Bad News on update to KDE 4.9.1

[linuxfluesterer]

Hallo ...
Since 2 days, I've tried to update my SL X KDE 4.9.0 to 4.9.1 version.
First problems with not displaying the Plasma environment seem to be gone after second try...
Now I have KDE 4.9.1. So far, so fine... but:
1. First, my 'desktopglobe' is still in USE "-" status. To change to a new KDE version is a good time to fix that bug.
2. Then I miss a weather plasmoid named 'Weather Forecast'; I can't find to download it also. Where is it?
A substitute named 'PlasmaPyWeather' failed with error message 'Script initialisation failed'.
3. Another plasmoid named 'microblog' for twitter lets the (virtual) screen crash (gets black coloured). Why?
Could that problem due to my graphics adapter, an NVidia GT320M? I haven't changed my hardware.

In such a moment I really would like to reinstall my SL X with KDE 4.9.0 from stick again,
but I can't install 'Kaffeine' because 'Kaffeine' forces an update, I would like to prevent that update, only disadvantages.

Yes, I love KDE (4.9.0) but 4.9.1 is a step back. I thought, that quality care is made by the distributions developers.
And, honestly, why can't the programs and modules working in KDE 4.9.0 not properly work in 4.9.1. It's not a major release...

-Linuxfluesterer

[Stupot]

If you look at the bugzilla, you will see the entropy hasn't gotten to your 'desktopglobe' issue yet, but it's close to being looked at. Sure it might have made sense to fix it before shipping out 4.9.1, but if the amount of time spent organizing the bugs so they are performed at relevant times would end up making everything take longer.

As far as your other plasmoid problems, for all we know they are upstream issues and have nothing to do with Sabayon specifically.

[linuxfluesterer]

As far as your other plasmoid problems, for all we know they are upstream issues and have nothing to do with Sabayon specifically.

Thank you for fast reply, Stupot. I'm not firm with 'upstream issues' and the meaning of this.
Anyway, is it possible to find a detailed map of the modules, which are part of or being planned in a KDE version?
And ... where can I find single former plasmoids, isolate them and integrate them in my own Desktop?

-Linuxfluesterer (I love KDE 4.9.0, but 4.9.1 not)

[Fitzcarraldo]

Try yaWP, it's an excellent weather plasmoid:

Code: Select all

equo install yawp

I can select the Weather Forecast plasmoid from the KDE 4.9.1 widgets installed, but it's not as good as yaWP in any case.

The problem you experienced with plasma_pyweather is probably an upstream bug: see e.g. the users' comments on the plasmoid's Web page: http://kde-look.org/content/show.php/pl ... ent=110137

[linuxfluesterer]

Try yaWP, it's an excellent weather plasmoid:

Code: Select all

equo install yawp

I can select the Weather Forecast plasmoid from the KDE 4.9.1 widgets installed, but it's not as good as yaWP in any case.

Your plasmoid yaWP is nice, thank you, but the city names don't fit into screen, because of location.
And I prefer, it is showing 'German language' information. This is a reason, why I like KDE, too,
When I feel home, when it is talking German to me.

The problem you experienced with plasma_pyweather is probably an upstream bug: see e.g. the users' comments on the plasmoid's Web page: http://kde-look.org/content/show.php/pl ... ent=110137

Anyway .. I remember this plasma_pyweather trying long time ago, with the same bug.
I assume, no one (the authors also...) doesn't care often about bugs...
So, my credo is, a program or a plasmoid in an actual system must work also in the updated system.
Is that maybe the reason, why an important KDE developer (I forgot the name) said, KDE is dead, there won't be a KDE version 5.0. Am I wrong?

-Linuxfluesterer (I love KDE 4.9.0 with existing, properly working programs and plasmoids)

[Fitzcarraldo]

I fixed your previous post: you inserted part of your reply inside the quote.

So, my credo is, a program or a plasmoid in an actual system must work also in the updated system.

Dream on. Show me one desktop environment in any operating system that is 100% backwards compatible with every single third-party (a.k.a. upstream) application and applet developed for a previous version of that DE. It doesn't exist. {KDE|GNOME|Xfce|LXDE|E17|etc.} cannot be 100% backwards compatible with 100% of third-party applications and tools. Not even billion-dollar corporations such as Microsoft and Apple can do that, let alone FOSS (free open-source software) developers.

