KDE Platform 4 is a collection of libraries and software frameworks by KDE that serves as technological foundation for KDE Software Compilation 4 distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL). KDE Platform 4 is the successor to KDElibs and the predecessor of KDE Frameworks.

KDE Software Compilation structure

Technologies

  • User Interface Plasma – desktop and panel widget engine KHTMLHTML rendering engine KIO – extensible network-transparent file access KParts – lightweight in-process graphical component framework Sonnet – spell checker KXMLGUI – allows defining UI elements such as menus and toolbars via XML files Goya
  • Hardware and Multimedia Phonon – multimedia framework Solid – device integration framework
  • Services NEPOMUK KNewStuff – KDE's "Hot New Stuff" classes Policykit-KDE
  • Communication Akonadi
  • Games Gluon KGGZ
  • Other ThreadWeaver – library to use multiprocessor systems more effectively Kiosk – allows disabling features within KDE to create a more controlled environment Kross KConfig XT WebDAV

Technologies superseded in KDE Platform 4

KParts

KParts is the component framework for the KDE Plasma desktop environment. An individual component is called a KPart. KParts are analogous to Bonobo components in GNOME and ActiveX controls in Microsoft's Component Object Model. Konsole is available as a KPart and is used in applications like Konqueror and Kate.

Example uses of KParts:

Solid

Solid is a device integration framework for KDE Platform 4 and its successor, KDE Frameworks. It functions on similar principles to KDE's multimedia pillar Phonon; rather than managing hardware on its own, it makes existing solutions accessible through a single API. The current solution uses udev, NetworkManager and BlueZ (the official Linux Bluetooth stack). However, any and all parts can be replaced without breaking the application, making applications using Solid extremely flexible and portable. Work is underway to build a Solid backend for the Windows port of KDE based on Windows Management Instrumentation.

External links

  • , documentation for KDE developers
  • , overview of all projects within git.kde.org
  • 2016-11-15 at theWayback Machine