press Release about downloading and installing KDE 2.2 binaries or compiling KDE 2.2 yourself;
Installing Binary Packages
Binary Packages. All major Linux distributors and some Unix distributors have provided binary packages of KDE 2.2 for recent versions of their distribution. Some of these binary packages are available for free download under http://master.kde.org/pub/kde/stable/2.2/ or under the equivalent directory at one of the many KDE ftp server mirrors. Please note that the KDE team is not responsible for these packages as they are provided by third parties -- typically, but not always, the distributor of the relevant distribution (if you cannot find a binary package for your distribution, please read the KDE Binary Package Policy).
Library Requirements. The library requirements for a particular binary package vary with the system on which the package was compiled. Please bear in mind that some binary packages may require a newer version of Qt and other libraries than was included with the applicable distribution (e.g., LinuxDistro 8.0 may have shipped with qt-2.2.3 but the packages below may require qt-2.3.x). For general library requirements for KDE, please see the text at Source Code - Library Requirements above.
Package Locations. At the time of this release, pre-compiled packages are available for:
Please check the servers periodically for pre-compiled packages for other distributions. More binary packages will become available over the coming days and weeks.
Downloading and Compiling KDE 2.2
Library Requirements. KDE 2.2 requires qt-2.2.4, which is available in source code from Trolltech as qt-x11-2.2.4.tar.gz. In addition, for SSL support, KDE 2.2 requires OpenSSL >= 0.9.6x; versions 0.9.5x are not supported. For Java support, KDE 2.2 requires a JVM >= 1.3(?). For Netscape plugin support, KDE requires a recent version of Lesstif or Motif. Searching local documentation requires htdig. Other special features, such as drag'n'drop audio CD ripping, require other packages.
Compiler Requirements. Please note that some components of KDE 2.2 will not compile with older versions of gcc/egcs, such as egcs-1.1.2 or gcc-2.7.2. At a minimum gcc-2.95-* is required. In addition, some components of KDE 2.2 (such as the multimedia backbone of KDE, aRts) will not compile with gcc 3.0 (the problems are being corrected by the KDE and GCC teams).
Source Code/RPMs. The complete source code for KDE 2.2 is available for free download at http://master.kde.org/pub/kde/stable/2.2/src/ or in the equivalent directory at one of the many KDE ftp server mirrors. Additionally, source rpms are available for the following distributions:
Further Information. For further instructions on compiling and installing KDE 2.2, please consult the installation instructions and, if you should encounter problems, the compilation FAQ. For problems with source rpms, please contact the person listed in the .spec file.
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Copyright 2000, 2001 -- MozillaQuest -- Brodheadsville, Pa..USA -- All Rights Reserved
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