Is that maybe the reason, why an important KDE developer (I forgot the name) said, KDE is dead, there won't be a KDE version 5.0. Am I wrong?

Of course you're wrong. Firstly, what I wrote above applies. Secondly, I suspect you may be thinking of Peter Penz, the previous developer of the KDE file manager Dolphin, who handed over the development of Dolphin to Frank Reininghaus in June this year. If you read his blog post, he didn't say there won't be a KDE 5, he (and other KDE developers) have said that it will take a lot of work before KDE 5 appears. This is because a substantial part of KDE has to be migrated from Qt 4 to Qt 5 (KDE 4 uses Qt 4). That is why there won't be a KDE 5 for a long time. It's got nothing to do with KDE 4.9.1 (or with any other version of KDE) not being backwards compatible with one or two plasmoids. See also the following threads by KDE developers:

http://aseigo.blogspot.com/2011/05/qt5-kde5.html

http://akademy.kde.org/program/sessions ... ect-update

How long have you been using Linux and FOSS? I suspect not very long. Things break frequently in the Linux world (have a look through the forums of any distribution), especially in the testing (a.k.a. unstable) branches of distributions (SL is based on the testing branch of Gentoo), and in the closed-source world too (again, have a look through the forums of closed-source applications and OSs). Fortunately, quite a lot get fixed quickly. For example, a current bug in CUPS 1.6.1 prevents one of my printers from printing properly if I connect to the printer via USB but is OK if I connect via WiFi. I posted about it in a bug report on the CUPS Web site, and a CUPS developer created a patch in just three days. Now read the following blog post by a Microsoft employee moaning about software quality generally:

http://www.hanselman.com/blog/Everythin ... Upset.aspx

You need to take a reality check.

[linuxfluesterer]

So, my credo is, a program or a plasmoid in an actual system must work also in the updated system.

Dream on. Show me one desktop environment in any operating system that is 100% backwards compatible with every single third-party (a.k.a. upstream) application and applet developed for a previous version of that DE. It doesn't exist. {KDE|GNOME|Xfce|LXDE|E17|etc.} cannot be 100% backwards compatible with 100% of third-party applications and tools. Not even billion-dollar corporations such as Microsoft and Apple can do that, let alone FOSS (free open-source software) developers.

I agree with you, that at least with Microsoft products those problems happens, especially upgrade from XP to Windows 7. But this is a Major release, a new O/S in their eyes. KDE 4.9.0 to 4.9.1 is not like 3.5 to 4.0.
And in Apple's case I think, they do a better work than Microsoft. The difference of FOSS developers to commercial developers is the ambititon to do a good thing, the joy to create. My ambition is to spread the philosophy, the idea of a free and good software.

How long have you been using Linux and FOSS? I suspect not very long.

I don't know, what do you mean with 'long'..
I'm in contact with computers since 1980 (a Commodore 3008, then I've learned on Honeywell Bull DPS 6 & 8, and an IBM mainframe also. Later i changed my Commodore to a 'Schneider CPC' with cpm. I learned Assembler and used it.
Then I've got an IBM-compatible pc with Dos 2 (I think). Later I used Gem gui and Basic language.
When MS was out with Windows 3, I decided to use OS/2 (Warp3 & 4) from IBM. That was a good os, took a long time to install, but I felt, that is a good way for future os. The end of OS/2 you know yourself.
So, then I had luck. I was in a seminar, which topic was SuSE linux, (in that time a German company).
I bought my first linux, I think in 1999, it was SuSE 6.2 with Kernel 2.2, KDE 1.1.1, with Diskettes and 7 cdroms.
So, that may answer your questions.
In that time, until KDE 3.5, I enjoyed to learn configuration in /etc/ files for example for pppoe, routing, Samba, NFS and so on. I used KDE with the knowledge, no any need for MS Windows.
So I was the first one in a group of ppl (friends and others incl. my Mom) who make them use Linux. But they all use Gnome.
Since SuSE overwrote my config files I turned to Knoppix, Kubuntu, and a short time Chakra, now I am with Sabayon.
My long term friend, who uses Mint with Gnome, would like to try KDE, but he says, why should he change to a system, which fails, when there are updates? And for me, I can only say, if a bug is fixed, why it must be again in next (minor) version? I am tired of using config files, typing long lines of parameters to make something run again, what run before.
I really believe, only, when a (new) user can use his basic system with promised features, he will change.
My aim is, that more and more ppl use KDE, because it is wonderful, I love it.Anyway, I'm glad too, if he prefers another gui for linux... And btw, since 2006 I am member of a linux group in Germany (we just met yesterday).

