Improvement needed - KDE documentation on the website - and a solid step-by-step on KDE for 4.2 - not working

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May we please improve the official documentation on using KDE for Qubes that lives on KDE (desktop environment) | Qubes OS ?

The page says only to run on dom0 ‘sudo qubes-dom0-update kde-settings-qubes’ and nothing else. We are in qubes 4.2 now and it is not clear if:

  • whether we should reboot the system right after that,
  • whether to ignore the failure to preset unit as file /etc/systemd/system/display-manager.service (as already exists as a symlink),
  • whether to ignore the failure to run scriptlet kde-settings-qubes-5.12.3-8.fc37.noarch with exit status 127,
  • whether to re run ‘sudo qubes-dom0-update kde-settings-qubes’ or to do something else manually,
  • whether to follow the forum and run with the “@” character the command ‘sudo qubes-dom0-update @kde-settings-qubes’ or even ‘sudo qubes-dom0-update @kde-desktop-qubes’,
  • whether any other upgrade on dom0 is needed or anything right after a fresh install is needed before bringing kde to life,
  • how not to break the fresh install just made - it did happen

It is difficult even for seasoned technologists - isolating and diagnosing problems and solving issues has been time consuming.

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If you have solved any issues it would be helpful if you could suggest
changes to the documentation.
If you prefer not to use GitHub you can email me, PM, or point to some
other host where I could access your contribution.

The instructions worked to install KDE when last tested on 4.2.4 - if
something has changed it would be useful to know.

That said, this is a topic for advanced users, as is called out at the
head of the page. These instructions are not so different from many
other guides to installing KDE on an existing system.

No need.

I dont know where that advice is given, but it seems wrong.

I would suggest that users run a full system update immediately after a
fresh install before doing anything else. KDE installation is no
different here.

I’m not aware of this and cant comment absent any details.

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Thank you for the prompt answer.

It would be good to have a way to know if kde or xfce is running. And a way to diagnose what went wrong in case kde is not loading.

The only thing done by command ‘dom0-update kde-settings’ is a huge pollution on menu qubes/start, fourth option the settings gear, third option “Other” - I got a lot of extra options there with no icon… but it looks just as xfce and nothing like your git repo where you show the changes…

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Hi bruno

KDE provides a desktop environment, as does Xfce.
After the installation is complete, (as the instructions), log out from
qubes.
At the top of the log in screen is a small icon with X on it - that is
a selector - if you click on it you will see choices between Xfce and
Plasma. Choose the Plasma(X11) option, and log in - you will see that
Plasma (the KDE desktop environment) loads.
I suggest that you add at least a Menu widget to the Panel, and get a
feel for how KDE works. It is more easily customisable than Xfce, and
has features that make Qubes better.

I never presume to speak for the Qubes team. When I comment in the Forum I speak for myself.
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It worked!! Thank you.

Well… I think we have an opportunity to improve the documentation on that one, plaque… this simple sentence changed the whole experience.

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Agreed - I’ll do this.
Thanks for pointing this out.

I never presume to speak for the Qubes team.
When I comment in the Forum I speak for myself.

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