KDE: The documentary [video]
This documentary meticulously chronicles the fascinating three-decade journey of KDE, from its humble Usenet beginnings to its status as a cornerstone of the free software desktop. It highlights the community's triumphs and tribulations, including the contentious KDE 4 release and the influential KHTML engine that birthed WebKit. Hacker News readers are celebrating this tribute to open-source perseverance, reminiscing about the project's evolution, and engaging in lively debates about desktop environments and community-driven innovation.
The Lowdown
The film "KDE: The Documentary" provides an in-depth look at the development and evolution of the KDE project, a pivotal force in the free and open-source software world. Spanning three decades, the documentary covers the significant milestones, challenges, and personal stories that have shaped one of the most prominent desktop environments for Linux.
- The story begins in 1996 with Matthias Ettrich's Usenet call for a free desktop environment for Linux, leading to the birth of KDE.
- It details the crucial Qt licensing struggles and the competitive relationship with the GNOME project.
- The film highlights the groundbreaking success of KHTML, KDE's browser engine, which later became the foundation for Apple's WebKit and Google Chrome.
- A significant portion addresses the controversial and initially unstable release of KDE 4, and the subsequent efforts to rebuild and refine the project.
- It showcases KDE e.V.'s innovative organizational structure, which serves as a model for sustaining large-scale open-source initiatives.
- The documentary notes KDE's modern prominence as the default desktop on major Linux distributions and the Steam Deck.
Ultimately, "KDE: The Documentary" is a testament to the power of community, the enduring friendships forged through collaborative effort, and the passion that has driven generations of developers to dedicate their time to the free software movement.
The Gossip
KDE's Enduring Esteem
Many commenters express profound appreciation and nostalgia for KDE, often having used it for decades. They praise its consistency, stability, customizability, and feature richness, often citing specific applications like Amarok or KIO slaves from earlier versions. Users highlight KDE as a superior alternative to commercial operating systems like macOS or Windows, and many are inspired to donate or contribute after watching the documentary, underscoring a deep sense of loyalty and gratitude.
KDE 4: The Rough Road to Revival
The transition to KDE 4 is a major point of discussion, widely remembered as a "brutal," "disastrous," and "rough" period due to instability and bugs. Many users recount leaving KDE for alternative desktop environments like GNOME or XFCE at that time. However, there's a consensus that KDE 5 and especially KDE 6 (Plasma) have made significant strides, recovering and surpassing previous levels of quality and functionality. Some suggest that while 4.0 was premature, it laid the groundwork for the modern, exceptional desktop that Plasma has become.
The Great Desktop Debate: KDE vs. GNOME
A significant portion of the comments delves into the perennial debate between KDE and GNOME. KDE is largely lauded for its user-centric customizability, power-user features, and traditional desktop metaphor, often contrasted with GNOME's more opinionated, minimalistic, and "androidified" approach. Critics of GNOME often feel restricted by its design choices, while some GNOME users defend its curated workflow. The discussion also touches on the historical rivalry stemming from the Qt licensing issues and the different organizational backings of the two projects.
Behind the Scenes: Funding, Contributors, and Apple's Macs
Commenters discuss the operational aspects of KDE, including its funding and contributors. There's interest in the evolution of Qt, noting its current status as a self-sustaining company. The role of Valve's support for Steam Deck, which employs KDE developers, is highlighted as a significant factor in KDE's recent advancements, particularly in areas like display technologies. A recurring, slightly humorous observation is that several developers featured in the documentary are shown using macOS, leading to speculation and lighthearted critiques about developer preferences.