Of course you're wrong. Firstly, what I wrote above applies. Secondly, I suspect you may be thinking of Peter Penz, the previous developer of the KDE file manager Dolphin, who handed over the development of Dolphin to Frank Reininghaus in June this year. If you read his blog post, he didn't say there won't be a KDE 5, he (and other KDE developers) have said that it will take a lot of work before KDE 5 appears. This is because a substantial part of KDE has to be migrated from Qt 4 to Qt 5 (KDE 4 uses Qt 4). That is why there won't be a KDE 5 for a long time. It's got nothing to do with KDE 4.9.1 (or with any other version of KDE) not being backwards compatible with one or two plasmoids. See also the following threads by KDE developers:

http://aseigo.blogspot.com/2011/05/qt5-kde5.html

http://akademy.kde.org/program/sessions ... ect-update

Things break frequently in the Linux world (have a look through the forums of any distribution), especially in the testing (a.k.a. unstable) branches of distributions (SL is based on the testing branch of Gentoo), and in the closed-source world too (again, have a look through the forums of closed-source applications and OSs). Fortunately, quite a lot get fixed quickly. For example, a current bug in CUPS 1.6.1 prevents one of my printers from printing properly if I connect to the printer via USB but is OK if I connect via WiFi. I posted about it in a bug report on the CUPS Web site, and a CUPS developer created a patch in just three days. Now read the following blog post by a Microsoft employee moaning about software quality generally:

http://www.hanselman.com/blog/Everythin ... Upset.aspx

What does he say in that blog?
"P.S. If you think I'm just whining, let me just say this. I'm am complaining not because it sucks, but because I KNOW we can do better."

You need to take a reality check.

I always make a reality check. I am very busy to use Google to find a solution for an existing problem, e.g. wlan configuration, eth0 problems (tg3 and broadcom, I know about 2 years now) dvb-t, bluetooth, VirtualBox, many times Skype problems.. Yes, I use information and I'm lucky. I am real, because I know, that there are problems, also crashes.
Though I may speak English rather good, I am not able to understand specific blogs or official announcements.
I am German, I do my best to promote my knowledge, but I don't share the oppinion with you,
that a fixed bug, an existing smoothely running program or plasmoid, is buggy or missed with a minor release (ok, may happen, but should be fixed before next project). And so, my friends see it...
Now KDE is ready to be a great desktop for Joe Sixpack, but we should do everything, not to mess it.
Thank you very much for all your attention,

-Linuxfluesterer (I love KDE ...)

[nachoig]

2. Then I miss a weather plasmoid named 'Weather Forecast'; I can't find to download it also. Where is it?
A substitute named 'PlasmaPyWeather' failed with error message 'Script initialisation failed'.

Try to use CWP (Customizable Weather Plasmoid).

equo install customizable-weather

In my opinion the big problem of KDE in these days is Plasma. It has many bugs. I had problems with crashes not only in Sabayon, but in Mageia and Arch too.

[linuxfluesterer]

In my opinion the big problem of KDE in these days is Plasma. It has many bugs. I had problems with crashes not only in Sabayon, but in Mageia and Arch too.

You are possibly right with that many problems. But isn't it Plasma also, what beautyfies KDE?
I love the Widgets.
Now I installed yaWP. It's quite pretty...

-Linuxfluesterer (I love KDE ...)

[grimly64]

Just a theory, with a bit of sarcasm.

Windows made the beautiful habit of giving updates full of those cute little bugs. People at first were like. "WTF?" and Microsoft (who we will refer to as the Evil Queen) declared, "What are you going to do? Stop using the only game in town?" As time passed, people still were saying "WTF?" on each new update, still full of those extremely cute bugs. But now they stopped complaining to the Evil Queen and just lived with it.

Jump to now...Because of the normalcy of having, man those bugs are just so damn cute, in their updates by that Evil Evil Queen. Everybody does upates with, bugs are so FLUFFY!!, into their updates.

Can you really imagine a world with out those... oh come on, those bugs, arrrgh so so so so adorable, in your updates? Why just the very thought of an update that fixed things without breaking them, could stop the world from spinning. And then what you do, float off into space? Think about that before you complain about....sssshhhhh the Evil Queen may hear you.
Those bugs are really cute and fluffy, I've seen them OvO