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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Where did the "Plasma" in KDE Plasma come from, and why do many people say that with or instead of just KDE? (feddit.online)

submitted 10 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) by 97xBang@feddit.online to c/linux@lemmy.ml

22 comments fedilink hide all child comments

It's always been just KDE to me. In the past year or so, I've noticed people calling Plasma KDE or even just Plasma. What happened? Why do people insist on making the name longer? Why the word Plasma? What is Plasma referring to? And, are they trying to move away from the KDE name to just Plasma?

Answer: Plasma is the desktop environment. KDE is the community that makes Plasma and many other related software.

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[–] schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de 54 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

KDE is a community of developers.

KDE Plasma is the desktop environment made by the KDE community.

This has been the correct terminology since 2009, much longer than "the past year or so", but a lot of people do still call KDE Plasma just "KDE" colloquially, so maybe you have just been noticing people using the correct terminology more recently.

[–] GenderNeutralBro@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 3 hours ago

Kids these days and their "Plasma". BACK IN MY DAY it was just KDE!

I'm not sure why this feels new to me. Perhaps it's because I spent a lot of time on other DEs after 2009.

But also, from that link:

We will use "KDE" exclusively in two meanings:

KDE, the community, which creates free software for end users

As an umbrella brand for the technology created by the KDE community

So I don't feel like it's wrong to just call it KDE, just imprecise.