This tutorial describes how to install KDE Plasma 5 framework on Kubuntu 14.04 LTS, Kubuntu 14.10 and Linux Mint 17 KDE Edition.

KDE Plasma 5 is a completely new desktop experience for KDE users. built using Qt 5 and Frameworks 5 and it introduces an updated artwork concept with cleaner visuals and improved readability, called Breeze, along with improved high DPI support and a converged shell, as well as a fully hardware accelerated graphics stack.

More details about the latest Plasma 5 can be read on Plasma 5 Announcements.

Before you follow tutorial how to install Plasma 5 on Kubuntu 14.04 LTS, Kubuntu 14.10 and Linux Mint 17 KDE, keep in mind that Plasma 5 is under heavy development and the stable release has not been made. Since it’s in development stage, there are (as expected) issues. Some of the issue you should be aware of include the missing wallpaper, icons may stop working now and then and Plasma Network Manager is missing as well.

Install KDE Plasma 5 in Kubuntu 14.04 LTS, Kubuntu 14.10 and Linux Mint 17 KDE

To install Plasma 5 in Kubuntu 14.04 and Linux Mint 17 KDE you need to add the Project Neon KDE Frameworks 5 PPA on your system by typing the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:neon/kf5

Update the repository

sudo apt-get update

Install kde plasma 5 package with dependencies

sudo apt-get install project-neon5-session project-neon5-utils project-neon5-konsole project-neon5-breeze project-neon5-plasma-workspace-wallpapers

For Kubuntu 14.10 : you can install KDE Plasma 5 by adding Kubuntu Next PPA on your system with the following commands:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/next sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get dist-upgrade sudo apt-get install kubuntu-plasma5-desktop plasma-workspace-wallpapers

Once the installation is complete, logout from your current session ( I recommand to reboot your system). Change your session desktop environment to “Project Neon 5” and then put your login credentials to enter and confirm the new desktop environment.

Uninstall/Remove KDE Plasma 5 in Kubuntu 14.04 LTS, Kubuntu 14.10 and Linux Mint 17 KDE

If you want to Uninstall/Remove KDE Plasma 5 from your system use the following commands to remove it all:

For Kubuntu 14.04 and Linux Mint 17 KDE:

sudo apt-get purge project-neon5-* sudo apt-get autoremove

For Kubuntu 14.10:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge sudo apt-get remove kubuntu-plasma5-desktop sudo ppa-purge ppa:kubuntu-ppa/next

The Following is the video describes how install KDE Plasma 5 in Kubuntu 14.04 LTS and Linux Mint 17 KDE

If you want to try Kubuntu with the Plasma 5 flavor you can download the ISO image at here (here’s a mirror to the torrent file in case the server is slow). Unlike it’s Neon 5 counterpart , this ISO contains packages made from the stock Plasma 5.0 release . The ISO is meant to be a technical preview of what is to come when Kubuntu switches to Plasma 5 by default in a future release of Kubuntu.