After a correct installation andupdate to the new version from Ubuntu 18.10, we can start customizing our new system according to what we like the most.
Within of the customization options we have, we can dor to change the appearance of Ubuntu by changing the themes, icons and even the desktop environment of the system.
Although the latter can be a bit strange since if you have just installed the new version you could have chosen a flavor of Ubuntu with the environment of your choice. Although this does not always apply to everything.
Although If you decided to try another flavor of Ubuntu and the environment did not convince you at all, you can install the environment to your liking without having to reformat.
But without on the other hand, like the majority of Ubuntu users we know that this distribution has different flavors which cover the most popular desktop environments.
Given the case and thanks to the great customization options that Linux allows us, we can change the appearance of our system to our tastes and preferences.
Such is the case for the KDE Plasma environment which we can install in two different ways on our system.
Install Kubuntu Desktop on Ubuntu 18.10 and derivatives
The first way we can get the KDE desktop environment on our system is the one offered by the Kubuntu package additionally it comes with all the configuration and customization packages that are included in Kubuntu.
The main software components made by KDE are grouped under the name KDE Frameworks, KDE Plasma and KDE Applications.
KDE Applications works completely natively on GNU / Linux, BSD, Solaris, Windows, and Mac OS X.
Having said that, It is important to know that in the two ways we can get KDE Plasma on our system there is a big difference.
Between The installation options that we are going to share we will be able to obtain the Kubuntu Desktop and KDE installation package.
In order to install this package we must open a terminal with Ctrl + Alt + T and execute the following in it:
sudo apt install tasksel
By installing this tool we will be able to install all the KDE Plasma dependencies in Ubuntu.
Done this now We proceed to install the Kubuntu Desktop package on our system with the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports
Once the repository has been added, we update our list of packages and repositories with:
sudo apt-get update
We will update everything necessary with:
sudo apt dist-upgrade
Finally we can install the Kubuntu package with:
sudo apt install kubuntu-desktop
Now we simply have to accept all the installations of the programs and dependencies.
During the installation process of all the configuration packages of the package, we will be asked to choose if we want to keep the default login manager that we have or if we choose to change it to the one for the desktop environment, which is KDM.
Install KDE Plasma on Ubuntu 18.10 and derivatives
The second method with which we can get KDE Plasma on our system is by regularly installing the desktop environment., with which we will only obtain the environment in our system with some minimal configurations.
This option is quite ideal if you want to polish the environment to your liking and not depend on the settings of others.
To install this package we must open a terminal with Ctrl + Alt + T and we will execute in it:
sudo apt-get install plasma-desktop
At the end of the installation we only have to close our user session, unlike the previous package with this one, we will continue to keep our login manager.
We only have to select the login with the new desktop environment that we have just installed.
Finally, either of these two methods is valid to be able to obtain KDE Plasma on our system, the difference is between obtaining a more personalized environment or one in vanilla state, so to speak.